Copper Paintings by Renee Lammers

     Here is a close up look at a section of one of Willard Metcalf's paintings.  The whole painting is composed of these little slashes of different color.  Many impressionist painters used this technique...not just Van Gogh.



     I think plein aire painters work fast on location in order to capture the changing light.  They don't have time to soften their brushstrokes.  



    One thing I have noticed is Metcalf continued these small strokes throughout his painting, not just in his grass.  The sky and water also have "broken color" as painters call this created with small brush strokes.



    As you can see the ground area and the water area is the same strokes.  There are some dark values.



    I like this type of brushwork.  I think the white here is white canvas left unpainted.



     Even the tree leaves and trunks are painted with this type of smaller strokes.  The sky also have this broken color in small strokes.



     Lots of little patches of color.



    I love his light blue greens in his grass combined with shades of reds and a few darks.  



    Look at the water here!  It does shimmer because of these small strokes of many colors!



   These strokes create a lot of movement.  There is a delicate quality.  I can feel wind blowing through the trees.    I like it!  

     The alternative would be to either use large brush strokes to describe the entire landscape.  Only a few brushstrokes might be used to create an entire painting.  This can look very strong or powerful.

     The other alternative would be to have no brushstokes visible to the viewer.  To have no brushstrokes visible in a plein aire painting, the painter would have to use glazes or soften with a fan brush.   Glazing quickly is impossible.  Glazing technique can take years!   Softening each brushstroke while quickly painting outside might be really difficult too, maybe impossible.  I have the most difficult time softening edges while I am out painting.  It is easy to soften edges in a studio.  But not too easy outside. 

      I have heard of plein aire painters coming home and putting a telephone book page on top of their painting.  They press down on the painting, and try to get excess paint off onto the telephone book page.  They put many new telephone book pages one after the other until they are satisfied.  The results are a softened painting without any globs of paint left.  The advantage is the painting can be taken out again the next day to be reworked.  Some plein aire painters do this day after day until they are satified with their painting.

       I have seen other painters used a big palette knife to scrape down the entire painting that has dried.  Any dried glob of paint goes flying off.  The results are a smooth surface.  Yes, some of the painting has been destroyed but the smooth surface is easier to work on.  There is a ghost image of the previous day's work.  

      I hope you enjoyed looking closely at Metcalf's work.  I really love Metcalf! 

      Daisy came up to me tonight and barked.  She barked and barked.  Then Duke joined her.  I gave them ice cream and they were quiet.  They have me trained.

      Have a great night.  Get out and paint!





 

     Daisy and Duke celebrate with Frosty Paws dog icecream tonight for each painting sale during the Bar Harbor Fine Art Show.   They want to say "Thank you!" as do I!



    Here is Duke eating his icecream.



    After the icecream, Duke felt like rolling in the grass!



     Daisy was feeling mellow!



     Daisy wanted to go down where the porcupine was the other day.  She wasn't afraid any more.  In fact I could tell she had a kick some porcupine butt attitude.  I had them on leashes while we looked over the area.  No porcupine.  I guess she needed some closure.  I was looking up in the trees.  I guess the porcupine has moved on for now!

    It was a lazy day.  Guess I needed a day to recuperate.  But you have no excuse.  Get out and paint!!!

    My Daisy is a great dog.  She has always been a great hunter!  Today started off great!  I was sitting out in the backyard watching Daisy and Duke walk around the backyard.  We have an acre on the Penobscot East Channel.  They like to sniff around.  There is no fence but Robert has trained them not to run out of the yard.  Since I have been at the art show for two long days, I thought it would be nice to let them outside for an hour or so. 

     Daisy was rolling around in the grass!  I think you can get the feeling of the day here! 

    Later when Robert came home, he was out in the backyard with them.  I heard this yelling, "Renee!  Renee!  Come quick!"
  I thought oh no, another skunk.  I grabbed the gallon of skunk neutralizer I just purchased.  I was proud of myself I was ready!  But Daisy and Robert were on the back deck.  Duke wanted inside.  Robert told me, "Daisy has quills in her face from a porcupine!"  I saw ten quills sticking out of Daisy's face. 

     I ran down in the basement and got the needle nose pliers.  Robert held Daisy's head while I pulled out each quill.  Daisy wrestled so hard with us.  It took us a long time to get all out except one last quill.  After each quill was pulled out there was a lot of bleeding, but it stopped.  The last quill had broken off.  The quill had gone through her top lip.  I could see blood on her tongue. 

     We tried for over an hour.  We had Daisy on her back and I would come close getting the last broken quill.  Finally we decided to give Daisy a break.  We were stressing her out.  Daisy was a strong girl!

    We tried for another hour before I realized she must go to the vet tomorrow.  It is just impossible for us to remove the last quill.  It is too bad.  She will have to sleep with a part of a quill completely through her front lip.  It isn't bleeding anymore.  Poor Daisy.  All she needs now is a nose ring.

    The porcupine is still in our backyard.  He climbed a tree.  I took a few photos.  I have never seen a porcupine before.  He was enormous!





I think those orange things are his teeth!



   What big claws he has!



    There he is.  I bet he is very afraid of my dogs.  He even has a tail!  I saw a patch on his shoulder and wondered if it was a wound from Daisy?

  There does look like there are quills or hair missing here. 



    Duke was unharmed in the porcupine incident.  He probably thought it was another skunk! 



    On a more positive note:  Here I am infront of my art tent at the Bar Harbor Fine Art Show. 

     Have a great night!  I guess I will be at the vet tomorrow.  Daisy will be fine!  Get out and paint!  Watch out for porcupines!  They are everywhere!  If you see a dark spot in a tree, it might be a giant porcupine!

"Thurstons's Wharf" 6x6 oil on copper sold today!



"Cadillac Mountain at the End Of The Day" 4x6 oil on copper.  Sold



"Sailing Into Seal Cove" 8x10 oil on copper sold too!  Three other very old paintings sold.  I don't have their picture.  They were nice.

    I sold six more paintings today at the Bar Harbor Art Show.  Today was better weather.  Yesterday it showered off and on throughout the show.  Today it seemed like people were really comparing prices and undecided as to what they buy.  There were many great artists at this show.  Competition was great! 

      The lady across from me had great oils that were middle sized framed with pine strips.  She sold one painting the whole weekend.  The lady to my left had large oils suitable for dining room or kitchen.  She did well I think. 

     The photographer across from me had his photo printed onto canvas.  There was no sign telling people they were photographs and they were priced at 125-200 unframed.  They were large.  They really looked like realistic paintings.  People were buying them alot!  They were not sure what they were but they liked them.  I had two people ask me what they were. 

