"Maine Maritime Tug"

"Maine Maritime Tug"

8"x10" oil on Raymar panel

The tug and the painting, with the training ship, State of Maine, tied up behind.

I had a wonderful time yesterday painting in the first ever Castine Plein Air Festival, in Castine, ME. It was a marvelous experience, despite rain on Friday when we artists were trying to check out the painting spots. The weather turned beautiful on Saturday for the event, which ended with a very well attended opening last night. I met some wonderful artists, and enjoyed painting at the harbor and at Wadsworth Cove. The later was a pleasant respite after finishing my first painting, above; with a nice breeze and the sound of a lobster boat engine out in the bay. What could be better?

I want to thank painter Dan Graziano, who organized the festival, and the Castine Art Association, especially, president Don Tenney, and his wife Marty, who opened their house to two of us artists, showed us good places to paint, and were terrific hosts. They can be very proud of their first festival. If you like to paint en plein air, check it out next year. I'd love to do it again.

"Broad Cove Morning"

"Broad Cove Morning"

Tim's view

A few PAPME members brave the fog

Last Sunday morning I painted from my friend Tim's yard in Yarmouth. The view is Broad Cove, a mile wide shallow cove on the edge of Casco Bay. Our family cottage is on the left bank near the bay end and the kids love to swim there because the water is warmed by the mud flats which get sun at low tide.

I was out painting several times last week, but mostly wiped off the results. It was fun to join the Plein Air Painters of Maine on Wednesday in East Boothbay (I love that place!), but the weather wasn't cooperating, see the painters in the fog? It's what we call "Maine in the summer". Better weather arrived on Friday.

"Gilsland Late Winter"

"Gilsland Late Winter"

10"x8" oil on Raymar panel

This is my second plein air painting this year, done on February 22. There I was, standing in the mud, loving every minute of it.

Please join us on Saturday from 4-6 PM at the Yarmouth Frameshop and Gallery for the artist's talk on our French Show which opened in February. Joelle, Suzanne, Kitty, and I will all be there.

"Farm Pines February"

"Farm Pines February"

10"x8" oil on Raymar panel

The last couple of weeks I've been able to get out a few times to paint en plein air. This is my first of the season, from February 19th. Amazing to be painting relatively comfortably outside this time of year! And so welcome. I tried to remember everything we learned in our fall class with Tina Ingraham, and couldn't resist a little calligraphy in the treetops.