The beaches on the Bay side of Dennis (Cape Cod, MA) are known for their sandbars and low tides, which can be in place close to a quarter mile from dry sand to the low tide water line. As the tide recedes, shallow areas in the sandbar are the last to drain, and as the surrounding exposed sand dries, small streams drain away from the beach, and catch the skylight, creating beautiful abstract shapes. This location, at Corporation Beach in East Dennis, not only creates low tide streams, but has in places fresh water springs below the sand, which are marked by small circles of bubbling sand, creating a continues stream, long after the sea has fully receded. “Tide Stream” 20 x 16
As you sail from Woods Hole (Cape Cod) across the sound to Martha’s Vineyard, the first land mass you approach is West Chop…an old, majestic section of Vineyard Haven. Many of the homes along this point of the Island are from a different era. Large, landscaped “cottages” with priceless water views and prestigious family names associated with many of them. They are impressive dwellings…not because of their views or ownership pedigree, but because they occupy their landscape with privileged dominance that at the same time feels rather humble, at least compared to some of the newer, massive homes built nearby. These two homes are the last homes you see as you round the bend, through West Chop, as you head back to town. They’re also the first homes you see as the ferry approaches the Island. “Island Summers” 52 x 24 o/c
I’m excited to announce new gallery representation with the Jack Meier Gallery in Houston! Work safely delivered, unpacked and awaiting hanging in the gallery’s space on Bissonnet St, near Rice University. If in the Houston area, stop by! https://www.jackmeiergallery.com/peter-batchelder
I was recounting a dream recently, and found myself (as we all do) recalling snippets of detail that were either related, or completely unrelated, to the core “feeling” of the dream. As you force the listener down that rabbit hole of patiently waiting for your dream to “get to the point”…you realize there isn’t a point…just a feeling (fear, happiness, anger, stress) illustrated with “things” that do nothing to help the dream have a storyline. But there is often something the dream is “about”…though, it’s nothing literal, and often not describable. My compositions are based on real places, but I only work from quick sketches done of them, and then paint with only the sketch as reference. This process eliminates the details of stuff that don’t add to the feeling of the piece. When it’s finished, it’s neither a real place, nor a fully imagined place. It’s somewhere in between…like dreams. “Dreamscape” 20 x 16 o/c.
This old farmhouse is about a mile from the studio. The road curves past it, and cuts through woods and meadows, as well as a few homes built in what was until a few years ago, forest. The owners of this farm own about 150 acres of beautiful hilly woodlands, bisected by a historically preserved dirt road that connects one end of town to the other. I recently learned that those 150 acres are to be developed into neighborhoods. I was informed of this by the owner of the mill I use to build my frames. I asked him what he thought the likelihood is that that development plan will go through. He replied, “that one may not go through, but there WILL be houses on that land someday.” Development is inevitable, unless land is bought for preservation, as other parcels in town have been. I balance wishing this type of land use wasn’t inevitable, with understanding it (my own house was built on an old sheep meadow of my neighbor’s farm.) “The Last Farm” 60 x 48 o/c
The light just after sunrise, especially along open shores and beaches, casts everything in warm and cool colors…warmth where the light hits, cool where it doesn’t. This cluster of cottages in Dennisport catches the morning sun, while the less illuminated beach reflects the ambient light, painting the sand between the tidelines in warm and cool shades of color. “Tidelines” 36 x 24
Cape Cod is home to trees of all kinds. Some are fairly exclusive to the Cape, others pretty common. One of those common trees is the pitch pine. Not a beautiful species, but so commonplace, they’ve become known as Cape Pines. Most are dwarfed by wind, lack of soil, and salt air, and their tufts of pine needles and cones wreak havoc with lawns. They’re as easy to mark for cutting in your yard, as they are tagged to stay. In the right place, they seem to be an important part of the landscape. This cluster is on the Outer Cape, in Truro. sits on a grassy hill overlooking Cape Cod Bay. “Pitch Pine” 30 x 40
I’ve made the observation before that light at higher elevations seems unique. Similar to the light along shorelines, it seems brighter, crisper and is likely due (in both cases) with the lack of trees and other natural and man-made things around to cast shadows and filter the light. This piece attempts to capture the light’s purity in such places. “Northern Highland” 70 x 34
There’s a section of the Cape, between Eastham and Wellfleet, where the sea creeps inland from the Bay, working its way along channels that cut through the boggy marshes. They’re remarkable creations, with the water carving out small islands of seagrass and marsh mud. This particular place is in Wellfleet, at the eastern end of Blackfish Creek. “Marshlands” 52 x 36
Coastal New England can be a rugged terrain, particularly the closer you are to shoreline unprotected by bays or harbors. The landscape is beautiful, but harsh…with constant wind, sun, salt air that tends to hold back anything that would otherwise want to grow. The plants that have adapted, and even thrive, in these areas tend to be scruffy, thorny and wild. But they’re also beautiful, particularly when in bloom. I found this place years ago, while visiting Plum Island, Newburyport, on Cape Ann, MA. The old cottage sat on a rise, with the Atlantic on the other side. On the protected side of the house, a few plants hung on to the ground, growing despite the landscape’s efforts to prevent them from doing so. “Beach Plum” 48 x 48
