"The Knob" at Quisset Harbor: A New England Artistic Motif

As a result of our recent day trip to The Knob at Quisset Harbor on Buzzard's Bay in Falmouth, MA, I reviewed a number of online images for depicting the conservation area in photos or in painting. The purpose of today's blog entry is to show the diversity of perspectives, different times of day, alternative seasons, various weather conditions, and historical photos that we didn't experience on our single day trip in mid-September. We follow up with paintings that illustrate some of the available interpretations for the motif. Our intent is to get these images in one location for a quick panorama of representations to facilitate critique.

Although some of these images may be under copyright for commercial use, we include them here under the Internet Fair Use provision for instructional purposes. We mark attribution and credit when possible. If a viewer knows that the attribution for an image is either missing or incorrect, please advise and we will be more than happy to update the reference and provide proper credit to the photographer or artist.

Thank you to all the contributors in www.net world.  Enjoy!

Here is a reference photo of Quisset Harbor and the future conservation area including the Knob circa 1930.

 Internet Fair Use - The Knob at Quisset Harbor, Falmouth MA Circa 1930

A boat at anchorage in Quisset Harbor.

Internet Fair Use - Boat at Anchorage in Quisset Harbor

A similar closeup shot in detail.

Internet Fair Use - Boat at Anchorage in Quisset Harbor (Detail)

The same boat at anchorage at The Knob.

Internet Fair Use - Boat at Anchorage at the Knob

Here is a cover for the magazine, Cape Cod Life, with a late day photo of The Knob. The shot includes folks seemingly excited to run to the final destination. Nice touch to get the appropriate feeling for the vista. And a wonderful cloudscape at end of day sunset. The clouds and the grasses provide a dramatic depth of field with The Knob as the focal point.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Cape Cod Life - Cover of The Knob

A tranquil dinghy reposes within the marsh grasses perhaps at Quisset Harbor. Seems to be an end-of-day shot with the sunset reflected off buildings at the shoreline on the background and with the foreground in a low sun shadow from the peninsula and shoreline trees. This is a suitable depiction for the style of Monet for color and texture.

Internet Fair Use - Dinghy at Quisset Harbor at Sunset and Day's End

An aerial view of the Knob. I believe this to be attributed to Joshua Shortsleeve working with the magazine, Cape Cod Life.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy Joshua Shortsleeve - Aerial View of the Knob 

An aerial drone view of the Knob dusted by snow in winter repose.

Internet Fair Use - Aerial View of The Knob Dusted by Snow in Winter

An aerial view of the Knob and Quisset Harbor.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Cape Cod Life - Aerial View of The Knob and Quisset Harbor

The Knob,overcast, after sunset. A different cloudscape.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob Overcast After Sunset

Another end-of-day cloudscape of The Knob looking to the west in late afternoon from the Getty Images portfolio attributed to Betty Way. Some dramatic chiascuro.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Betty Way - The Knob in Late Afternoon

Here's the same shot without the obscuring watermark.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Betty Way - The Knob in Late Afternoon

The Knob at end-of-day. A cloudy, but sun-stark through-the-haze portrayal of the motif. I also appreciate the lights twinkling on the horizon. Perhaps the horizon lights are of the New Bedford and Dartmouth shoreline across Buzzards Bay. This image reminds me of Impressions-Sunrise (1872) by Monet with the overall use of greys, violets, and blues, and with the imposing sun in an overcast horizon. It is quite suitable for an artistic portrayal of the misty, hazy, layered-paint style.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Cape Night Photography - The Knob and Buzzards Bay Horizon

Monet's Impressions of a Sunrise - Soleil Levant (1872) which is representative of the beginnings of the impressionist movement.

Internet Fair Use - Claude Monet Impressions - Sunrise (1872)

The Knob in full winter portrayal.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob in Full Winter

The Knob at Sunset in Late Autumn or Early Spring.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob at Sunset in Late Autumn Early Spring

The Knob at quiet sunset. Waves are quite tranquil.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob at Tranquil Sunset.

