On the previous day I had made a painting of this brook but farther downstream from this location. It had rained a few days before, and this was runoff that was collecting in the valley between the above mountains, and heading down the brook toward the lake. The water level on this day was not nearly as high and the water wasn’t as fast as it had been the day before, when most of the rocks seen here in the foreground were submerged.
I was initially interested in doing another water scape and had been following the brook looking for a new location when I saw this area of the water with the stone bridge. I have walked and driven over this bridge hundreds of times, and often have taken time to sit on the stone wall while visiting with someone or looking down onto the water below (especially while enjoying an ice cream from “the Store”), but until this occasion I hadn’t ever taken a moment to go down to the water’s edge from the bridge and potentially explore the surrounding view.
I spent awhile walking back and forth along the water’s edge looking for a vantage point I liked best, and did the same along the opposite bank of the brook, meandering around, studying the landscape while also standing or sitting on rocks, or going up the embankments, always looking (and hoping) to find the “right” view.
Several locations were fine, but I was disappointed that nothing I saw quite satisfied me strongly with regard to an interesting or pleasing composition. And then as I was about to give up and move on, a solution came to mind. As a child and teenager, a stream bordered our family property on the north side. I spent many hours in and on the water through all the seasons of the year, especially in the summer months when my friends and I used to fish and play in the water there, particularly near and under the road bridge and a railroad bridge that was farther downstream. These large and strong structures were at two corners of the property. The view I remember best about either bridge was from standing in the water. In recalling this memory, I stepped out into the water and found this view. I then went to get my painting materials from the nearby shoreline, using rocks to brace my French easel, I got everything setup and began painting on this summer day.
My daughter happened to cross the bridge when I was down below doing the painting, and in seeing me there she smiled, and laughed at the unexpected surprise of me standing in the running water while painting. Over the years, she had seen me paint often before, and as in the past, came down to join me and look at what I was working on. We talked about the setting, the challenges of standing in the water and working without dropping anything, and I indulged her by letting her try her hand at mixing colors on my palette and painting on some of the large rock shapes. On having satisfied her curiosity, she continued on her way to the Store to get an ice cream and meet with some of her friends.
I enjoy looking at this painting and remembering that day, and am thankful to have it hanging on my wall for awhile as a reminder. But someday I will have to let it go,… She now owns this painting.