Tug Boat Repairs...

Painting has been going pretty well the last few days, and I’ve been enjoying my downtime in this great summer weather. I picked up a grill and porch furniture at a yard sale this weekend, and had a great evening cooking up some tasty treats for dinner last night.

I have a lot of projects that I am in the middle of right now, but I feel like I’m getting things done and getting there. I’ve been struggling a bit here and there as I work through my paintings, but I’ve been getting decent results in the end, and I’ve been learning a lot.

This Friday is an art walk in Rockland. I hope to see you at Dowling Walsh Gallery.

Harbor Dogs...

14×18″ oil on linen panel. Harbor Dogs, in Camden harbor, is a great lunch stop with incredibly good fish tacos. I love the food here, and always thought it would be a fun painting.

From 5-7pm this Thursday, June 24, I will be at the opening reception for a show at Courthouse Gallery Fine Art in Ellsworth, ME. The show is an exhibit of paintings done on Mount Desert Island, ME. I hope to see you up there tomorrow.

Also, I am still trying to get word out about my workshop this September in northern Maine. This class is through the Chewonki Foundation and will be a fun, rustic retreat where we will study plein air painting. Read more about this class here.

In one month I’ll be heading back to Wisconsin for the Door County Plein Air Festival. Last year I had a great time  at this event and I’m looking forward to returning the week of July 18-25. There will be a lot of events where you can come meet the artists and watch us paint.

More Painting...

This is a 14×18″ oil on canvas. This is a morning painting of the fish pier in Rockland, where I did a whole series of paintings this spring.

This week has been a bit busy. I got some good painting time in, and also have been running around delivering paintigns and getting ready for other upcoming shows. One of which is at Courthouse Gallery Fine Art in Ellsworth, ME. Thursday, June 24 from 5-7pm is the opening for that group show of paintings of Mount Desert Island. I hope to see you there.

The Dowling Walsh Gallery has posted video of a talk I gave about my current show, “Rockland Municipal Pier.” You can check out my ramblings on Vimeo.  That show will remain on display until the end of the month.

Preparing for a class...

I’m getting things ready for a workshop tomorrow in Damariscotta. The weather will be a bit iffy, but I have high hopes of getting some good work in with my students. Sunday we’ll probably get stuck inside so tomorrow we’ll be toughing it out in the elements.

Below is a quote that I was directed to by another painter, Stacey Peterson. I stumbled on it while putting together materials for the class tomorrow. It’s quoted from an interview with Clyde Aspevig in American Artist Magazine

“I’m trying to be the best that I can be as a human being. Art is the vehicle with which I have the best chance of leaving behind something of worth.”

Surf Painting...

I’m back at home from my week at the beach. The painting above is 11×14″ and was painted after spending a morning in the water. This is not a typical image for me, but I like it’s simplicity and the varying colors of the stripes of the water.

Every year I spend a week at this beach, surfing and painting. I really enjoy being in the water and getting the chance to surf so much; once or twice a day. But when I get home I always have a little bit of withdrawal. I keep thinking about paddling around on my surfboard and chasing waves. It was a great week and has me motivated to try to get back to the beach sometime soon.

Painting vacation...

This is a 14×18″ oil on linen panel that I painted in Camden a few weeks ago. I really liked the orange VW with the blue backdrop of the garage.

For the last week I have been staying at a beach in southern Maine, painting and surfing. The weather has been more conducive to surfing than plein air painting, so I have had a lot of fun in the water. Painting on the beach is always a treat; getting to smell the ocean and hear the waves. It’s also a huge challenge in trying to paint the colors and movement of the water, and resisting the urge to jump in. I managed to pull a few paintings off, so I am happy with that.

Also, there is a show of my paintings at Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, ME. That will be up until the end of the month. And on June 24th a group show of paintings of Mount Desert Island will open at Courthouse Gallery Fine Art in Ellsworth, ME. Both shows have work I am very proud of so I hope you get a chance to see them.