July 7, 2009 - New daily oils

Some new 6 X 6" oils on masonite. One from a few weeks ago and one from last week. Have been working mostly on larger pieces (24 X 24 and larger) inspired by the Great Spruce Head Island experience.

First one: A coastal landscape...I just love the ochre colors of low tide. Second one: The Kenduskeag Stream not far from my home.

July 5, 2009

Just returned from the Turtle Gallery opening for my dear friend Linda Funk, showing her stunning botanical paintings through August 1.  I can't recommend this show highly enough. Showing also through August 1 is Larry Moffet's work: oil and pastel landscapes and his new jewelry work. Was great to see him again, and timely, as he is the first person to tell me about Great Spruce Head Art Week.

July 4, 2009, more Art Week work

These are two small pastels done on one of the painting porches at Great Spruce Head Island. The foggy islands are typical of the weeks' views and the other is my version of what I might see on a clear day. Maybe next time!

July 3- The one afternoon of sun...Art Week

I did get my easel and pastels out to the orchard during the brief period of sun one afternoon.

July 3- Island woods from Art Week

While the island offered wonderful coastal views, I found the woods equally colorful and intriguing. These are 3 small, 6 X 6 inch oils on masonite. Two were from views from the various painting porches and the last from memory of a wooded path that I walked the day I arrived on the island.

July 3 - Art Week food

The food was incredible during the week, thanks to our culinary artists, Barney and Kreston. I wish I had photographed some of the presentations. All homemade meals with locally grown fabulous produce, and desserts to die for. I did this little gouache of a bowl of peaches one rainy day.

June 20-27, 2009 Art Week at Great Spruce Head Island

An extraordinary experience. Art Week is an annual event centered at Fairfield Porter's family summer retreat on Great Spruce Head Island, and graciously hosted by Anina Porter Fuller, herself an accomplished painter. Since 1993, each summer Anina has invited a group of 12 artists, (painters, writers, sculptors, photographers) to Great Spruce Head Island. The island offers not only bold and majestic views for inspiration but an environment of quiet simplicity where little has changed since the island was purchased and the 12-room summer cottage was built in 1912. It was a time of creativity and sharing that I will treasure forever. If you are not familiar with the work of Fairfield Porter, you can view online a large collection of his paintings at the Parrish Art Museum of Southampton, NY. We shared the weather that most of New England had during that time, but it did not dampen our spirits in the least. We still hiked and explored the island and painted outdoors in the light mist and fog, and during steadier rains many of us turned to painting interiors and still life which we hadn't previously explored in our work. These posts are such interiors, one in gouache and the other in pastel. A new subject for me, I was completely enthralled with the succession of windows in the home and the reflections and dramatic light that they presented.