Day 56 and 57

I think this catches me up on my missed posting due to the Holiday. I celebrated Thanksgiving with a lot of family, and it was wonderful. I did not participate in the much hyped Black Friday madness, I need to save my energies for painting.

These narcissus were a gift, as they grow I hope to paint them many more times, and the bowl will be in a lot of still lifes.

Day 54 and 55

This is a tiny island in Boothbay Harbor, with a very elaborate structure. And the sunrise is from our room at the Lord Camden Inn in Camden (of course).

Day 52 and 53

Camden Maine has the most charming light fixtures, in town and on the waterfront. These are from the dock.


The Pemaquid Lighthouse also has a weight tower and bell. I am very pleased with the figures.

Day 51

Crazy weather today, we took a nice ride up north, looked at a range of windmills, poked around in Rangely, and got home in time to watch the sky get really dark. Now it is time to enjoy the fire and think about what to paint next week. It would be nice to have the week all planned out, so that is my goal.

My intent with this landscape was to make it as simple as possible. This reference was taken close to home.

Day 50

A water color of Mooselookmeguntic Lake. I seem to be drawn to this scene.

Today is my 50th day doing daily painting. I celebrated by doing some studio cleaning. I pulled out and organized all my work on paper and designated a huge pile to be either burned or gessoed. Actually, looking at all those "failures" was wonderful for me. I can see a huge improvement from what my watercolors looked like last year and now. I might progress faster if I stuck to one medium, but I would be bored silly.

Day 49

Today's painting is my response to waking up to a coating of snow...this Calla Lily was grown in nearby Strong, at Maine Cottage Garden. Carolyn is an artist with seed. I have taken a lot of reference photos there, and hopefully they will sustain me when it snows.

Day 48

One of the best parts of living here is this view of Tumbledown Mountain. I like this format for landscapes, I think I better order a few more packs of this paper.

Day 47

I spied this pumpkin, (among many others) perched on a stone wall when I was out walking this morning....a fine time to break in those Inktense pencils...I LOVE them. It was a bit difficult to get used to the colors, they have non paint names, like "Willow", no new gambogue or aureolin. They are very handy to use, just a brush and some water and we are off. They can be used for painting on silk also...I think you need a fabric medium for that. I am so excited!

Day 46

This is a pen and wash for Doug and Bills Pen and Wash Challenge on Wet Canvas. (thanks for the reference photo Doug). After several hours of work, I still did not finish.

These are supposed to be Morris Men, I had no idea what that meant, so here is the link on wikepedia if you are interested. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morris_Men.

Day 45

My intent with this was to do a watercolor of an architectural subject, and to NOT use ink to save it. I managed to not fiddle to much also. Still not loose, but leaning...


After careful observation, it is clear I need a brush up on perspective! I just downloaded a book into my nook that should do the trick, but I will have to read it and practice!

Day 44

Wet in wet watercolor is fun, and it just has to come out loose! This little flower is the last of a bunch that grew up in cracks and crevices out front. We planted them two years ago, and their seed seems to have taken.

An earlier attempt at a plein air pastel is happily burning in the wood stove. I sprayed it first with fixative, then I realized it was not possible to post it, it was really ugly...so off it went, and what a great feeling! The fixative made it burn extra fast.

Day 42 and 43

The height of land on Route 17 offers a spectacular view of Mooselookmeguntic Lake. My intent for this plein air was to capture the mood of the cold windy day...well, to me it looks like there is ice on the lake. I am still having trouble rendering accurate values when I am outside. Umbrella is on my Christmas list.


Over the last few years cairns have mysteriously appeared around town. Unlike in most places, they are not trail markers, in fact if you follow some they lead right to Weld Pond!

Day 41

We have promised for years to get up and greet the day on top of Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park, this year we did it. In fact, we were 45 minutes early.

There were a lot of people milling around, taking pictures, chatting. Right before the sun rose, everyone found a comfortable position and it was quiet, just like church. There was this glorious sunrise, and behind us there was a full moon. As it became lighter, people slowly left, and everyone was smiling.

This pastel is the first sunrise I have done in years. I remember I used to be obsessed with doing very intense India ink studies of sunsets, with the typical mountains and boats in silhouette.

Day 40

There are a cluster of old inns in Boothbay Harbor Maine that must compete for the most glorious flowers. Most are built on steep hills, and I wonder how many people really enjoy them, you need to park that car and walk!

Day 39

Finally I am getting the hang of pastels. My "intent" with this painting was simply to get the correct values and I feel like it was a success!

This home is one of my favorites it town. A beautiful spot with excellent views of the mountains. The owners generously allow snowmobiles to cross their land, and kindly let me ride my horses through their fields for years. One of the special things about Maine are the many landowners that allow others to enjoy their property.

Day 37 and 38

One of the wonderful buildings on the way into Vinalhaven. The ferry ride from Rockland is such a nice treat for the eyes. There are some parts of this watercolor that I am happy with!

This study of our sailboat is my first go at Inktense pencils. They are very interesting, bright colors. Next time I will select just a few and work with those....I got a little carried away here. And a poorly drawn boat cannot be saved. More practice!

Day 36

I have promised to donate a painted shelf fungus for an auction in the near future. The subject will be something to do with the town I live in.

I primed this one with Daniel Smith Watercolor Ground, and it did receive the pigment well. This is a "practice" piece. I am going to think more about the subject matter, and maybe try using acrylic. This is to boring.

Day 35

I braved the cold and went out for some Plein Air time. I learn so much from painting outside in the real world it does not even bother me that my paintings come out looking so blah....it really doesn't.

I think the problem I am having is a lack of one more piece of equipment..and umbrella. My paintings look fine when I am outside, but when I bring them in...yikes...it must be the sun.

My new easel is just perfect, and my art supplies finally arrived while I was away. Play time!

Day 34

My entry in the Wet Canvas November challenge, Emerald Lake in Rocky Mtn National Park...(thanks for the reference photo jaystile!)

I did this twice, still not loose enough. I need to get back home to my studio!

Day 33

This was my attempt at Bill and Dougs pen and wash challenge on Wet Canvas. Thanks for the reference photo Bill.

Here I am trying to loosen up, and I am doing pen again....secretly I think I love pen, and for some reason all those tedious lines relax me....not like the oil I did this afternoon that got wiped off. I have a lovely tinted canvas to work on tomorrow.

Still tired from to much time in the car. Must recover soon!

Day 32

Quick painting in my Moleskine book after a full day of travel. Funny to be painting Pemaquid Light here in NY. Tomorrow I hope to find time for photos and a visit to an Ansel Adams exhibit.

The area between the NY throughway and the Adirondacks is amazing panorama of rolling hills and working farmland. There are several Amish farms, and we were lucky to see buggy's out, pulled expertly by retired Standardbreds.