Studio Updates
New: “Higher Ground”
I’ve painted this scene a few times, each time focusing on some element of the composition that is of interest. This latest, recently completed canvas, depicts the seemingly intentional and practical construction of the barn, by it’s builders, on the highest point on the property. Hauling things in would have been harder than hauling things
New: “Autumn Shade”
There’s a rambling farm next town over from here, in Hollis, that sits as it has for over a century, along Route 13 just outside the center of town. Behind it, the town built the High Shool’s athletics fields where we’d watch our son and daughter play soccer and baseball through their high school years.
New: “Tide Line”
Years ago my family owned a summer cottage on the shores of Buzzards Bay, on a chunk of land with sand dunes and rose hips buffering the yard from the private beach. As a kid I had no concept of what made a beach “private”…as there were always people walking across ours, albeit close to
New Work: “Utopia”
Everyone has their favorite place to be…the mountains, the lakes, the ocean. Often it’s a place where memories from childhood were first formed. For me, it was the Cape. We had a house on the beach, on the shores of Buzzards Bay, on a flounder-shaped island called Scraggy Neck, connected to the mainland by a
New: “Pasture” 20 x 24
Often the old architecture of New England and the Northeast (or any rural area) is shrouded by wild vegetation–weeds, brambles and vines– that create a beautiful contrast between the geometry of a structure, and the unpredictable, organic shape of overgrowth. This contrast became the focus of this latest piece…”Pasture” 20 x 24
New: “High Summer”
It’s that time of year…mid August…where the Cape summer slowly reveals hints of fall. Cooler mornings and evenings start and finish otherwise hot, summery days. At the height of the season, mid-day, when the sun is high and colors are brightly illuminated, there’s no better time of year, on the Cape (or anywhere). Here’s a
New: Summer Light
On a recent drive through Bell’s Neck preservation in Harwich–a beautiful drive down a dirt road that extends off Rt 28, into marshlands and woods–I came across an old, seemingly abandoned house and barn. The property is classic old Cape Cod architecture…and while the house was impressive, and worthy of becoming a painting…it was the
To rework, or not to rework?
I had completed a piece a few months ago…wasn’t sure I liked a significant part of it…a road, specifically, that dominated the right hand side of the composition. The subject was confusing…was it the structure? or the road? It went to a gallery, came back, and sat in the studio for a couple weeks until
Upcoming Cape Show: Left Bank Gallery
Postcards in and “Peter Batchelder: Summer Places” show coming up fast! Reception Saturday July 20, 6-8 pm for new work at Left Bank Gallery on Commercial St in Wellfleet. Hope to see you there!
New: “Marsh Lands” 40 x 30
Took a drive last fall to the bayside “elbow” of the Cape, to Paines Creek Beach in Brewster, where the marshes that prevail in that area extend out from land and connect to the bay. This scene caught my eye, partly for the simplicity, but also for the mystery of the jeep road that seemed