    I talked to another plein aire painter who did well selling 11 larger oil paintings.  He cut his prices in half.  He is taking his paintings out of galleries.  They are not selling his work.  They might have his work in a closet somewhere.  So now he is doing a few outdoor shows and doing very well again! 

     I didn't get a chance to talk to many painters.  I was very busy.  I had three past collectors come by to say hello!  That is so much fun.  It means a lot!  They wanted to see how I was doing.  That made my day. 

     I am lining up surprises for the first Ladies plein aire retreat!  I have a friend who is a lobsterman that may take us out on his boat for a quick ride.  Now that would be fun! 

     Daisy and Duke are going to be celebrating my painting sales with a Frosty Paws doggy ice cream treat for 16 nights in a row!  Have a great night!  Get out and paint.  You will lose weight and make friends.

"Summer Day in Seal Cove" 8x10 oil on copper framed sold today!


"Sundown Over Eagle Lake" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold today too!



"Pretty Girl" 5x7 oil on copper Sold!  Yahoo!



"Wild Roses at Seal Cove" 5x7 oil on copper Sold also!!!



"The Seagull Egg" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold!




"Spring in Acadia" 6x6 oil on copper Sold Also!!!  Daisy and Duke are please.  Doing a puppy dance here!



"Autumn Road to Castine" 6x8 oil on copper.  Sold Today!  Robert is doing an Irish dance here!



"Ahh..Life is Good!"  5x7 oil on copper sold! 



"Hibbard Study" 4x4 oil on copper sold also!



"Hunky Dory" 8x10 oil on copper Sold too.

     All of the painting sales today at the Bar Harbor Fine Art Show were from wonderful people.  "Hunky Dory", the last painting shown here, this sale really touched my heart and brought me to tears a few times.  Sometimes painting a painting is the most amazing thing, but this time finding a special person was the most special experience.  I will tell you about this sale.

    A tiny pretty elderly woman in her late 80's came into the booth.  She saw this "Hunky Dory" painting right away and was looking at it.  I had another sale going on but told her about it while the others were debating on how many and which ones to buy.  It is tricky juggling sales but it must be done.  I don't ever ignore any customers.  I treat each customer with respect and with patience.  She wanted to hold the painting.  I showed her how nice the back of the painting was done, with museum paper, a note as to the story, and wiring.  She stood and looked.  Meanwhile I made several sales.  The older lady left.

    A few moments, she reappeared wanting to look again.  I let her look at it.  She spoke with a thick Russian accent.  She told me how she had wrote a poem about a dory.  This poem was about her.  I told her how I painted this skiffs and dories often.  I told her how for me they meant a journey, an old boat, still beautiful.  She said it is your self portrait as a boat.  Then she smiled and asked me to hold it for her.  I placed a red dot.  She was pleased.  She left.

    A few more moments passed.  She reappeared.  She asked for a discount.  I had already discounted the painting.  So she said she had saved money and wanted to buy it.  She handed me the cash.  She said the painting would give her a lot of happiness.  Then she left with the biggest smile on her face.

     I felt a little sad about taking her money.  But it made her so happy!  I know that is part of the joy, saving up the money, and then buying.  To her the money was a large amount, maybe larger amount of money to her than any of the customers today.  But she was the customer most happiest! 

     Her Russian friend came by to ask whether I had seen a Russian lady who admired the dory painting.  I said, "Oh yes, and she purchased this painting!".  They were pleased and said she had really wanted this painting.  They had encouraged her to buy it if you really love it!  She did.  They said she was really going to enjoy this dory painting for as long as she had left.

     There were many great stories to tell about today, but none were as great as this story to me.  Well, Ok, another great story...one of the nicest galleries in Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island asked me to come by on Monday to talk to her about being represented there!

     Tomorrow I am headed back to the Bar Harbor Fine Art Show!  I hope I have more stories and sales to report!

   Have a great night!  Get out and paint! 

"Last Light" 5x7 oil on copper.  Framed and shipped! 



"Bridge at Jordon's Pond" 8x10 Oil on copper framed and shipped! 



"Monhegan To Manana Island" 6x6 oil on copper framed and shipped!  250$ Sold!



"Near Ratcliff Bridge" 5x7 oil on copper framed and shipped. 



"Jessup Trail" 5x7 oil on copper framed and shipped.  350$ Sold.



"Good Luck" 6x6 oil on copper panel.  framed and shipped



"Sear's Island Oak Tree" 6x8 oil on copper framed and shipped. 



"White Birch At Duck Trap Pond" 5x7 oil on copper framed and shipped 350$



"Monhegan Skiff" 5x7 oil on copper framed and shipped. 



"Cadillac Mountain Sunbeams" 5x7 oil on copper



"Ahh..This is the life" 5x7 oil on copper framed and shipped.  Sold.



"Thurston's Wharf" 6x6 oil on copper Sold.



Port Clyde Lobster Boat" 5x7 oil on copper framed and shipped. 



"Monhegan Island View" 8x10 oil on copper  framed and shipped.



"Vermont Spruce Tree" 6x6 oil on copper framed and shipped!

     Here are 15 framed paintings for you to see.  Each one has been professionally framed including museum backing and framing wire!  I will be heading over to Bar Harbor Fine Art Show tomorrow in the center of town.  Robert will leave with the van loaded at 5:00 am to set up the tent.  I arrive later at 8:00 am to help out with hanging the paintings.  The show starts at 9:00 am. 

    Someone asked me why some of the 5x7 are lower than the 6x6 size?  Most 5x7 were done in 2009 and 2010.  I sold my work for lesser price during that time.  My more current work has been selling at a greater price.

      I like to offer great deals at this art show.  I have done the math, when I lower my older work to liquidate,  my sales are much greater.  It allows first time painting buyers to purchase a work of art.  After owning their first painting they realize how special owning a work of art is!  Then they usually look to buy more paintings. 

     Some buyers buy many paintings at one time. 

     Other buyers are hestitant to purchase anything because of economic times.  But seeing such a great deal allows them to forget about bad economic times and go for a purchase!  Sometimes they buy many!  

     In business it is never good to be greedy!  I do approach my painting as a business.  If I don't sell I will not be able to paint!

     Get out and paint!  It is good for your appetite!

"Hunky Dory" 8x10 Nice framed!  Sold.

     I was busy busy today as usual!  I bought a golden oak dining room table for 12 people!  Robert and I found the perfect table for the ladies plein aire retreat.  We were going to buy a table for 6 and squeeze two more chairs.  Then Robert asked if we would be able to paint together like that if it rained outside.  I said, "no".  So we purchased two large tables that fit together!  It looks like an amazing golden oak banquet table!  I can picture the white china plates and crystal glasses decking out the table with red lobsters on each plate!  Red or white wine flowing!  Salads of all types in pretty white china bowls for us to sample. 

