Artist Renee Lammers

     (no name for painting yet, waiting for name of blooming tree)  

     I drove to Mount Desert Island today.  I headed straight to Tremont Wharf on Bernard.  There were very little skiffs near the docks.  They were all out in the harbor.  The lobstermen were out in their lobster boats.  I was about ready to get into my car when I noticed this beautiful hot pink tree in bloom.  The trim on the house matched the color of the blooming tree!  I loved the bright green grass too.  So I set up and painted.  I may fix the roof line, it is suppose to go up a little on the left! 

     Many lobstermen came by to say hello.  One man invited me to go lobstering with him sometime.  I think this would be a lot of fun.  Here is the photo of the scene I painted today.  I always like to compare what I actually plein aire painted with the photo of the scene.



     If you know what type of tree this is, please let me know!  Thanks!



    Here is a cute baby donkey I saw today while driving.  Adoreable!







     Very cute.  I am sure he will eat a lot!  Robert would probably love to have one or two of these.  Daisy and Duke wouldn't approve!  



    I love this green cottage by the sea located in Bass Harbor.



     I was going to paint this white house next!  The Lupines were growing!  But the black flies were so thick!  It would not be possible to paint here.  I would be eaten alive.  Black flies sort of sting when they bite.  The bite is not as bad as a wasp, but similar!  



     "Vermont Sunrise" sold yesterday!  I mailed off the painting today priority!  I have been giving each customer who purchases off my website a watercolor painting thank you card original, and a miniature oil painting lately!  They seem to appreciate the extra gifts!  I hope it adds an extra touch to help keep them a valuable customer!  I like to make my painting collectors feeling extra special!  Without painting collectors I would have to go work at Taco Bell.  I like to eat tacos but not make them!  

     Daisy and Duke were treated to Frosty Paws ice cream treat for dogs!  They loved me!  Robert purchased a new air conditioner for them.  This Summer they will keep cool and happy!  Some days in Maine the temperatures rise to over 90 degrees!  Daisy and Duke are eleven years old, both with treated Lymes disease.  So they deserve an air conditioner! 

Have a great night!  Get out and paint! 

If you know what type of tree I painted today, let me know!!! 

"Take Me To The Church!"  4x4 Oil on Copper sold!  Thanks.





"Deep In The Forest" 4x6 Oil on Copper sold.

"Monhegan View" 4x4 Oil on Copper sold.




"Baxter State Park's Stump Pond" 6x8 Oil on Copper 250$ Framed and Shipped! 

"Asticou Garden's Cherry Tree" 5x7 Oil on Copper sold!

"Sand Beach In Fog" 5x7 Oil on copper.  sold.

"Sear's Island Oak" 6x8 Oil on Copper sold

"Monhegan Sunrise" 5x7 Oil on copper sold.

"Monhegan Skiff" 5x7 oil on copper.  sold.




"Cadillac Mountain Sunbeams" 5x7 Oil on copper. 





"Vermont Sunrise" 6x6 Oil on Copper   SOLD!  Yahoo!



"From Monhegan To Manana" 6x6 Oil on Copper. sold



"Stanley Brook" 4x4 Oil on Copper sold





"Wild Dogwood" 4x4 Oil on Copper sold


    I framed more than 50 paintings today!  Robert put the wires on all of them!  What a wonderful present for Father's Day?  Or just buy one for yourself! 

     I am getting ready to purchase the mother load of copper panels!  Then I am taking a 300$ Stapleton Kearn's Workshop in NJ for three days.  I will stay and paint and assist Stapleton with his plein aire event in Cranford, NJ.  Then I will drive to Cape Cod, take a ferry to Nantucket.  I have been invited to be the artist in resident at the Century House for a week!  When I return home, I will go to Monhegan Island for a few days to paint!  June 25 and 26 I will be participating in the Bar Harbor Fine Art Festival held on the green!  You will find over 100 of my paintings there at this festival!  I hope you continue to watch as I post my paintings created during this month!  Thank you very much for your support and patronage!  Have a great Memorial Day weekend!  
 
     Daisy and Duke are celebrating with Frosty Paws Ice Cream tonight!  Robert might have some too!

     "Spring At Port Clyde" 8x10 Oil on copper.  450$ Framed in gold wood.  Shipped for free!

     I worked more refining my plein aire painting today.  Daisy and Duke like it when I stay home and work.  They sit a few inches from my feet.  Sometimes I scratch their chins while I paint! 



"Waiting Patiently" 6x6 Oil on Copper.  350$ Framed in gold wood.  Shipped!