The Knob at sunset with quiet swells.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob at Sunset with Quiet Swells

The Knob from the Northern Beach.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob from the Northern Beach

The Knob in winter, late day shadow from the northern beach.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob in Winter Late Day Shadow from the Northern Beach

Knob at Sunset.

Internet Fair Use - Knob at Sunset

The Knob at sunset by Mike Petrizzo.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob at Sunset by Mike Petrizzo

The Knob with northern beach grasses and shrubbery in foreground. This vantage point might be suitable to depict the beach roses, the goldenrod, the honeysuckle, or the bittersweet in close detail.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob Northern Beach Grass 

The Knob from the northern beach detail on the bayside at Buzzards Bay.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob from the Northern Beach Bayside.

The Knob in a clear, early morning. Sun behind the shot to the south and east. Seems to be a very early spring or late autumn season with wispy, cirrus clouds. Has some bold blue, brown, yellow, red, violet color contrast.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob in Mid-morning

Here's a shot emphasizing a leisurely stroll and beach-combing on the northern beach at The Knob.

Internet Fair Use - Beach-combing the Northern Beach at the Knob

Here's The Knob from the final pathway depicted almost in an islandic form. Nice format to the greenery and white ric-rac boulders.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob from the Final Pathway

The Knob in Violet Dusk.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob in Violet Dusk

The Knob in dry grass. Suitable for tempera perhaps in the style of Andrew Wyeth.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob in Dry Grass 

The Knob in fervent green and blue.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob in Fervent Green and Blue

The Knob with Gansett Point at the entrance to Quinsett Harbor. Interesting that Gansett Point on the horizon at left is balanced by a quiet tuft of a distant cumulus cloud on the right. Otherwise clear and verdant.

Internet Fair Use - The Knob with Gansett Point at the Entrance to Quinsett Harbor.

Sailing in Buzzards Bay off The Knob. I love the pink and grey depicted in the granite boulders in strong direct sunlight at mid-day.

Internet Fair Use - Sailing in Buzzards Bay off the Knob

The Knob by the Sea by Janet Gary. A dramatic detail shot of the sweeping arc of ric-rac boulders on the northern bay-side. Just lovely. The color palette here (violet, yellow, green, and blue in pale hue) is another strong emphasis for  overall effect.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Janet Gary - The Knob by the Sea

Goldenrod at the Knob in autumn.

Internet Fair Use - Goldenrod at The Knob in Autumn

A quiet stroll to The Knob.

Internet Fair Use - A Quiet Stroll to The Knob

And now for some paintings.....

"The Knob" by Liz Cutler. An impressionistic portrayal of the southern rocky shore of the peninsula's conservation area on a clear day.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Liz Cutler - "The Knob"

"Twilight" at the Knob. Karen Rinaldo Gallery.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Karen Rinaldo Gallery - "Twilight" at the Knob 

"The Knob" by Julie Crowley. An impressionistic rendition. She completes a nice work in quieting down the details of the shrubbery and grasses and waves inherent in photo-realism and depicts the feeling of being there on a sunlit day. One could almost subtitle this painting "The Invitation". 

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Julie Crowley - "The Knob"

"The Knob - Quisset Notes" by Jan Collins Selman

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Jan Collins Selman - "The Knob -Quisset Notes"

"The Knob" by Jan Collins Selman. An impressionistic realism on a cloudy, windy day. Love the sailboats to suggest the wind action. Without the sailboats, the painting would be too still. Also, like the blending of the sea and sky on the horizon.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Jan Collins Selman - "The Knob"

Susie Morell, a Daily painter, has depicted on the sailboats at Quisset Harbor. Love the overall color tones in this impression.

