My friend Jane Ramsey arrived a few days ago for her first visit to Maine. Where do you take someone who has never been to Maine? We had only 4 days. I tried my best.
Everyday we painted at 2 different locations. Every night we returned to base camp at my house on the southern seacoast. We headed out early and painted till dark. We painted marshes, harbors, fish shacks, historic neighborhoods, rocky coastline and big weather. Mackerel Cove on Bailey's Island is a favorite spot of mine. There's this little tiny house on the edge of the cove that is a perfect summer getaway.
Its right on the the beach. The full moon high tide left seaweed tracks up on the front lawn.
The fishermen pull their boats out of the water and park them on the edge of the beach at this time of the year. The weather is getting too rough for the small boats.
The wind was so strong this day the lobster boats hadn't gone out. If you got behind a pile of traps you could paint, there was no wind! Strange... you could hear the wind whistle through them.
The 2 sides of the house away from the water still had paint on the shingles. If you live on the water you have to paint the ocean side of the house often, the weather just wears it out.
The wind got stronger. This was Marcus' first time out painting in high wind conditions. He had to set up and sketch behind the open the car door the wind was so strong.
The owner of these dories came by and told me how he used them to fish for herring in the coves. These boats are huge. The look like the dories in Winslow Homer's paintings ! A company in Rockland Maine makes them out of fiberglass.
Jane and I were set up behind our cars. The wind was blowing at least 30 - 40 mph. We were fine if we stayed in our 4 ft wind free area.
The weathered shingles....
The temperature started to drop after lunch. Jane was working in watercolors, I was painting with oils. Her paints began to freeze. She took out hand warmers and placed them under her palette to thaw them out... it worked.
I'm laying in my sketch of the house. I have ear warmers on under my sun hat...I'm warm and cozy...
The rough sketch in burnt sienna...
The wind started changing direction. I was laying in color, the light was changing fast and I was not about to stop. I had to grab my easel when a gust hit it.
Marcus went out on the beach to sketch a good view of the dories.
The front came plowing through, we finished our paintings and headed over to lands end for sunset sketches. So much to paint and so little time!
You two are very creative problem solvers... I live in SC, I've NEVER had my paints freeze... if they did I believe I'd be painting from INSIDE the car with the heater running LOL. I like your idea of using the car as a wind break, it just breezy down here from time to time.. and that tip may come in handy some day.
ReplyDeleteWe have so much wind up here on the ocean I often have to think of a view where we can park our cars. We need them for protection! It got colder later in the week and Jane even came up with another out door "keep the paint warm" solution - I'll post it in the next blog!
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