     I worked more on the eye of the seagull.  The area is so small.  It took a steady hand.  Here is a close up of the head.





     "The Escape Artist" 6x6 Oil on copper.  350$ Framed in gold wood.  Shipped.

     I worked more on this dog's eyes and facial hair!  I put in highlights after some warm tones in the eyes.  I think it really helped this painting.  He looks more excited about escaping!



"Towards Blue Hill" 8x10 Oil on copper 450$ Framed in light gold.  Shipped.

     Here is a better photo of this painting. 

    Robert is putting two Plum Trees into the ground.  They are close to our back deck.  Someday little birds can sit in the plum trees and feed from our feeder just like at Cob's Cottage Farm.  Have a great day!  Get out and paint!

     Today I went to visit my painter friend Kathi Peters's at her Cob's Cottage Farm in Morrill, Maine.  I brought with me a present, an old Guerrilla Painter Thumb Box 6x8 plein aire easel!  I think it will be the perfect size for her to paint plein aire with anywhere.  Last year I visited her and painted plein aire from this very spot her veranda. Now she has a plein aire easel!



     I was driving up to her house when I noticed her neighbor's apple tree and sheep.  What a nice tree!



     There were many yellow finches visiting her bird feeder by her veranda!  Here is a real beauty!



    A Chickadee!  I love these birds.



    A Purple Finch?  What pretty colors he has!



     Not sure what this little bird is, a Warbler? 

    We sat on her back veranda and watched birds!  She is always interesting to talk with.  I tried to take a photo of her Mare down at her barn.  Apparently this Mare doesn't like to have her picture taken at ALL!  She trotted away immediately.  Kathi told me she has never been able to take any photos of her.  She doesn't like photos.    

     Last night Daisy knocked down my bedroom door.  She jumped up on my bed.  She was afraid!  Lightening and thunder had her shaking.  Duke came running and jumping up too!  I had to get up because there was no more room in my bed!  I told them it would be alright.  Their eyes were quite large.  They needed to be reassured.  After a few minutes, they both left.  I gave them Frosty Paws ice cream for dogs today.  Robert and I took them to Sears Island for a swim and a walk.  What a beautiful day!

"Spring In Port Clyde" 8x10 Oil on Copper.  sold

     Today I worked hard from 10:00 am till 1:00 pm fixing two paintings I started en plein aire yesterday!  Both paintings are much nicer now.  I let Daisy and Duke play for a while in the sun.  They enjoy a sunny day outside too!



"Spring At Asticou Gardens" 8x10 Oil on Copper.  Framed in light gold wood.  Shippped for free!  sold

    First I reworked this painting.  I changed the foreground on the left.  I smoothed out the strokes in the water.  I did a little refining of my brush strokes.  I am very pleased with this painting now.  This is a difficult if not impossible painting to paint from a photo.  The photos of this garden always make the trees dark.  It is difficult to tell what is where in the photo enough to paint it!  The colors in the water's reflection are very warm compared to the trees out of the water.  When I looked at the photo, I could only bearly notice this.  I don't think I would know to do this just painting this scene from a photo. 



"Towards Blue Hill" 8x10 Oil on Copper.  Framed in light gold.  Shipped for free!  sold

     The sky is a pale light green at the horizon.  Somehow this photo doesn't show this.  I lost sleep last night strategizing how to fix both of yesterday's paintings.  The main thing I knew I needed to fix today was the Spruce tree on the right.  I had painted just the top of the tree.  It was awkward!  Now it is better.  I know I am not suppose to put a tree on either side of the painting, but I think because they are three in the foreground at different levels it works.  They are staggered on the top of the mountain.  I am happier with this painting.  It was worth lost sleep.  I wonder how many other painters loose sleep over a painting.  I imagine a lot!  Too much caffeine, black fly bites, and adrenaline will make anyone loose sleep.

    I headed to Port Clyde at 1:00pm and arrived an hour later.  I do love living in Bucksport because of the location.  An hour is really not too far of a commute!   I painted in Port Clyde till I could not feel my hands.  It was cold!   Here are many photos of Port Clyde.  I love this place! 



    I arrived to find Port Clyde completely in fog.  It was 46 degrees.  Here are Eider Ducks in the foreground.  The males are the white and black designed ducks. 



    Apple trees were in full bloom.  I never noticed how absolutely beautiful apple trees in blossom are until this year! 



     Nothing more mysterious than a lobster boat in fog!



    Here is the main street in Port Clyde.  Love this white church!



     Here is the view I chose to paint today.  I will work more on this painting tomorrow morning.  I think I will put some blossoms on the apple tree on the left hand side. 





