Swains Lockhouse

During the 19th century, the Swains family ran Lock 21 of the C&O Canal from this house, in Potomac, Maryland. Now the house is being restored so that travelers can spend the night there, as they can at Pennyfield Lockhouse, the subject of one of my earlier blog posts.

I was interested in the morning light on the rightmost wall, so I rushed to "lock" it in (ha!) before the sun turned its focus on the other wall. As usual, I didn't have enough time to detail everything, but I hope I captured the essentials.

Geoff Watson, "Swains Lockhouse," oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.

Potomac Reflections

I found a shady spot by the Potomac River, near Swains lock in Maryland, and painted reflections from the far woods. I had on plenty of bug spray, but even so I was assaulted by a combined-arms force of stink bugs. Airborn bugs dive-bombed me while infantry bugs marched across my painting. Nonetheless, I managed to escape with a credible picture of the scene.

Geoff Watson, "Potomac Reflections," oil on panel, 8" x 10," 2017.