I Chased the Autumn Light at Bartlet Mall 🍂 | Plein Air Oil Painting

Autumn at Bartlet Mall in historic Newburyport, Massachusetts, is a feast for the eyes. Golden and orange foliage, the graceful fountain, the reflections in the water, and the long shadows across the pathway create a wonderful opportunity to explore color, light, and atmosphere.

I painted this 12 × 16-inch oil painting on location, trying to capture not simply the scene itself, but the feeling of being there on a beautiful autumn day.

I was especially interested in the contrast between the warm yellows and oranges of the foliage and the cooler lavender and violet-gray shadows falling across the ground. These warm and cool relationships help bring the painting to life.

Painting outdoors is always a race against changing light. You have to make decisions quickly, simplify what you see, and trust your brushwork. Sometimes the most exciting passages emerge when you stop describing every detail and concentrate instead on the larger shapes of color and light.

I hope you enjoy coming along on this plein-air painting adventure in one of my favorite corners of Newburyport!