    After the table purchase, lunch at a Thai Restaurant to celebrate our first "Renee's Maine", I started to frame more paintings!  I thought you may like to see 12 newly framed works.  I do think the right frame on a painting can really make them look amazing!  Here is the "Hunky Dory" finally framed.  I prefer a light gold frame. 



"Seal Cove" 8x10 Oil on copper.   Nicely framed and shipped. Sold.
Love this painting!



"Early Sunrise" 6x6 Oil on Copper.  Sold.



"Winter Spruce" 8x8 Oil on copper.  Sold.



"Cadillac Mountain Sunset" 8x10  Sold



"Sequin Light 2" 5x7 Oil on copper framed and shipped.  sold.



"Monhegan Seagull" 6x6 Oil on copper Framed and shipped!   This painting looks so striking now!  The hammered frame suits the rugged rocks. 



"Pemaquid Lighthouse" 5x7 Oil on copper framed and shipped. 



"Camden Seagull" 5x7 Oil on copper framed and shipped.  sold.



"Lily's Walk" 6x6 Oil on copper framed and shipped.   Think this frame really makes this painting look smashing!



"Scout The Escape Artist" 6x6 Oil on Copper Framed and shipped. 



"Take Me To The Church" 4x4 oil on copper sold. and "Early Morning in Vermont" 4x4 oil on copper  

     I can have these in the mail to you by tomorrow!  If you would like to add one or more of these works to your collection, just send me an email:  Theartistrenee@aol.com!  I will make it happen!

    There will be 75 framed paintings for you to see at the Bar Harbor Fine Art Show this weekend!  The show is on Mount Desert Island.  Hours of the show are from 9:00 am-5pm both days.  See you there! 

    Robert told me Daisy has spaghetti stains on her muzzle that is why Duke was cleaning her face.  Ok!  I didn't ask how the spaghetti got on Daisy's face.  I bet somehow Daisy ate some spaghetti.  Somehow.  

     Let's get out and paint! 
                

     I had all intentions of plein aire painting today.  I drove first to Castine.  Castine was just beautiful!  Look at this charming house!  Castine is known for beautiful Elm Trees.  I wonder if this is an Elm Tree to your left.  I did ask someone last year why they place aluminum around trees.  The aluminum prevents racoons from climbing the tree and damaging the tree!



     This Cape house reminded me of Willard Metcalf's painting "Little White House".  All I would need to do it in a painting would be to remove the white fence and place it diagonally in the painting so as to not fence out my viewer!



    Gigantic pink Poppies!  Wow!  I almost painted these!  I painted three paintings yesterday.  I may paint later tonight.



     From a lighthouse in Castine there are amazing ocean views with passing sailboats.  It is very quiet here.



    Here is Dyces Lighthouse in Castine.  I think the white blossoms are raspberry bushes blooming!



     I think this oceanview is amazing!  Frock flowers in the foreground.  Sumac's growing.



     Here is another photo of Dyce head.  A pretty cat came out and rolled around.



    Next stop was King's Mountain in Blue Hill.  A Lady donated this land to the town of Blue Hill in 1977 to be set aside as a conservation land.  Lupines grow all over here.  I climbed the granite steps to the top for you to see the view!



     Here is Blue Hill Bay.



     Here is my 10$ wicker chair parked now in my backyard so you can see the view.  Verona Island is in the distance.  There is a little dock by the salt water channel with a beautiful row boat!  The chair suffered a little more exiting the car. 

     I had the most fun suprise today.  I had a painting friend Roseann send me several cans of sardines she thinks are the best.  We both are sardine fans.  She prefers Goya Sardines in tomato sauce.  We both suffer light deprivation during the Winter.  Vitamin D is suppose to help.  Thanks for making my day Roseann.  I can't wait to try them! 

     I purchased a few presents for Daisy and Duke.  First I found a doggy stuffed animal in the shape of a snake.  I thought they would like to play tug of war with this toy.  I found some special treats good for their joints that contain sea cucumber.  They loved this treat but not the stuffed snake. 

     Daisy and Duke went to Sears island the other day with Robert.  Daisy swam out in the ocean after a loon.  She swam so far Robert said he could bearly see her!  Daisy swam a few feet up to the loon.  The loon spread it's feathers and scolded Daisy.  Daisy swam ashore.  Duke doesn't ever swim after seagulls or loons.  He just likes to hunt for frog in the shallow water.  

     Have a great day!  Get out and paint!

"Goosebump House" 6x6 Oil on copper.  (not finished yet).

     Today Sandy Dolan was at my house at 9:30 am.  It was another bright and sunny Summer day here in Maine!  We quickly decided to drive to Mount Desert Island.  Sandy said excitedly, "Let's paint the "million dollar house!".  So we set up here and started to paint. 

     Soon the man who owns the home came over to see what we were up too!  He was very pleased we were painting his home.  He gave us permission to paint anywhere on his property and park in his driveway.  He asked us to bring the paintings up to his house when we were finished. 

     We worked very hard for hours painting.  The wind was so fierce I painted holding my cigar box easel with one hand!  We showed the man our paintings.  He loved them both!  



"Amongst the Lupines and Daisy's" 8x10 Oil on copper.  (not finished yet)

     Next stop was a antique stored called Super Junkin.  The owner allowed us to paint anywhere, move anything around, and use his restroom.  I liked this 1950's wicker chair.  The bottom was rotted out.  I was hoping to think of a funny name for this painting. 



    Here is Elliot again today, the mascot of the antique store.  He climbed into my car for a while.  We kept on painting!



    We met the owners of this 1920's Ford Model T.  What a nice car! 



    "The Lupine Field" 8x10 Oil on Copper.  450$ Framed in gold shipped!

   Next stop was this lupine field in Southwest Harbor.  I brought my wicker chair with me today.  When we arrived at this painting location I placed my chair in someone's front yard!  The owner's of the house did not seem to be around.  The chair looked very pretty here!



    Here is the actual scene I painted.  Notice how I left out the white picket fence?  I didn't want to "fence out my viewer".  I put the white fence in behind the scene. 



    Thought I would show you some beautiful lupne fields! 



     I now have four ladies sign up for my "Renee's Maine" Ladies Plein aire Retreat!  One is flying in from Chicago!  Another lady is flying in from South Carolina!  Two ladies are driving 1100 miles from Illinois!  I have asked Sandy Dolan to participate as well!  She will help out incase things get busy!  She is very excited about this retreat too! 

