Dog Toss Ballet

7 x 7 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

SOLDThis man and his Lab were having a great time playing catch.  Entire tree limbs were being thrown into the surf, and the Lab took off into the water and dragged anything thrown back to shore, and then attempted to devour it.  The man's position was so elegant.  He could have been a principal dancer in the American Ballet Theater's company.  This cried out to be painted!

Christina's View, 2011

A visit to the Olson House in Cushing, Maine, inspired this painting.  We had a wonderful tour of the home by a guide who really had the enthusiasm to bring everything to light about Andrew Wyeth's painting "Christina's World."  We were able to see Wyeth's interpretation from his actual vantage point.  I don't know about the others in the group, but I could almost feel him working there.  I'm guessing that my view in this painting is approximately where he placed Christina, but it's only a guess.  As you can see, the house and barn are closer together in reality, and in Wyeth's painting the scene is stripped to only the bare essentials.  I included in this pastel the trees that are present...A view from 2011.   The post below is an image of the actual painting.  One can never get too much of the wonderful Andrew Wyeth!!

Andrew Wyeth's "Christina's World"

This is Andrew Wyeth's "Christina's World."  What more can one say!

Shoulder View

7x7 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

SOLDWhat better vantage point than from your father's shoulder?!  I caught these two at Ocean Point in Boothbay Harbor, Maine.  For the quintessential Maine experience one has to stand on the rocks and look out to sea.  The light, smell of salt air, and sound of the waves hitting the rocks should not be missed.  If I close my eyes, I can still sense it all. 

Monhegan Dusk

Dusk before the rain set in the next morning.  This was the view from our room at Shining Sails Inn as the sun was setting.  What a wonderful sight!  During the night, you can hear the buoy bell and smell the salt air.  I painted this in the common room of the inn the next day while the rain poured down.  It was a great way to spend the afternoon.  We were lucky to have some really interesting, friendly people staying there.  Part of the highlight of the trip was the breakfast conversation with all the guests.  Most had visited the Island before, and we all shared stories.  John, the owner of the inn, is a lobsterman as well as inn owner, and he shared a lot of information.  Winnie, his wife, joined us for a while and told us stories about their son, Kyle, who posed for a number of Jamie Wyeth's paintings, one of which is hanging in their common room.  There are also photos of Jamie Wyeth painting Kyle.  I felt so lucky to be able to spend time there. 

Monhegan Light

6 x 6 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

This is another study done on Monhegan Island. For those who don't know about Monhegan, you have to get there by ferry. There are no cars except for the fishermen's old trucks.  There is one main dirt road that weaves through the village. I can't explain the atmospheric light.  It's just wonderful.  I tried to capture it in this quick piece and am pleased with it.  I was thinking I'd do a "finished" painting, but this, for me, captures the essence of the Island - at least the village. It's like taking a step back in time.

Storm Front Coming

6x6 Pastel on Wallis Paper, 16 x 16 Framed

$150 + s/h (Framed)

We're back from Maine!  It was a wonderful trip with lots to see and paint.  I came home with over 300 photos and can't wait to get started in my studio.  This study was done the first day on Monhegan Island.  We had clouds when we arrived on the ferry, but the sun came out for most of the afternoon.  Then, a storm front moved in and it rained the entire next day.  This scene is from Fish Beach, looking out at the tip of Manana and the ocean beyond, before the rain started.  Actually, it has a few rain spots on it, but as Vera Dickerson, the wonderful artist that led the group, says...The drops just add texture :-)  More on the trip in the next few posts....