Studio painter

I really admire plein air painters for their ability to focus during outings and the scenery in this region provides all kinds of opportunities for artists to produce a wide variety of outstanding work. Lots of Plein air groups have sprouted up recently and offer artists a chance to meet other kindred spirits who enjoy painting out doors. The experiences of painting on site infuse work with an honesty that sometimes can't be achieved in the studio. It hones ones abilities of observation just as life drawing does. Dragging art equipment on site, fighting insects, the wind, rain, cold or heat, adds more drama and time than I can manage. I've painted plein air a few times and have to say..it's not for me. I'll stick with my camera for memory references for the time being. The comfort and convenience of the studio provides a place where I can focus completely on my work. (there are enough distractions right now). The studio is a place where I can get into "the zone"....which is solitary and peaceful(not to be confused with lonely), kind of like meditation. When I'm painting everything else is far away.... I believe the sole objective for each artist isn't just a finished work, it's also the individual experience it takes to get there...the journey is just as important and just as individual for each artist. Here are a few photos from a recent drive my husband and I took to a favorite place along the coast not far from here. These will be used for future work. We love this area...fairly lacking in the usual summer traffic.. a real gem.

Rain Drops Keep Falling On My Head....

I can hear the rain pounding on our roof for the umpteenth time in the past ten days but it won't dampen my spirits because of some very exciting news ..Unfortunately I can't share it with you yet.
I needed a break from the studio and other work, so we took a day trip to a favorite location called Evan's Notch. Its in the foothills of the White Mountains and borders New Hampshire. Route 113 winds back and forth from the northern entrance in Gilead then south to Fryeburg. Part of the road hugs the Saco and Androscoggin Rivers, both of which under normal weather conditions run peacefully through the notch. Not so this year! The torrential rains have swollen the rivers into raging and roiling white water in many areas and low lying regions are in flood danger. We stopped to take photos about half way down and the sound of the rushing water was deafening. On the opposite side of the road waterfalls poured over steep ledges running across the road in some places. Today this part of the National Park looked like a veritable rain forest with lush green undergrowth and trees filling every available space.
When the sun finally does make an appearance(and it will) it will be a glorious sight.

Stay tuned for a posting of a new large painting and an announcement..in the mean time..let it rain..

Garden Path

This is one of three paintings to be entered into the Freeport Creative Arts Member Show that will be curated by well known American art collector Bruce Brown who has graciously agreed to judge our show for a second year. The exhibition opens on June 14 at Freeport Square Gallery and ends on the 28th, with a reception on June 21 from 4-6.
It's one of my favorite pastel paintings and with the gardens around here flourishing and birds singing all day it seems an appropriate theme. Summer has finally arrived.
A friend's backyard garden provided the scene ..she moved away several years ago and I doubt if the gardens are tended as well, but at the time the climbing roses covered a simple arbor made by her husband. The chestnut tree provided a soothing cool canopy on hot summer days and the inviting stone path led to a view of her horses' pastures in the fields beyond the fence.
I'm still debating which other two pieces will be submitted for Mr. Brown's selection...and then there's the dreaded artist statement to be included...that little project has plagued me recently but I'll let you know which of the two paintings are chosen.

Where There's hope There's Art

The UMVA exhibition is up and ready for the public to view at Freeport Square Gallery on Main Street in Freeport, Maine. The show runs through June 1 and the artist reception is coming up on this Sunday, the 24th, between 4-6 p.m.. Members from southern most Maine all the way to Bar Harbor submitted work for this show. It includes paintings, photography, encaustic, sculptures in wood, clay and mixed media.

Many thanks to Caren Marie Michel for her help and to Maria Castellano-Usery, Ken Sahr and Nicole Herz for use of their artwork for show PR.

If you're in the Freeport area this sunday please stop in to check out the show, meet some of the artists and share some food and refreshments.
Here's a listing of the artists in the show. Please check out these websites for more artwork by some very talented and dedicated Maine artists.