     It has been very fun hearing from these ladies.  One lady said she loves to read the blog in the morning while drinking coffee.  The morning I posted the Ladies Retreat information, she knew she was going to do it!  She was so happy to finally visit where she has been seeing all of the photos and stories.  Another lady said something similar!  She has been reading this blog for a few months.  When she read about the Ladies Retreat, she called her best friend and said, "Did you read it?".  Her friend didn't know what she was talking about!  She had not been reading for a few days.  So she read the blog information about the retreat and said Wow!  Her husband read about the Ladies Retreat.  He said, "You must go!"  "This sounds too good to be true!". 

     I am very happy.  If I can do what I love to do... If I can share with other painters what I do each day... If I can make more painting friends...Then I will be very happy indeed!  

     I have two spaces open for the "Renee's Maine" experience!   Call me at (207) 479-9553.  Or email me at Theartistrenee@aol.com.  Thank you!  Here are a few more questions the ladies asked...

1.  Can I mail my painting equipment to your house?  Yes. 
2.  Do you have Gamsol available to use?  Yes!
3.  Will you have other dinner foods other than lobster?  Yes!
4.  Will there be a restroom nearby where we paint?  Yes!
5.  Will I have to hike very far?  No.  We will drive up and paint.  On Monhegan, once we get off the ferry, the wharf landing has amazing views 360 degrees around!  No hiking necessary.
6.  Will I need to carry my painting equipment?  Nope.  We have giant baby jogger.  It can carry over 100 pounds!
7.  Will you be doing a Fall "Renee's Maine"?  Yes!  September 15-21, 2011.  6 spaces are open!
8.  Will you be doing a Spring "Renee's Maine next year?  Yes!  June 2-9, 2012.  6 spaces are open.  Pay 50$ each month for 12 months installment payments to pay for you trip.

     Have a great night!  Get out and paint! 

"Peace and Quiet" 8x10 Sold today in my gallery.  It will be framed in a dark brown wood and shipped to West Virginia!

    Today was very fun!  I ran to Dunkin Donuts for large coffees and a dozen donuts for my special art collectors coming to my art gallery to see my paintings in person!  I showed them over a hundred paintings!  They said they were feeling dizzy with excitement!  They selected this painting.



"Another Maine Day" 6x8 Framed in brown wood.  Sold too. 

     Her husband had called a head of time to purchase this one.  I marked it sold on my website.  She checked the website before visiting Maine to see her favorite painting sold.  Then in the gallery she saw it available.  Her husband took her over to the painting.  He said, "Is this the painting you like?"  She said, "Yes".  He said I bought this one for you a few weeks ago!  She said, "So you were the one!"  They had a good laugh. 



"Fishbeach's Sunlight and Shadows" 6x6 Sold next! 

      She selected this painting too.  It will be framed in a dark wood frame.  The dark wood really brought out the sunlight in the painting. 

     I asked her to pick out a free painting.  She selected a small wave splashing on Acadia rocks.  Then I presented them with a bottle of champagne to celebrate their recent marriage.  We drank our coffee and ate our donuts.  Their little black poodle, Ferona, was carried by the gentleman the whole time.  Daisy and Duke were sequestered in the art studio upstairs.  They would not have understood another furry friend in their house! 



"The Wicker Chair" 8x10 Sold on the way out the door!  The gentleman saw this painting earlier and just decided it must be in his collection.  He said it reminded him of something in his childhood.  The painting spoke to him!  I will frame this one in dark brown wood also.  When I held up the painting against another smaller dark wood frame, the bright greens and oranges just glowed.  We all oooohhhed! 

   

     Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

"Lupines, Buttercups, and Clover" 6x6 Oil on Copper  framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free.  Sold!

    I drove to Southwest Harbor to my favorite Lupine field on Mount Desert Island.  I took my newly purchased 10$ wicker chair.  I posed the chair amongst the Lupines and Buttercups.  Tourists stopped to photograph the Lupines and loved my wicker chair in the field.  They admired my painting in progress too. 

     Yesterday the wicker chair was backlit so was much darker in toned blending almost into the grass.  Today I posed the wicker chair in direct sunlight head on.  I think the chair is tricky to draw.  I am enjoying painting the chair! 



     I am not sure how many more painting trips the wicker chair will be able to go on.  The chair seems to be a little rotten thus the 10$ price.  It sure does have character though.  I painted till it started to sprinkle!

     Here I am today painting the chair.  I post photos of me painting as proof I really do plein aire paint!  Many painters say they plein aire paint, but they don't really.  They might go outside and paint once a year.  Even at professional plein aire events I have met painters there who are inside painting!  



   I was trying to create the color of a Lupine.  I took a blossom, mixed up the right color, and put that color paint in the right spot on the painting.  I learned this from a Richard Schmid plein aire painting video.  It is interesting how many purples and blues are in one little Lupine blossom.  The Lupine is a very complicated structure and color to paint.  

     At outdoor art shows people come to find Lupine paintings.  They are extremely picky about the painting of a Lupine.  They are Lupine painting critics!  They will just outrightly tell you, "Nope, that is not the way a Lupine is made."  or if you are lucky, "Yes, that looks just like a Lupine!"  or "The Lupine color is wrong".  So I am really trying to make my Lupines right!   

    I always admire this cow on the way home in Ellsworth.  The cow has a beautiful red barn and wonderful field.



     I would like to paint this someday on location.  I would have to knock on the owner's door and ask permission. 



     Very close to my home in Bucksport are these cute cottages near Toddy Pond for rent.  No one was there to inquire about the price.  Nice place to visit or paint!

     Have a great day!  Get out and paint those Lupines! 

"The Wicker Chair" 8x10 Oil on copper.  Sold.

     Today was an interesting day.  I drove to Mount Desert Island again.  There are so many things to paint there!  I decided I wanted to find an old wicker chair, buy it, and take it to a lupine field, and paint it!  That is exactly what I did.  After two antique stores, I scored at Super Junkin near Indian Point on Mount Desert Island.  I have known the guy who owns the place for four years.  He knows I am a painter,  will allow me access to paint anything for free, and gives me an incredible deal.  Plus he has a new very young  girl friend.  So he was extra happy, thinner, and radiating!  For 10$ he sold me this wicker chair.  There were Lupines right there at the antique store so he said I could paint out front of his store.  People came to shop for antiques and checked out my painting and then I gave them my card! 



    Here is young Elliot, the golden retriever, who is the mascot of the Super Junking Antique store.  Last year when Elliot was only a few months old, he found himself an old doll.  He was tearing the blonde hair out of the antique doll as I asked the store owner for a price on something.  I pointed to Elliot and the man said it was fine.  Elliot was welcome to have anything in the store.  Today Elliot was playing with the black cat just as he was doing last year.  This time while I was painting, Elliot had a hold of the black cat.  The black cat was upside down on his back.  Elliot had him between his paws and was playfully biting the neck of the cat.  I would hear playful little growls from Elliot and meows for the cat. 

