LOCALadk Magazine
Issue link: https://localadkmagazine.uberflip.com/i/1263803
52 Summer 2020 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Ron Rakowski is a prolific Old Forge-based Plein Air paint- er. Having exhibited widely around the Adirondacks, his work has been shown at the Center Adirondack Art Show, the Ad- irondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors, and at the Old Forge Librar y, among other venues. He's won mul- tiple awards as well. Drawn to details in nature, such as battered rocks, rushing water, gnarly trees, and snow, Ron loves painting outdoors— especially in winter. Perhaps it's because he's a cross-countr y skier that Ron is drawn the shadows that play on the snow. Whatever the case may be, he has painted a painting a day during the winter months for the last three years running. His subjects have ranged from ski scenes to daily life in Old Forge. He says that "over three hundred paintings later, I still have not run out of things to paint." Although these days he tends to document landscapes most, because he feels that world is changing so fast, and he wants to preser ve it for the future. Ron favors watercolor "because it's simple and compact." That said, he also acknowledges that watercolors can be used to create complex effects with various techniques. Painting En Plein Air with the Old Forge-based Mountain Air Painters in the summer, that practicality comes into play. Ever y Thurs- day during the warmer months, this group of like-minded in- dividuals meets at favorite venues around the Old Forge area to capture a new scene: the bridge on Green Bridge Road, the Moose River, Carr y Lake, Fulton Chain Station, and at a number of private camps. Ron also participates at the Plein Air Paintout—a lively auction that benefits the local art center. He looks at it as a way to give back to View, which provides the Mountain Air Painters with a go-to place during inclement weather, along with hosting their subgroup, the Mountain Air Polar Bears, during the winter. The popular First Friday Art Walk is currently up in the air due to the pandemic. The Walk normally happens ever y first Friday of the month, June through October, and Ron is a regular contributor. At the Art Walk participating mer- chants open their doors and come alive with bands, exhibits, friends, and food. This is a great community event and we hope that Old Forge will be able to hold some version of it. If you would like to see more of Ron's work visit his FB page: RP Rakowski. Artist Profile: Ron Rakowski