in Beacon, New York.
We call ourselves the “OH RATS!” Club. The name stands for “Old Hudson River Art and Truth Society.” We get together in order to paint and eat and tell tall tales.
From left to right: Mary Sealfon, Jeanette Gurney, Garin Baker, and Susan Daly Voss. Not seen is Eric Wilkerson, Kevin Ferrara, nd Brad Teare (who designed our mascot).
That’s me with an apron because I didn’t want to get paint on my clothes before the show opening. We set up our easels on a point of land that was reclaimed from a toxic waste dump by the Scenic Hudson organization.
I did a 12 x 6 inch oil study of some old rotting pilings. Here’s the start and finish. The board is oil-primed canvas over birch plywood.
While I was painting, a duck and her six ducklings scurried by. These little intimate details of the Hudson River intrigue me just as much as the grand views.
After we packed up the easels, we stopped by the new River Arts Center, where the “Great Hudson River Exhibition” was opening. That’s my painting in the upper left, and Garin Baker’s at the far right.
Where will the River Rats appear next? We’ll be visiting the Rockwell Museum tomorrow! If you’re around, come by and say hello.
