Still Sipping Summer

Chenin Blanc: Kettle Cove - oil on board 7.5" x 8.5"

Just got back this weekend from Long Island (Maine, NOT New York - which I still feel I have to clarify since I'm from the latter, originally) and it was just fantastic. Of course, we're thrust into real life right quick, and there's tons of stuff on various plates that we must spin like circus preformers. Nevertheless, the week away was well worth it: much wine was sipped beachside, and much swimming and relaxing did also commence. I will post more on it soon; I have a painting to scan. I tried for three, but rain and poor light caused two of them to flop. I nailed the third on our last full day, of course.

More soon. But, FYI:

AUGUST 1ST: FIRST FRIDAY ART WALK
AT STUDIO BEREHAVEN
5-8 PM

I hope to see you there! I can only be in attendance until 7:15 or so, then my lovely wife Danielle will be there to close. She is far prettier than me, so I'm happy to have her there in my stead.

Summer Skies

Castles and Blueberries - oil on panel, 18" x 31" (and a detail shot)

The above is a typical summer's day on Cameron Mountain which is on the back side of the Camden Hills State Park. Fittingly, this piece resides in a home on Mountain Street in Camden, just a few blocks from one of the park's trails. You'll notice the similarity to the painting in my heading, "Sheeta's Tree." That's because it's the same place, just a different angle. I did two separate studies for this blueberry field, and "Castles" was the one to get the larger treatment. I wish I had a picture of the study for this one, but I don't. It was sold way before I finished this large version. "Sheeta's Tree" was sold, as well, but I didn't end up enlarging it. Both studies were small, maybe 6" x 11" or something like that.

The opening went as well as one would expect when 50,000 people (did the Press Herald get that figure right?) were on the other end of town watching fireworks. I sold a print, had about a half dozen visitors, and polished off a bottle of wine with my friend Chris. It's fine - there will be a lot more First Fridays. And I really should have some kind of official "opening party," but perhaps that's unnecessarily grandiose.

I've been blogging less of late because, well - it's summer, and I'm outside a lot. I'm playing a lot of tennis (the team got a wild card to Districts in August, so I have to practice). I'm trying to get some painting done en plein air, though I got rained out three times! And I must mention, I'm spending time outdoors with the kids, who just thrive this time of year. Here in Maine, we must take advantage of these short but excellent summer months.

I will be taking another vacation soon (thank God - work is more teeth-grindingly tedious as of late), and part of any vacation of mine includes painting. The family and I will ferry out into Casco Bay to Long Island for a week. We're renting a lovely little house on the Harbor of Grace. I plan on gleaning three to four paintings from this trip. We'll be totally unplugged: no car, no computer, no shopping - just a beach on a quiet, vehicle-free island. This is certainly not as extreme or dramatic as the Utah trip, but I'm totally into this kind of getting away, too.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful summer!