     Here is the Monhegan boat ferry.  I really am looking forwards to going to Monhegan in a few weeks.  The seagulls are nesting!



     Chickens infront of a Port Clyde house!

     I hope you enjoyed the Port Clyde trip today.  If you couldn't get out, I hope you feel like you did!  I love going on painting adventures.  Have a great night.  Get out and paint!


   

     I was so excited we were going to have sun today I had a hard time sleeping!  I got up early, took care of Daisy and Duke!  Then I drove to Mount Desert Island.  I loved how Asticou Gardens looked.  The Oriental Cherry Tree was not pink any longer.  But I remembered how it looked pink.  I have painted the pink cherry tree for three years in a row!  So I stood there for four hours and enjoyed every moment of the sun!  We have not had sun in a month! 



     "Spring At Asticou Gardens" 8x10. Oil on copper.  sold.  Thanks.

     I will work more on this one tomorrow.  I know it has some design issues and value issues and saturation issues.  I didn't have my umbrella with me.  I found it difficult to see values and saturations! 



"Towards Blue Hill" 8x10 Oil on Copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

    Next I drove to Cadillac Mountain.  I chose this scene looking towards Blue Hill.  I will work more on the clouds, tree in the right had corner.  It is sticking out of the rabbet of the frame corner which is a big no no.  Not sure why I did this.  I must have been so excited about the sun I couldn't think straight!  I can fix these things. 



     Here is Seal Cove near Bar Harbor.  I love this birch tree on the left.  Not sure how a painter could pull off painting this scene.  The birch tree might be too close to the granite blocks.  Maybe some grass could be painted in between them. 



      I have painted this scene twice last year.  This is on top of Cadillac Mountain.  There are many paintings to be painted there!



     This house has been painted by many great painters.  Lupines grow all around the house.  The Lupines will be blooming soon!  Love this house.  I might paint it soon.  

     I asked Stapleton Kearns on the phone today how he paints cloudy days?  He gave it some thought.  He said he makes sure there is one temperature predominate usually cool.  He makes sure his very darkest values are clear.  Then he makes sure to find a few warm colors.  I hope I have this information right.  I was driving and so couldn't take notes! 

     Have a great night!  I am heading to New Jersey to attend a Stapleton Kearns's workshop for three days on May 29th.  After the workshop I will paint with Stape and other painters for a week.  They are participating in the Crawford Plein Aire Event.  I will be able to learn a lot!  I love to learn how to paint better.   I could use some help with clouds, spring tree foliage, designs, and gray day painting..... 

     Tomorrow is going to be another sunny day!  I am headed to Port Clyde to paint.   

"Little Whitehead" 5x7 250$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free! 

      I painted this standing up high on a cliff on Monhegan Island last June! 



"Port Clyde Anchor" 5x7 Oil on copper.  250$ Framed in light gold.  Shipped!



"Sailing Into Seal Cove" 8x10 Oil on copper.  Framed in light gold!  Shipped for free!



"Comber" 5x7   sold last year.



"Wild Roses At Seal Cove" 5x7 Oil on copper.  Framed in gold wood.  Shipped for free!

     I was invited to the 2nd Annual Seashore Canaveral Paint Out 2011 fron October 23-29th!  There are 25 artists from Florida and the Northeast to stay at the National Seashore.  Housing is provided for out of state painters.  We will paint Mosquito Lagoon, Atlantic Center for the Arts, and Downtown New Smyrna Beach.  Finished plein aire paintings will be hung in an on-site "wetroom" in the historic Eldora House.  There is a big gala event on Saturday.  There seems to be nightly events where painters will meet the patrons and collectors.  Last year over 100,000$ worth of paintings was sold in a day!  There is also a quick draw event.  

    New Smyrna Beach was my favorite place near my house in Florida!  I spent many long hours soaking in the sun on the beach.  I would ride my bike the whole length of the park, 16 miles.  I can't wait to go to Florida in October to participate!  I will be able to visit my parents who live nearby.  Very exciting to be invited.

     Tomorrow will be sunny!  This might be the first sunny day in over a month of fog!  I don't know where I will be painting.  I have my painting equipment ready.  I will go either to Port Clyde or Mount Desert Island!  Get out and paint!!!

"The Golden Rooster" 6x6 Oil on copper 450$  Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free!

