"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.

Exciting News - Castine Plein Air Festival

I've got some exciting news! I've been chosen to participate in the Castine Plein Air Festival on July 27th, in Castine Maine. I'm very excited about this. Having done the Laudholm Farm Wet Paint Auction in Wells several times, I've been looking to participate in one of the plein air events that are becoming popular. This one looks like a lot of fun. If you are going to be anywhere near Castine in late July, please do stop by, we've got some great painters participating. And Castine is a very pretty Maine seacoast town, and home of the Maine Maritime Academy.

Provencal Tree Study

Tree Study

~ 4"x6" oil on board

Julian gave us a lesson in painting trees, focusing on giving them some variety and a shape other than that of a lollipop on a stick. Isn't it interesting how the longer you work on a painting the more regular and evenly spaced everything becomes, even when you started out with lots of variety and interesting shapes? We have to fight against that. I think I succeeded here. Thank you, Julian.

"Provencal Irises"

"Provencal Irises"

6"x8" oil on board

This is another painting from the Julian Merrow-Smith workshop. Julian worked with several of us; doing a short demo, explaining the process, and giving advice. For some photos of us at work, take a look here (Julian is in the orange fleece); and for our paintings, look here (scroll down to irises).

"Provencal Window"

"Provencal Window"

8"x6" oil on panel

my paintings ready to be packed up for the show

I'm back from France, where blogging from my ipad didn't go so well. It was such a great trip. If you have the opportunity to take a workshop with Julian Merrow-Smith next year, grab it. An amazing experience.

Above is my painting of a window at La Madelene, the wonderful house where we stayed. Several people were captivated by the house, and Julian showed us examples of how painters have treated shadows on this type of building. It was fun playing with color!

This painting will be in our show at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery that opens this weekend. I'd love to see you at the opening, which runs from 4-7PM. The other photo shows my 14 paintings all framed and ready for packing up to take to the gallery. They are all there now, ready for the show.

Julian Merrow-Smith workshop

Farmhouse
~ 4"x6" oil on board

It's wonderful here in Provence with Julian and his first group of painters. We are being well taken care of by Philip and Jude, with fabulous food and wine and their beautiful house. Ruth and Louis join us for lunch. So far we've all painted near the house; farms, vines, cherry trees, irises, vistas of Mount Ventoux. This farm is behind the house.

Off to France and Upcoming Show

"Boatyard"

10"x10" oil on Raymar panel

Lucky Lady

10"x10" oil on Raymar panel

Sunset at Minsterial Island

6"x12" oil on Ramar panel

Millpond

16"x16" oil on canvas

Above are a few of my recent paintings that will be part of the upcoming show at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery in June and July. We'll have an opening from 4-7 at the gallery on Saturday, June 1, and I'd love to see you there.

Tomorrow evening I'm off to France for a few days in Vaison-la-Romaine, and then a week of studying with Julian Merrow-Smith, of Postcards from Provence fame. I am so excited about this trip, and will be posting as I go. What a fabulous opportunity, to study with Julian. And an interestingly organized workshop, with everything provided for the students, all materials and equipment. We students are saying at La Madelene, where the food and will wine will no doubt be superb. What could be more fun?

"Peppers"

"Peppers"

6"x8" oil on canvas on card

Another painting for the show that opens on June 1 at Yarmouth Frame and Gallery.

"Painters at Port-en-Bessin"

"Painters at Port-en-Bessin"

8"x10" oil on Raymar panel

I've finally finished this painting started last June in France. Derek Daniells, Steven Alexander, and Haidee-Jo Summers paint the fishing boats in Port-en-Bessin, Normandy.