Fish Family Farms - August 7, 2018

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This week our plein air artists made their way to Bolton, CT. Fish Family Farms, located on Dimock Lane is an historic farm that nearly became extinct, until local real estate magnate Donald Fish purchased the farm. Fish Family Farm and Creamery offers wonderful views from their hillside location and their dairy store products are made at the farm from Jersey cows, known for their rich milk.

We are truly in the dog days of summer. August has been primarily a tropical soup with temperatures reaching well into the 90's, and Tuesday morning was no exception. June was the first to arrive around 9 a.m. followed by Linda. The rest of the artists rolled in mostly before 9:30. Our motley crew was made up of June and Linda, Susan, Paul, Adrianna, Penny, Bonnie and Sally. We walked around the farm, looking for a likely subject to attack, making sure our setting up would be in a nice shady spot.

We all seemed drawn to similar subjects. Donald Fish is something of a collector of antique vehicles, and that seemed to be what most of us seized upon.

Penny and Linda were in the mood for a landscape, so they both started their sketches by a stonewall overlooking a field with a rather marshy looking green pond. Linda used charcoal to do a sketch of the scene, and Penny used  art markers.



Paul warmed up by first sketching an old fashioned milk truck and a Farmall tractor. Many a farmer is dedicated to the Farmall name, and it appears in lots of classic farm equipment shows, but especially in our New England country fairs. Fair season is upon us and Farmall tractors will be well represented in most of them.

After doing a quick sketch, Paul began a painting using acrylic paints. His use of bright colors gave the scene an amazing energy. His finished painting shows his own personal style, which is what art is all about.


Sally and Bonnie did some quick line sketches, but our outings are not only about art, but about connecting and enjoying other artists company. The two delighted in catching up. Their cool quarters under some very large trees were perfect to visit and have some lively and humorous discussions.


June and Susan chose a spot under another tree that provided deep shade. June started a painting of the front entry of the dairy store, and Susan chose the same milk truck as Paul.



It takes a very confident artist to do a sketch with a sharpie pen, which is what Susan chose to do. There is no opportunity to erase or correct a misplaced line, and her piece was executed with near perfection.
June chose to use Golden Open Acrylic paints on a canvas board. Her painting, when finished, will be 12 x 16. Her progress as a beginning plein air artist has improved dramatically since she began plein air last year, but the painting was not completed at the farm, so she hopes to get to it after the heat of August lets up some.  

The varying styles is readily apparent as the weeks go by and different members of TCAA participate in the weekly forays. TCAA is unique in its approach as an art organization. There is no fee involved in heading out to various locations, except an annual membership. Throughout the winter, TCAA has an open studio (more on that later) where artists can come to continue with their work, either starting new pieces or completing old ones.

Photographers are on the rise as members of TCAA. Our annual members show in June includes works by photographers, and they are quite welcome in the organization.

As always, if you wish to share photos of  Fish Farms to add to the gallery, or send a photo of a completed art work, send to jmitastudios@gmail.com. The following gallery of  Fish Farms is available to all our members if they want to create a sketch or painting. If you do a painting, or if you have one that you previously completed from another visit, share through email and I will update this page with your creations. Happy painting.



















Our next gathering will be at Heritage Farms, also in Bolton, CT. It is an historic farm located on Bolton Center Rd. We will meet there around 9 a.m. on Tuesday, August 14. Here is a preview of one of the scenes that was painted last year. Here is what Ronnie Klukas sent out to the group. 
August 14, Heritage Farm, 266 Bolton Center Road, Bolton

We love this site. There are vistas for miles. Fields of corn. Enormous barn. Antique house. And, generally, there is always a breeze.

Hope to see you.  If you have a chance, do let me know if you plan to paint with us........

August 21, Gay City State Park, 209 Hebron Road, Marlborough 
 

August 28, Fair Winds Farm, 296 Mile Hill Road, Tolland




Unless otherwise noted, all photos provided by June Mita


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