In the middle of July we took an absolutely lovely vacation to the heart of the Adirondack park to a private Island in the middle of Long Lake, in up-state NY. The Island is called ‘Round Island’ and it’s owned by the family of some of our closest friends. They are gracious enough to invite us up once a year for a wilderness adventure.
This Island, which is a 20-minute boat ride from the tiny town of Long Lake, NY is so remote, that there is almost no internet or cell phone service and only one radio station, AM or FM. The small island is surrounded by mountains, deep wilderness, and of course water, on all sides. It is a wonderful place to relax, breathe easy, and recreate on the water. There is ample wild life including loons, deer, otters, beavers, bald eagles, and ducks–all of which we saw on our trip. There are also moose and bear afoot, but we did not have any encounters with those larger beasts this time.
While sitting on the swim dock on this great vacation, I did two plein air paintings of the mountains around me. Miniature paintings at 2.5×3″ done on the spot in about 15 minutes each. Little sketches in watercolor using the lake water even!
I find these quick exercises refreshingly simple. They’re easy, quick, and preserve the memory of a beautiful landscape and a great experience.
Speaking of great experience, if you would like to see more vacation photos, follow me on Instagram @Shaunart.