     I finished this painting I started en plein aire at Horsepower Farm yesterday.  I painted from a computer monitor to resolve some minor problems with the painting.  I found a nice photo of "Ghost" a golden rooster.  I added him in the foreground on the right hand side.  I created a path in the sand to the two chicken coups.  I fixed the 300 year old horse coral fence.  Lots of work!  But I am pleased with this one.  It almost looks like a Russian impressionist painting I saw once. 



"The Horsepower Farm" 6x6 Oil on copper 450$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped!

     I worked on this painting also today.  I had started this painting on location but three horses came up with Paul.  I packed it up so they could get into their stalls!  I thought I would be trampled for a few moments.  Exciting.  I put "Ghost" the rooster in the painting a little more defined.  It is hard painting a moving chicken.  Last year I didn't attempt to paint any moving chickens.  So I am pleased at least I am trying to paint moving animals!  Nothing ventured nothing gained.  I didn't gain much.  But it was fun trying.



"Canoe, Canoe?" came in the mail from the owner to be varnished.  There were some small tree particles on the surface in the water.  I couldn't glaze over this.  I tried to brush it off.  But it left strange colors behind.  So I took out my brushes, and not, well, "Canoe, Canoe?" was repainted.  Here is the results...



"Canoe, Canoe?"  5x7

     I like the results of todays efforts.  I hope the owners will like it too.  Or I guess I will be in trouble.  I will allow it to dry, put a coat of Galkyd on the surface, reframe it, and ship it home!  



     Here is the apprentice of Horsepower Farm collecting eggs.  What a wonderful opportunity she has to learn how to work a farm.  Her goal is to have her own farm someday.



     Here is "Ghost" the rooster crowing.  I have never seen a rooster crow before.  It is quite loud!  A few times I jumped while I was painting.  The golden hen behind ghost is his mother.  He seemed to keep close to his Mom.  He pointed out many things for her to eat. 



     Here is Ghost again.  What a funny pose.



    A farm cat!



     One of the farm's sows with some of her litter. 

     I hope you enjoyed today's endeavors.  Pray for the owner of "Canoe, Canoe?" to like her painting!  Have a great night!

"The Golden Chicken" 6x6 Oil on copper. Sold.

     This morning Linda Packard from Bangor, Maine picked me up and drove me to Horsepower Farm in Blue Hill!  We painted all day from 9:30 am till 5:00 pm!  This is my second painting of the day.  I need to work on the design and well everything!  It was damaged somehow inside of my wetpainting box.  I hope I can fix some of the paintings issues!  I think it is harder to paint on days without sun en plein aire.



     Here is a photo of the scene I painted.  The sun came out for just a second!



     "Horsepower Farm" 6x6 Oil on copper Sold.

     I decided to paint inside of the barn.  It was so dark inside the barn.  It probably was not too smart of an idea.  Maybe I can work more on the painting to get the values right.  I am not too pleased with the window over the doorway.  I think it is too distracting.  The rooster, named ghost was visiting with me.  The owner of the farm told me a story about ghost.  His mother went off and laid some secret eggs.  She must have been sitting on these eggs.  Soon a few baby chicks hatched.  Ghost, the rooster was one of these chicks.  Ghost was busy pointing out some things the hens couldn't see to eat.  He was very busy doing this.  I guess the hens are not capable of finding their own food?  Interesting. 



     While I was painting inside of the barn, a golden hen was drinking out of the mud puddle in the yard.  She was beautiful!



     Here I am painting.  Amazing place!  I could hear pigs squealing, chickens clucking, roosters crowing, cats meowing, horses, lambs, and sheep!  Exciting!  The smells of the animals were wonderful.  Pigs don't smell when their pens are moved routinely. 



     These sows were friendy and nice. 



    There were two sow sisters with each litters of piglets a month old.  When one of the sow was eating, her sister would take the opportunity to go into her sister's house to check on the other's litter! 



     There was a small hole in the pig's house.  I looked inside to see the mother pig leaving and the piglets coming in! 



     There were many sheep and lamb.



    While I was painting my first painting inside of the barn, Paul came up with a team of three horses.  He had plowed the field!  I thought he was coming inside so I grabbed my gear ready to evacuate!  But he was just doing something with their leashes or reins.





     Very few farms use only horsepower to tend to their farms.



     Here is Linda Packard.  She was painting a wonderful painting!  

     What a wonderful day!  Thank you Horsepower Farm for allowing us to paint here!  They sell organic meats and vegetables and eggs too!  Have a great day.  Get out and paint!

"Patiently Waiting" 6x6 Oil on Copper Panel.  Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free!

