Summer Mosaic 2017 Recap: Days 8-14

I’m excited to get started on this year’s Summer Mosaic project coming up soon!  I’ve been plotting out each of the 50 paintings and coming up with a game plan on how to complete everything that needs to be done.

Last week I reviewed paintings 1 through 7 of Summer Mosaic 2017.  I talked a little about the inspiration for each piece and how I prepared the wood panels.  If you missed it, you can catch up here.    This week I will be reviewing paintings 8 through 14.

One of the challenges of the Summer Mosaic project was finding enough flat surfaces to accommodate 50 6″x6″ wooden panels in my small apartment so that they would be able to thoroughly dry throughout the project.  Luckily I had asked to keep the large crib and dresser boxes from when my nephew was born two years before.  I used a large piece of cardboard on a card table to extend my work area and another large piece of cardboard on a foot rest to lay out the panels to dry.  They worked perfectly and I didn’t have to worry about damaging the surface when I laid down the wet panels (or prepped them).

I laid the panels out in order as I painted them so I could keep track of how far I had gotten in the project.  This picture below shows the first two rows just about complete.  You probably shouldn’t look if you don’t want any spoilers of some of the paintings to come this week.

​Spending summer days by the lake is one of my favorite things to do in warm weather.  This shoreline is part of the Binghamton Boating Club.  There are many docks to the left side off the painting where members come and go for rides around Seneca Lake.  To the right there is a small beach area for swimming and enjoying the sunshine.  There are so many tiny seashells in the sand and sometimes, if you’re lucky, you’ll find pieces of lake glass that has been transformed by the sand, wind, and water.

Did you know that Elmira, NY is regarded as the soaring capitol of America?  Between 1930 and 1946 Elmira held the first 13 National Soaring Contests.  It’s also the home of Schweizer Aircraft which produced over half of all American sailplanes built in the 20th century and the home of the National Soaring Museum dedicated to the history of motorless flight located at the top of Harris Hill.
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This painting shows a glider coming in for a landing after soaring above the Chemung River Valley.  Can you imagine how beautiful it must be to be floating above the beautiful landscape of the area?   They do offer glider rides where you can experience soaring high above the area.  I haven’t tried it yet, but I’m starting to think it may be something to put on my list.  Rides are only around $100 and you can find more information here.

If you’d like to learn more about the National Soaring Museum, you can view their website by clicking here.

Original painting available for purchase.

One of my favorite places is behind the historic buildings of downtown Owego along the Susquehanna River.  The Owego Riverwalk has beautiful views of the river, especially during the summertime surrounded with roses and black-eyed susans.  This painting shows a view of Uncle Tom’s Bridge (at least that’s what we call it in our family – our uncle was part of the company that constructed the bridge).

​This evening the sun was glimmering off the surface of the water and was reflecting back an image of the bridge and a beautiful green from the trees surrounding.

Racecars are probably the most popular attraction in Watkins Glen, NY, however Watkins Glen State Park is most likely a close second.  This gorge has a hiking trail that travels along several beautiful waterfalls.

This painting features one of the tiny waterfalls near the top.  It was the first waterfall that I painted and one that kind of started a little bit of an obsession.  I had so much fun creating the different textures and playing with the movement of the water.

Original painting available for purchase. ​

This painting is based on one of my favorite spots to visit – the Harris Hill Overlook.  A couple of days ago I showed what this area looks like in the opposite direction, which is fun when a glider is coming in, but the real view is overlooking the Chemung River Valley.  From this spot it feels like you’re on the top of everything.  This area faces west, so it is a great spot to catch a beautiful sunset (not so much the same for sunrises 😉).  I love how when you’re high above the fields of farmland below look like little pieces of a puzzle put all together.

Original painting available for purchase. ​

Nearby to Harris Hill is the Tanglewood Nature Center and Museum.  The nature center and museum holds a lot of great events throughout the year for children.  The area surrounding has many hiking trails that lead to beautiful views.  This painting features a view overlooking the Chemung River valley.

Original painting available for purchase.

​Eldridge Park is one of the most beautiful places within the city of Elmira, New York.  It’s a great place to walk and see the geese and ducks.  In the summertime there are rides, a carousel, and a neat mini golf course that features local landmarks as each of the holes.

This painting is based on an evening when the sun was beautifully glimmering off the lake.  The air was warm and the water was so peaceful that it looked like a mirror reflecting back the sky and trees.
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Original painting available for purchase.

That’s it for days 8 through 14.  See you back here next week to recap days 15-21.  I may have some sneak peeks of this year’s project depending on how busy this next week is.  You may want to sign up for my newsletter if you’d like to get the inside scoop.  Also, if you want to follow along daily, be sure to follow my Facebook page.

Do you have a favorite painting so far?  Let me know!

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