Internet Fair Use - Courtesy of Susie Morell - "Anchorage at Quisset Harbor"

In conclusion, perhaps yesterday's and today's blog entry will entice other creative types to visit, photograph, and paint these motifs at The Knob at Quisset Harbor on Buzzards Bay, Falmouth, MA. Thanks for visiting!

Sunset: A Dazzling Gold

We went to burn some calories one night recently at the local YMCA while my youngest daughter, Itsy Bit, was doing her weekly gymnastics lesson. She pointed out the rainbow in the southern sky as we were entering the building.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Hint of a Rainbow

But that was nothing compared to the brilliant golden sunset in a cloudless sky. The sky was quite hazy though so the sun was dazzling in its golden hue.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Dazzling Golden Sunset

But the more beautiful rainbow colors were portrayed across the sunset sky itself in smooth transitions from one hue to the next. I had not seen anything like it before. White to yellow to orange to pink to blue to violet. I was fortunate to capture the American flag in the image to give it some depth.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Rainbow Sunset

Quite a palette in this skyscape. Living the Moment.

A Daily Walk: Reminiscing on Beautiful Things

Been trying to walk each day to burn some calories and stay limber. I have help and encouragement to do so. My petite french girlfriend who has a high level of separation anxiety gave me an imploring look to walk with me. "Oh, please, please, please, can I go with you? Will you take me out somewhere beautiful? She is very happy when I am in her immediate presence. She loves it when my hands are all over her and holding her. She is the most happy when I return from being away for a short time. I then have her total, rapt attention. Beady-eyed, euphoric, excitement. High maintenance trophy affair!  Suitable for a conservative, mid-life crisis without getting into trouble with my beloved wife.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Let's Go for a Walk!

The sunlight and dappled clouds offered lots of cloudscape pictures suitable for later use.  This summer has been an incredible weather season with sunny, bright, clear days and cool evenings.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Cloudscape

This says a little something to me today. A once great stalwart pine, with many growth rings, cut down, remaining to tell the story that it was once bigger than most. This too shall pass.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Many Growth Rings

There is still beauty and strength and adventure to be had in this chiascuro pine. I like the lighting, the depth, and the layers across the field of view. The most verdant branches in the largest pines are in the uppermost reaches where new growth begins, where there is the most space, and the sunlight is the brightest. Today's lesson.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Chiascuro Stalwart Pine

Although the colors are autumnal and faded with sparse contrast, the perspective and the reflections are compelling in this west-side stream view. There were not any migrating ducks here this morning. In the early, early morning light, this might be a good pleine-aire painting location not too distant from the house.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Arboretum Stream West End

Traveling around the east-end perspective of the stream. Another view with depth, perspective, and reflections.

Copyright James E. Martin Arboretum Stream East End

As I get to the far end of the arboretum, I always enjoy the small chapel in the wildwood. This is looking south-eastward  from the stream bed with day's end long shadows draped across the treescape. There is more than one road to take to get to where one is going. Another lesson for the day.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Chapel in the Wildwood

At my daughter' request last week, we had hosted a wine-tasting event at the house with friends for her 23rd birthday celebration. We had a soliloquy of french, italian, and spanish wines. It was fun as we listened to each other's observations and took notes. Lots of laughs. "Subtle oaken after-tones, etc." At the end of the day, a sip of 2013 french grapes from the bottom of one of the bottles.

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Les Lauzeraies Tazel

And as I relax, reviewing a book, Renoir's Table: The Art of Living and Dining with One of the World's Greatest Impressionist Painters by Naudin, Charbonnier, and Saulnier, a cookbook journey with marvelous pictures and text. 

Copyright James E. Martin 2014 Renoir's Table

Internet Fair Use -  Renoir's Table Book Cover


Internet Fair Use - Renoir

With my feet up. Reminiscing on beautiful things. It does my troubled heart and mind much good. If I had to pick people from history to invite to a dinner party, Renoir would be one of the finer selections for dining and dialog, I think.