Dam pipe

Dam Pipe

oil 30x40 2014

This mysterious scene greets one if he strays from the path, and chooses his foothold carefully among the damp, moss-mottled stones below the dam at Hellestvedtvannet, Herre. A huge pipe, perhaps 3 meters in diameter, carries water from the dam to hydro-electric turbines. The pipe has sprung several leaks, adding to the rapids. I was attracted to the strange blending of ancient and recent technology (the riveted iron pipe buttressed by cyclopian stones, which would have looked antique even during Roman times.)

Koggen

Koggen

oil 40x30 2014

An old-style wooden boat, called a kogg, along the Herre River.

Svanvik

Svanvik

oil 30x40 2014

August still prevails, washing the lapping waves and glacier-hewn islets with warmth. This viewpoint is off a quickly-missed turnoff from the winding road between Herre and Porsgrunn. It's used often by radar-armed police to snag speeders--and by fishermen, liking the natural shelf of rocks that slope quickly to the water. Very good for setting up an easel too. Today the wind blew as strongly as the sun beat down, adding urgency in capturing the choppy water and flighty clouds.