Reed Altemus, Laura Balombini, Peter Buotte, Diane Dahlke, Claudette Gamache, Varvara Harmon, Nicole Herz, Dorie Klein, Lin Lisberger, Caren Marie Michel, Fred Michel, Susan Morse, Diane Noble, Judy O'Donnell, Steve Pennisi, Liz Prescott, Laurie Rothrock, Ken Sahr, Robert Shetterly, Ann Slocum, Catherine Stakel, Dana Strout, Ruth Sylmor, Dana Trattner, Nora Tryon, Maria Castellano-Usery.

If you're in the Freeport area, please stop by on Sunday to meet the artists, check out the show and share a bit of food and refreshment with us...

Scratching in the Dirt

Writing my statement has always been a problem and as my work evolves the statement should too. I'm in a transition period right now...kind of like closing one door behind me and slowly opening another, but not knowing what's on the other side. So I attended a small workshop to help artists define their statements...good timing.
It was very interesting to hear the statements of others and they all had a good handle on the reasons why they create or perform. When it was my turn to speak... I was stumped.

The conversations of that meeting churned through my head for several days while I tried to pin down verbally my own reason for painting.

I wondered...why are we so different than non artistic people and driven to express ourselves visually? Could it be that artists are closer kin to the individuals who painted animals on cave walls, or who carved the history of their civilization into stone and wood, or made up dances and music that told stories of important earthly events that would be passed down from generation to generation. Our earliest ancient human history has been preserved through those types of visual arts. It was all created by the artists of those times and predates the developement of the written word.

Just think..thousands of years ago, the first artist picked up a stick, scribbled a symbol into the dirt and communicated an idea to another human.

We, artists that is, are moved to communicate visually because there are elements of our existance that still can't be expressed through words. First pictures..then words.

My statement is starting to take shape..but sometimes..it feels like I'm just scratching in the dirt..

My friend Kathi

This is a recent portrait of me in casein done by my best friend and artist Kathi Peters. Kathi is most well known for her contemporary realist equine work but she is adept in all genres including the figure as shown here. Kathi's in Lexington tonight with her husband Les, attending the opening of her first really important solo show called, "Finding My Voice", at Gallery B and I'm thinking of her now....
Kathi's story is an inspiration to me and everyone who knows her. She suffered a stroke a couple of years ago and has traveled a long and arduous road back to recovery. I'm in awe of the courage and determination she's shown during this period because she's had to overcome many serious physical and emotional obstacles that come as the result of a stroke. One of her most remarkable accomplishments is that her artwork has become more powerful, focused and better than ever.
Please click here to see her story and more of her paintings, drawings and papercuts.
http://www.cobcottage.blogspot.com/
Since her stroke she's become an advocate for other stroke victims and is dedicated to getting the word out about stroke symptoms and warning signs.
I hope she's having the greatest time this evening and enjoying the limelight that she so deserves.

Girls Girls Girls

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our next granddaughter and we're just as excited about this little one as we were the first. We had three robust boys in our family..... so girly stuff was not in the picture for quite some time.(I was out numbered on all fronts believe me) It was a huge relief to me when more women finally came onto the scene. First came the three daughters in law and then granddaughters. At last I could commiserate with family members who understood and appreciated the female perspective! The men and boys remain forever perplexed by us...and we them.

Here are two paintings of granddaughters Sydney and Madeline..Kelsey's painting is a work in progress and will be posted when complete. She is tall and lovely and looking forward to being the big sister. She'll be taking riding lessons this summer...horses, horses, horses..
Sydney, with golden hair flowing and wearing her favorite sunglasses looks like a glamour queen in this painting. She's a beauty and so sweet to her little brother.

Madeline seems pensive and thoughtful as a three year old in the graphite drawing..She's now 8 and skis like a champion.

The boys deserve attention so paintings of them are on the way. These aren't for sale...just wanted to show off the girls....