     A few hours later the black cat had captured a baby chipmunk.  The other two cats came running to see.  The black cat wasn't hurting the chipmunk, only showing off to his cat comrades.  He would let the chipmunk go and recapture it.  Finally he let him be.  The chipmunk ran off to his mother somewhere I am sure.

     I saw some ducks at a pond in someone's yard.  I stopped and was taking photos of them.  I love painting white things.



      I had taken many photos when a white duck started to jump on a black duck and hold him under water.  He had the black duck by the neck and was seriously trying to drown him!  I looked over to see if the owner was anywhere.  No one.  I was about ready to leap over the fence to save the black duck when the duck escaped.  He spread out his wings and really gave the white duck some serious words.  I was so relieved.  I don't think anything romatic was going on at all.  There were many ducks in a small area.  Maybe too many ducks.  They were beautiful!  Funny how all the animals I saw today were up to something!  Must have been the excellent weather!

 

"March of the Pink Dresses" sold today at the Coco Vivo Fine Art Gallery in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.  I have sold two paintings there since April. at this Gallery!  I am so happy about this!  The only problem with painting and selling small paintings is you need to sell a lot of them to exist!  I should sit down someday and determine how many paintings I need to sell to make 30,000$ a year.  I think it must be about 350 paintings or more at 300$ each.  It costs a lot to create a painting.  

     I hope you are enjoying your Summer!  Get out and paint!

"Lupines and Blackflies" 8x10 Oil on Copper panel.  450$ Framed and shipped for free!

     Stapleton Kearns calls this house, "The Million Dollar House".  He painted this house often and sold many paintings of this house.  He told me, "You should paint that house".  I don't think I would have unless he sort of gave me permission to paint his, "The Million Dollar House".  It was a lot of fun paintng the Lupines.  Two blackflies decided to add themselves to the painting.  I left the blackflies.  I think they add something to the painting.  Why can't an elegant seen have a fun title?



     Here is a sketch I always start off with.  It helps me relax after traveling long distances to the location.  It also helps me get to know the subject.  I make mistakes of placement on the sketch.  Sometimes I do several sketches until I am happy with the design. 



     Here is a close up of "The Million Dollar House".  Someone was home but never came out to see what I was up to.  If I lived here I would have come out to see what the painter did!  Especially because so many different painters come here to paint!  This is my first attempt at Lupines en plein aire.  I really enjoyed painting Lupines.  Tomorrow it is suppose to be sunny.  I am going out to paint Lupines again!!!



"Lupines By The Sea" 8x10 Oil on Copper panel.  450$ Framed and Shipped for free! Sold.

     In Southwest Harbor on Mount Desert Island there is a side street off of 102 called Cable Crossing Road.  It is the a popular road for young couples to park by the sea late in the evening, "Lover's Lane".  The property is owned by a land conservation.  Friends of Acadia own the land.   People stopped and took a look at my painting.  One family drove up, said the painting was beautiful, and asked how much?  I told them the price.  I gave them my business card.  Then they thanked me and took off!  You just never know!  I always assume the sale.  You just can't be doubtful. 



     One blog reader commented they just loved the baby donkey.  Today I stopped by to take a few more photos.  They are adoreable!  There are two mothers each with a baby. 







     Hopefully this photo took you away from whatever was worrying you and made you smile!



     Here are a few skiff photos.  I love skiffs!







     Busy day!  Painted all morning, afternoon, until the sun set!  I am pleased with both of my paintings today!  I can see some progress.  Tomorrow I hope you get out and paint!  It is suppose to be really beautiful here!  Call in sick if you have to!

    As you are walking back from Swimbeach on Monhegan Island as the sun is about to set you will see this scene.  Many great painters have painted right here for over a hundred years.



     This is a Chestnut tree in blossom on the left.  Up the hill is the Trailing Yew where I stay and also Lobster Cove where Jamie Wyeth owns a house. 



   On Fishbeach many beautiful skiffs are parked by fishhouses used by the lobsterman to row to their lobsterboats! I prefer the evening light on Fishbeach.  All of the grey wood fishhouses become golden!



     Here is Swimbeach at sunset.



Sunset up the path towards Cathedral Woods. 



     Sunset at Monhegan Wharf where the Monhegan Ferry pulls up to.  You will walk right off the boat down the ramp.  

     Hopefully tomorrow I will get back to painting!  Monhegan Island painting trip was very fruitful but exhausting!  Taxes may be done soon!  Maybe I will have some peace of mind after I sign the income tax return.  I have learned being a plein aire painter has it's benefits for taxes.  Each mile I travel to paint or take photos I get 50 cents a mile as a deduction.  So the 19,000 miles I drove to paint last year were the saving grace!  Attending plein aire events all over the United States may prove to be a tax advantage.  I had not thought of this.   

     Daisy and Duke went on a field trip with Robert this morning.  They are snoring tonight!  

     I have been painting watercolors for invitations to see my 100 paintings at the Bar Harbor Art Show June 25 and 26.  It is a group outdoor show on the green right in the middle of Bar Harbor.  Many great painters will be at this show.  My goal is to pay for the propane gas for the Winter season!  I sure do like to keep warm.  I confess this Winter I had the temperatures in the sunroom close to 80 degrees!  Daisy and Duke thought the house was a sauna!  

     Have a great night.  Get out and paint!  Even if it is misting! 

     Here are some great photos of Monhegan Island!

     I drove over 19,000 miles last year to plein aire paint.  I think this is one of the reasons why I like to visit Monhegan Island.  I don't have to drive and there are paintings to be painted everywhere.  Painters for over a hundred years have visited to paint Monhegan.  Monhegan Island is like a convention for plein aire painters.  It is the place to be during July and August.  Art Collectors from all over the world come to Monhegan to see painters in action!

     Daisy ate another loaf of bread this morning.  I don't know how she does it!  I know I could not eat an entire loaf of bread.  Robert put a loaf on the counter to bring with him to work.  Dutch people love to eat wheat bread.  I guess other people do too, but in Holland, eating wheat bread with various toppings is the ritual for breakfast.  Maybe Daisy is Dutch? 

     Have a great night!  Get out and paint!  I do hope we have a sunny clear day!  It was gray and 55 degrees today.

"Monhegan's Swimbeach" 8x10 Sold!



"To Lobster Cove" 6x6 Sold!

