Bankside Marionettes | Fine Art Landscapes by Clint Bova
“Bankside Marionettes”
20x20 oil on panel
Clint Bova, August 2026
Mad River Watershed Logan County
August 2026 has been difficult due to severe rainfall and subsequent flooding in Logan County. Many banks along the Mad River were scoured, and large root wads were left exposed facing upward, leaving what looks like artillery bomb craters. Painting on the rivers and tiny tributaries left a bittersweet taste in my mouth. My house south of Upper Valley Pike along the Mad River took a bit of damage, but watching the water rise 7' or more in various watersheds, I quickly realized that this August and into September was going to be quite different. The above painting depicts a freshly receded bank left with a shady respite still intact. Plein air studies always change from year to year depending on light and weather conditions; Mother Nature's mood swings are very fickle.
Meandering along waterways this month, I find that painting and sketching help me recalibrate and reflect on how volatile Mother Nature can be. I often wonder about weather patterns amid climate change, but there are cycles in nature that occur regardless of human encroachment, entitlement, and carelessness. Historically, this has been the case for thousands of years. Having been born and raised in Hawaii, with its volcanoes, hurricanes, and Kona storms, I realized early on that man is not the “master and commander.” The cycles are always mysterious to me but feed me constant inspiration and endless subject matter.
Thanks for letting me share
Clint Bova
