Traver Hollow:  Noted angling/author Nick Lyons once wrote about favorite small waters he loved to fish, something along the lines of, "... you know them like the freckles on the back of your hand."  Well my husband loves to wander Traver Hollow, a small Ashokan Reservoir tributary that drains a mountain hollow.  Though its wild trout typically run small, its in this environ he's able to re-center himself while searching for all those freckles.

Autumn Traver Hollow (SOLD):

By the way, a discerning eye might find a couple heart-shaped images within this landscape, symbolic of the angler's affection of this hollow.

Eagleville Covered Bridge:  Is there any structure that’s a more iconic symbol of New England, and the northeast, than a covered bridge?  Recently our oldest son purchased a house along the Battenkill, a few minutes from the New York/Vermont border.  Like his father, Rob is a flyfisher, now feverishly working to make his newly acquired house the home of his dreams.  The Battenkill--- a noted trout stream, home to the likes of Lee Wulff, John Atherton, Lew Oatman, and many others--- borders his property. 

Also within easy walking distance of his place is the Eagleville Covered Bridge, which crosses the Battenkill in Eagleville, NY Washington County.  This covered bridge was originally built in 1858 by Ephraim W. Clapp and is included in the National Register of Historic Places.  I painted two watercolors as house warming gifts for Rob as it gives me great pleasure painting for someone I love.

The top watercolor appeared in the November 2022 issue of the Gazette, newsletter of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild.

Eagleville Covered Bridge (NFS):

Covered bridge (NFS):

Neversink River:  There are very few places that my husband enjoys more, as he whiles away time, than flyfishing the upper Neversink.

As I’ve acknowledged before, many of my paintings are done from photographs my husband takes while fishing or hiking.  Recently he shared a photo with me of a meadow of wild flowers, captured along the West Branch of the Neversink in a section known as Jones Flat at Wintoon.  What caught my eye first was the light on the “S” shape of the river.  I didn’t change much, except perhaps adding a few more purple flowers endeavoring to make the foreground a lovely feature of this painting.

This watercolor was utilized in the September 2022 issue of the Gazette, newsletter of the Catskill Fly Tyers Guild.

Meadow waters – Jones Flat (NFS):

Autumn on the upper Neversink's twin sister, the East Branch.

Autumn East Branch Neversink:

 

Homes:  As the axiom goes, "there's no place like home."  I painted the top watercolor for my sister-in-law, the other two were self-inspired after viewing various YouTube art videos.

Home (SOLD):

Farm house:

Below, perhaps is a scene stolen from the lyrics of John Denver's ballad, "Take me home, country roads..."

Country road:

The mighty Ashokan:  New York City's mighty Ashokan Reservoir came online in 1915.  It is the second largest of all NYC Catskill water supplies, consisting of 8315 acres that feed thirsty New Yorkers and other folks along its journey through the Catskill adequate.  It's home to bald eagles, numerous fish species, and many walkers who enjoy reservoir views.

I painted the two watercolors below for friends of mine.

Ashokan Reservoir Promenade East (SOLD):

Ashokan sunrise (SOLD):

Bergman's brook trout:  I truly dislike painting reproduction pieces of other people's work, but my husband pleaded with me to do a watercolor of a famous, and favorite, image of his.  The original painting, titled The Male Eastern Brook Trout, graced the cover of Ray Bergman's book--- Trout, and was painted by noted artist/author/angler William J. Schaldach.

Bergman (NFS):