I Paint What I See - 2023 Painting Trip

2023 The Taconics

Back to the Mt. Greylock area. Mt. Greylock and its associated peaks are not part of the Berkshires but an extension of the Taconic Mountains of New York. My original intention was to go to Niagara Falls. I even got my passport so I could paint on the Canadian side. But it didn't come off. I had car trouble all spring long and couldn't leave in any case until my wife got back from Maine (the cats!). I looked into an outright painting trip to the Bay of Fundy in Canada, but it didn't come off; maybe next year.

I painted in this area a few years ago and this trip was intended to clear up a few loose ends from that trip. I did the painting I came back to do on the third day of the trip.

Saddle Ball Mountain

Time Lapse video of Saddle Ball Mountain painting

View Along the Ashuwillticook Trail

Beaver Pond (Kinderhook Creek)

Taconic View

This is the first painting stop of the trip, even before I got to the campground. This is Saddle Ball Mountain, second highest mountain in Massachusetts and the highest point along the Appalachian Trail. I bought a video camera to record the painting process. The video can be viewed to the right.

I set up camp at the same camp I'd visited last time I'd been in the area. Technically the Greylock Reservation is part of the Taconics, a mostly New York range, rather than the Berkshires. I went for a wander and ended up in Cheshire next to the Reservoir.

This is the view I came to paint, a beautiful little dammed lake along Kinderhook Creek in Hancock. I got up and ate breakfast, then headed over to this spot. It was little too early given the height and direction of the sun so I figured I'd head into North Adams and visit MassMOCA. I needed to put gas in the car anyway.

I packed up my car and headed out for one last painting, again in Cheshire. I was going to stay longer but we had to head down to Philadelphia for a baby shower. While I would undoubtedly come back, I don't think I'd camp at the same place. It was literally not convenient to anything–gas and food were fifteen minutes away in opposite directions. Had fun though.

I got to MassMOCA and it was closed. So I drove back to this spot and painted. I ran into a local who recommended the nearest diner so I headed into Lansborough, a 15 minute drive. I arrived at the diner at 3. It had closed at 2 (the only day of the week it did so). I ended up driving an additional five miles to get to a ice cream place that also sold food.