     I am thankful I have a few very dedicated art collectors who cherish my paintings!  I have found an excellent home for two more Monhegan Island paintings!  Daisy and Duke had ice cream last night to celebrate the painting sales!  The extra sugar made Daisy run all the way down the hill in the backyard after a fast flying crow!  Duke ran too!  Thank you for purchasing these two painting!

     Here are a few more photos of Monhegan Island.  Some are sunsets and some are sunrises! 



Monhegan Island's wharf.



Manana Island.



Beautiful night at sunset!



Close up of the horizon!



Sunrise over an island near Manana and Monhegan!

     Have a great night!  Get out and paint!  Lupines are all over Maine!  I may go paint a few Lupines tomorrow!

    First you will drive to Port Clyde and jump on a Monhegan Ferry.  For a glorious hour you will watch islands pass by.  You might see seals resting on an island!



    When you arrive at the Monhegan Wharf, there will be trucks waiting to take your luggage up to your hotel.  There are three hotels to choose from.  I always stay at the Trailing Yew. 



     There are Eider Ducks sunning themselves all over the island.



    There are only a few trucks on Monhegan.  So you have to walk to any destination.  Here is a path to Fishbeach where I most like to paint.  The island in the distance is Manana. 



     There are apple trees in bloom in early June!



    Here is the Monhegan and Manana Island harbor at sunset.



    There are a few hills to hike up and down through out the island.  This is the Main Street so to speak.  The large building with the turet is a fancy hotel called Island Inn.  The Trailing Yew is on the left hand side here. 



     There are many views to paint along the Main Street. 



    Here is the famous red house at Swim Beach.  Love to paint here!  Sun is just about ready to set.





    If you are up for hiking, there are 15 miles of hiking trails on this small island.  Some people hike around the entire island.  Seagulls are nesting right now by Blackhead, Whitehead, and Little Whitehead.  In order to get here you must be able to hike up cliffs!  I am not joking here. 



   Last year there was a seagull with a nest in this very spot.  There is a perfect crevice within rocks where a nest will not fall down the cliffs.  Some nests do fall.  I saw a few gulls inspecting a tumbled nest.  I also saw some nest stealing going on.  I could spend a few hours watching them.  Aren't they pretty? 

      Duke and Daisy went out front of the house last night for their last walk.  I heard Robert yell out, "Noooo!  Duke come here!"  I ran with the leashes out front too.  Duke was gasping for air.  Robert told me he had gotten skunked!  I leashed Duke up.  I did get a lot of skunk juice on me as I tried to get him leashed up!  Daisy was not apart of the skunk incident again!  She wanted inside of the house.  Somehow Daisy is very smart about skunks. 

    Robert ran and got a half a bottle of skunk neutralizer.  I rubbed it into Duke's fur as well as I could.  Then we went inside the house.  Duke rolled all over the wool rugs.  We knew this was not good.  The entire house wreaked!  He was shaking skunk juice all over the gallery!  I had to wipe off one painting.  I can say that painting really stinks now! 

     Today was all about hydrogen peroxide and baking soda!  I washed Duke.  I washed the wood floors with it!  I washed all of the wool rugs outside.  I am sure my Maine neighbors have never seen anyone clean rugs like I do. 

    When all of the cleaning was done, I could still smell skunk!  It was me!  My tennis shoes and hands are skunked.  I am a smelly mess.  I had to cancel my Nantucket trip.  I honestly don't want to stink up their beautiful bed and breakfast.  I am too exhausted to paint anything!  I still love skunks though. 

     Allison Hill on the left painting the famous red house!  Sandy Dolan is walking up the main street.  



    Here I am painting a red house near the hotel the Trailing Yew.  We had sunshine each day!  



     Sandy Dolan painting on Fishbeach!  



   I was having fun trying to take dynamic photos of her painting.  Sandy is a professional photographer!  She might like this!  I hope!



   Here is Sandy Dolan painting at the Monhegan Wharf at sunrise!



    Here I am navigating our painting gear all inside the amazing baby jogger!  This is before sunrise!  We were so hardworking!



    Here I am painting intensely with a riggor brush on Fishbeach!  I omitted the toliet!



    This is the hotel we stayed at called Trailing Yew.  Per person the price is 120$ a night including breakfast and dinner.  Most painters stay here.  I perfer to stay in the Seagull Cottage.  There is no electic, gas lanterns are provided, and the rooms are so quaint!  We stayed in the annex where there was electric.  The food is incredible!!! Fresh homemade donuts, eggs, bacon, muffins, hot cereals for breakfast!  Dinners: roastbeef, haddock, turkey, fish cakes, homemade breads, soup, salads, deserts!  Oh my!  The funny thing about the Trailing Yew is trying to reserve a room!  You have to email them or call at a particular time!  We didn't make any reservations.  We just took the ferry, gave the truck our luggage, and walked to the hotel to see if there was room.  I like living slightly on the edge!  Early Summer can be a slower time.  



    Here is Frank.  I can't remember his last name.  He was staying on Monhegan teaching a class.  He was working on nice sunsets while we were there!  Nice guy.



    Here I am painting at Swimbeach.  Manana Island is in the distance.  Love all of the skiffs, oil skins, and traps here.  

     Daisy and Duke enjoyed their idea of a human spa day!  I took them to Craig's pond where they chased polly wogs for an hour.  They loved the clear cool water. There are no snakes here in Maine!  No alligators to worry about.  

      I layed down on the boat ramp. There was not a soul at the pond.   I listened for the continual two different splashings going on.  If one stopped I looked up to make sure I still had both dogs near me.  They are escape artists! 

     We must have stayed at the pond for two hours. 

     Then we drove to McDonalds.  Duke and Daisy both enjoyed a double cheeseburger without ketchup.  They even had a few french fries. 

      Then they enjoyed a cool refreshing bath with deodorizing shampoo!  I brushed them each.  Now they are sleeping!   Tonight they will have a Frosty Paws Ice Cream treat just for being good dogs!  It is nice to be home.  Tomorrow I will share with you some amazing photos of Monhegan Island!!!

    

"Monhegan Island's Swim Beach" 8x10 Oil on Copper panel.  Sold!

    I spent the last four days on Monhegan Island painting these eleven paintings plein aire!  I painted very hard at each of these paintings on location!  I think they are my best Monhegan Island paintings yet.  I really enjoyed my painting trip.  

     If you might like to add one of these new Monhegan Island paintings to your collection, you can purchase them under the painting heading at the top of this page!  Paypal will be available if you click on the painting photograph to enlarge.  I will include a Monhegan Island watercolor 5x7 thank you card.  As an extra bonus there will be a cracker jack painting suprise inside of the box!  I do like to make purchasing a painting fun and exciting!  You just never know what little painting will be included as a free gift!

     This is one of my favorite paintings I completed on the painting trip!  Alison Hill was painting behind me.  We chatted some while we painted.  Her painting was coming out smashing!  She paints very large and effortlessly! 

     My painting friend Sandy Dolan came with me to Monhegan.  On her Facebook wall I wrote, "Be at the Monhegan Ferry in Port Clyde for the 10:30 am departure to Monhegan."  She called me at 9:30 am and said can you pick me up on your way to Port Clyde?  I said, "Sure!".  She didn't know how long we would be staying.  We had so much fun!   She was a hard worker!  We painted all morning, afternoon, and sunsets!  This was her first painting trip.  She really did well! 



"To Lobster Cove" 6x6 Oil on Copper  Sold!

    I really love how this one came out.  We had just arrived at Monhegan Island.  We stayed at the Trailing Yew.  Rooms were each 120$ a night including breakfast and dinner.  We loaded up the baby jogger with both our painting equipment.  We only traveled a few feet to the main path when I saw this scene!  Luckily Sandy liked the scene too.  So we went no further!  Her painting really turned out well too.



"Monhegan Wharf Sunset" 6x6 Oil on Copper 350$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free!

     At the end of each painting day after dinner, it was difficult getting the motivation to walk to the wharf with painting equipment.  We did end up painting two sunsets.  One sunset we were there all ready with our gear but lacked any kind of energy to paint.  We each said the mountain cliff climbing we did for a few hours one day might have not been a great idea.  We were trying to find seagulls on their nests.  We did see some beautiful seagulls on nests. 



"Monhegan and Manana" 6x6 Oil on Copper 350$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free! Sold.

     This is a popular fishhouse to paint and photograph.  We met the couple staying in this cottage.  They invited us inside to have a look.  The views are amazing.  The cottage is quaint with a slight fish smell from the lobster bait many years ago.  The couple were fun to talk to.  They were almost a part of the island. 



"Monhegan Cottage at Sunset" 6x6 Oil on Copper 350$  Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped free!

    This is the other sunset painting finished at the Monhegan wharf.  This cottage sits by the sea with amazing 360 degree views.  This particular night the sunset might have been the most dramatic.  When the sun came out of the clouds a cheer could be heard from painters all over the island.  I too cheered!



"Magical Day in Cathedral Woods" 8x10 Oil on Copper 500$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped!

     We loaded up the baby jogger each day making our way to various painting locations.  One of these days I suggested going into Cathedral Woods.  Sandy had never painted inside of a forest before.  I told her how these woods were special.  There was a special green light that made the place seem magical!  So she and I manuvered the baby jogger loaded to the top over tree trunk limbs and rocks.  We didn't really have to travel far before we each found a spot to paint. 

      I liked the fallen older beautiful Spruce trees in contrast with the young Spruce trees.  There was a whole generation of Spruces before me!  The colors were just amazing.  I tackled this painting differently.  I drew out the scene first.  I drew circles were the brightest greens and the brightest oranges were.  I painted those in fast.  Then I drew more circles where just the lightest lights were.  I painted those lights in the circle areas.  Then I dove into the darkest darks with a combination of Prussian Blue and Quinacridone Red.  Once I had all these areas painted.  I relaxed a little.  I concentrated on the lighter green light.  I concentrated on the reds on the forest's floor.  Then I painted more darks, more warms, more cools!

     If I were able to keep a painting, I would keep this one!



"Fishbeach's Sunlight and Shadows" 6x6 Oil on Copper 350$ Framed in light gold!  Sold!

    I love the white chairs at Fish Beach.  The sun shines on them so elegantly even though there might be some other interesting items a foot away, like a abandoned toliet.  I just omitted some of these things.  I liked the light shining in between these fishhouses.  The shadows created by the fishhouses are interesting too.  I try to find contrasts even if they are simple! 



"Sunrise on Fishbeach" 6x6 Oil on copper 350$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free.

    One of us motivated the other to get up at 4:50 am, hike with painting equipment to the wharf, and paint the sunrise.  I can't remember who's wise idea this was.  We both decided to sleep in after doing this once.  The light was really amazing though.  The tops of the Spruce became an orange and the sun hit them!  The water was a very soft light blue green that shimmered!  Lavender clouds blew by!  The fishhouses were a bright yellow and orange as the sunlight fell on them.  In the shadows the fishhouses were lavenders, greens, blues!  I decided to not paint the windows.  They just didn't seem important!  It was all about the morning sunlight! 



"Fishhouses" 6x6 Oil on copper.  350$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped free!

     The fog started to roll in as we were painting on Fishbeach.  The sun was still shining so we had an interesting light as seen in the painting.  These fishhouses are still in use holding rotting sardines used for lobstertraps!  I love the skiffs always parked infront of these fishhouses.  Each lobsterman has a skiff parking spot! 



"Monhegan Island Chicken Coop" 6x6 Oil on Copper 350$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped free!

     We just had to paint this beautiful chicken coop.  The owner of the property, Donna, told us she painted this coop the Dr. Who Time Machine blue.  There were three roosters and three hens.  We heard a lot from the roosters each early morning.  I really enjoyed painting this one.  I can now paint in roosters and hens on location!  I drew them alot at home and so now I know how they are shaped!  I painted in dandelions in the foreground.  The roosters combs are a bright red in the painting.  Not sure why this photo of the painting turned out with orange combs.  There were apple trees in bloom everywhere!  June is the very best time to go to Monhegan!  Lupines, poppies, and apple bloosoms were just beautiful.



"Trailing Yew's Seagull Cottage" 8x10 Oil on Copper 450$ Framed in light gold wood!  Shipped! 

     We just had to have a go at Don Stone's painting scene he is known for on Monhegan Island!  The laundry disappeared as it became dried!  The apple tree was in bloom creating a beautiful feeling of early Summer! 

     Tomorrow I will show you many photos of Monhegan Island and tell you a few tales!  You won't want to miss this!

      Tried to get my tire fixed but they need to order a new one.  Still waiting on my 2010 taxes to be done!  Funny in Florida the taxes are done in 30 minutes.  Maybe the taxes in Florida are not done well.  Or maybe they do so many more they are faster!  Either way, Summer is passing me by.  I don't take Summer for granted living here in Maine!  Since I can't really drive much.  I need to stay close by.  I decided I just as well should be on Monhegan Island working! 



"Monhegan Fishhouses" 11x14 oil on copper.  Sold four years ago.  I painted this plein aire inside of the Eider Duck house with many studio painters standing behind me watching.  They had never seen a plein aire painter operate.  They were very experienced painters and teachers.  It was funny answering their questions.  Some of their remarks weren't all together nice.  But I perservered and kept painting until I finished!  I thought it would be fun to look at my earlier work on Monhegan!



"Monhegan Bell" Oil on copper.  Sold a year ago.  I remember drawing the bell alone for days trying to get it right!  A friend visiting from Florida watched patiently for two days.  It was raining so we had to stay inside the Airstream.  It was either paintor watch tv.  I painted.  She watched me. 



"Monhegan Artist" Oil on copper.  Sold a few years ago.  I remember painting this!  I was eating someone else's raspberries!  They were the best raspberries I have ever eaten!  Of course, they were grown on Monhegan!



"Monhegan Resident" Oil on Copper.  Sold too.  I always liked this painting.  Now a good friend of mine owns it!



"Monhegan Rendevous" Oil on copper.  I sold this one four years ago.  A lady bought 14 paintings in one day.  I will never forget that!  Really loved this painting.

"Monhegan Seagull Nesting" Oil on copper.  Sold this last Summer.  I liked this one.  It was the first gull painting done right infront of the seagull!  I don't know why I was so nervous. I was painting like I was on fire!   Maybe I saw the movie "The birds" too many times!!!



"Monhegan Siamese" Sold to an art professor!  I was drawn to paint this scene then remembered the two siamese cats I owned when I was a young kid.  Woke up and Mom had sold them.  Never got to say good bye.  Very sad even now.




"Monhegan Island Seagull Nest" Sold last year.  This was the first seagull nest I did.  So many people told me how great it was I took notice!  I painted a few more since then.  I hope to paint more nests on Monhegan.  They should be nesting now!



"Nest" 6x6 Oil on copper.  Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free.  350$.  This is a really pretty nest.  I might paint five nests to get a nice one.  I literally have 12 nest paintings in a bad nest egg painting pile ready to be sand papered off!  I think I have a better idea of what I do wrong.  So maybe I will start to paint each nest painting great!  

Have a great night.  I will post my Monhegan Island paintings and many photos when I return.  Hope you enjoyed my reviewing past Monhegan Island sold paintings.  They really weren't too bad!  Get out and paint while I am gone now.

     After dropping my paintings off at Coco Vivo Gallery in Boothbay yesterday, I headed to South Port.  I was looking forward to paint two tugs at a restaurant. I had been thinking of painting these two tugs all Winter long!  The tugs were not there!



   Here is the old General Prat's Store.  I looked it the windows to see an old fashioned bowling alley and long counter. 



     Down at the docks there is a great view to paint!  I left here quickly in pursuit of the elusive tug boats.  A lobsterman told me they were in Bath!  Off I drove to Bath.  
 
    In Bath, Maine, I had a house key imbedded into my tire creating a bad flat.  A fireman at the firestation changed my tire.  Got to really appreciate the firemen!  The tug boat was located in an area you had to have special clearance to get into!  Oh no!  So I drove home on my dummy tire. 

      I stopped at Moody's Diner a famous restaurant.  I had a New England Boiled Dinner.  I had no idea what to expect.  It was boiled corned beef, beets, carrot, a potatoe, a hunk of cabbage.  There were no seasonings. But they put a bottle of vinegar on my table.  Hmmm.  I ate it plain.

       I ordered Indian Pudding.  I liked the old fashioned whipped creme.  I am afraid I was not a fan of Indian Pudding.  I have never eated anything like it before.  I do not know what Indian Pudding is! 

      There are only a few things I don't like to eat so I was very suprised!  I don't like pickled pigs feet.   

      I don't like bone marrow sandwiches.  

      Now I can add to my list of things I don't like to eat...Indian Pudding!  This seems strange!

      My accountant has been trying to do our taxes for 2010 for four days!  Each day I bring her new papers she requests.  I am hoping this will be done soon.   I have had to cancel my NJ painting trip.  I had no idea doing my taxes would take so long!   

        Here is a cute photo of my golden retriever, Duke!  

He has such cute little feet for a big dog!



    I hope you have a great night!  Get out and paint!  It will lower your blood pressure! 

    

    

"Peace and Quiet"  8x10 Oil on copper panel.  450$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free! Sold.

    Last night I painted all night till I couldn't hold my brush anymore!  I love painting skiffs and dories.  I haven't seen too many skiffs lately.  They seem to be universally recognized subject matter.  They can be appreciated at any age.  The symbolic meaning can be left to the viewer's imagination.  I knew I was driving to Coco Vivo, a gallery in Boothbay.  Subconsciously I might have been thinking about this journey.  Boats could symbolize journey. 

    I drove to a beautiful gallery, the Coco Vivo, in Boothbay.  I had ten nicely framed paintings for them.  The gallery sitter was there to take them.  She was impressed!  She loved the story behind the copper.  She wanted to know how long they took to paint.  I noticed my prices were 50% less than the lowest price in the gallery.  I didn't see anything lower than 650$.  My prices started at 200$ and went up to 800$.  One of the painters was Tony Van Hassalt.  I remember my Mom giving me one of his books when I was very young.  It is nice to be in a gallery with him.  

     On the way home I stopped to see the belted galloways in Rockport, Maine.  There was a tan colored belted galloway.  The owner said he was a type of belted galloway called dun.  He told me belted galloways come in three colors.  He called out to the cows in a high pitched call.  They cows all came running!  Then he just petted a few.  He wanted to demonstrate they would come when called.  Here are the cutest photos ever!









     I must get to work painting!  Have a great night!  Get out and paint!  It is good for your cholesterol!

"Blossoming Crab Apple Tree" 6x6 Oil on Copper panel.  Sold!

     I worked all night until 1:30 am refining this plein aire painting I started earlier that day.  I really am happy with this painting.  It just celebrates Summer!  I have always loved this white house near Tremont Wharf.  Four years ago the house was forsale for 695,000$.  Now it is forsale for 395,000$.  It overlooks the harbor and Tremont Wharf! 



"Spring At Port Clyde" 8x10 Oil on Copper panel.  450$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free

     Next up on the easel last night was this painting.  I reworked many things on the painting.  I painted out the bright orange buoys in the left hand side foreground...too distracting!  I like the feeling of this foggy painting now. 

Here are a few photos of Bernard on Mount Desert Island where I painted yesterday!












     This last photo is in Trenton on Oak Point Rd.  I really wanted to paint this view.  I didn't get the courage up to ask permission!  Love the birch, apple tree, cape cod home, and Cadillac Mountain in the distance!

      Daisy was frightened out of her mind about morning lightening storm again!  Poor Daisy!  She is sound asleep now!  This is a great idea!  Have a great day.  Feel free to take a nap!  I might!