    Here is a Monhegan Island seagull sitting patiently on her nest.  Last June I visited Monhegan Island.  I watched the seagulls high on the cliffs at Whitehead.  They were quietly attending to their nests.  They weren't afraid of people.  I painted two of these gulls on their nests.  I even painted one of the nests unattended!  I hope to visit Monhegan Island in a few weeks.  I can't wait to hike up to Whitehead or Blackhead.  I painted this seagull from a computer monitor.  I worked most of the night and some today on this painting.  The eye was very tricky! 



     Here is a photo from Cadilac Mountain in Acadia National Park.  The view is looking toward Otter Point. 



    Here is a Cadillac Mountain view toward Porcupine Islands. 

     Tomorrow I may go to Horsepower Farm in Blue Hill.  I have been invited to paint there.  They are an organic farm raising sheep, pigs, and chickens.  They also have horses.  It should be very interesting.  I hope we have sun! 

    I found an interesting website called Luminosity.com.  They have brain games to keep memory and everything else working better!  It is fun!  www.Luminosity.com  

"Early Morning Light" 6x6 Oil on copper panel.  350$ Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free!

     Today was so foggy out!  I thought about driving to Acadia National Park.  Instead I decided to stay home and paint.  I wanted to cook Robert a chicken for dinner with cornbread stuffing!  He is still feeling under the weather.  He did go to the doctor a few days ago for medicine.  Hopefully tonight's dinner will give him extra vitamins and strength to beat his chest cold!  I hope so anyway.  

     The early morning scene I painted today was in January at Jeffersonville, Vermont.  It was twenty below zero.  It was only 6:00 am or so.  It was so cold I took the photos from inside of my car!  I didn't even want to stand outside to take this photo!  That is how cold it was.  The colors were just gorgeous!  I have painted similar paintings of the same scene two other times.  It is fun painting new paintings to see if I can do even better! 



     Here is the first January in Jeffersonville scene I did!  I thought you would like to see the differences.



     Here is the second painting of the same scene.  "January in Jeffersonville, Vermont"  They are each different!  Which one do you like best?



     Here is Spring at Jordon's Pond in Acadia National Park.  The twin mountains in the distance are called the bubbles.



     Here is the great meadow in Acadia National Park.  The beaver dam has been removed. 

     I hope you have a great day today!  Daisy and Duke have been sleeping all day! 

"Going For A Walk" 6x6 Oil on Copper Panel. sold.

     Here is Lily walking herself to the park!  I finished this painting today.  I lightened and extended the shadow.  I worked a little on the leashes.  I also worked more on the face and fur! 



"The Escape Artist" 6x6 Oil on Copper Panel. sold.

     Here is Scotty.  He lives in downtown Charleston, South Carolina around the corner from Lily, the golden retriever.  The owner of Scotty told me his dog is more popular than he is!  People come over to visit Scotty!  Scotty looked very eagar to get down the Battery Park by the ocean where there are plenty of squirrels.  I loved his beautiful white hair!  I saw so many beautiful colors other than white.  His cute little round dark eyes were sweet too.  I hope this painting will bring smiles to many people's faces! 



     Here is Duke rolling in the grass!  He still smells a little like a skunk.  The grass helps a little.  I wonder how long it will take for the skunk smell to wear off?  He has been washed many times in special skunk smell removal solution.  He only faintly smells like a skunk now.  I love his expression here.  This might make a nice painting too. 

     Since I have been back from South Carolina, we have only had two days of sun!  Misty, foggy, and cool, again today.  I prefer to paint inside when it is like this!  Have a great night!  I hope you enjoyed my doggy paintings today!

"Going For A Walk" 6x6 Oil on copper (not finished yet!)

     I paint some subjects that make me smile or make me feel emotion.  I just love animals.  When I see a dog walking with such a delightful happiness, I must paint them!  Here is Lily.  She lives near Lamboll Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.  Everyday she goes to Battery park near the ocean just around the corner to chase squirrels.  What a life she must have!  When I met Lily, she was extra fluffy.  Her master told me she rolled in something stinky.  She had to be bathed.  So today she was very fluffy.  She was in a hurry to go to the park!

      I will finish this painting tomorrow.  It was too dark to finish in my studio.  I will work more on the leashes, shadow, and hair! 



     Here is my Duke.  He was allowed to clean the ice cream container!  Daisy and Duke both like human ice cream.  Robert enjoyed his ice cream too.  I can tell a little bit of ice cream makes Daisy and Duke play harder.  Their hair is looking more shiney!  Their stomachs are fine.  Lucky Daisy and Duke and Robert!  Thank you for the painting sales this week! 

     I was going to paint with Kathi Peters today.  We were rained out again!  Some day soon we will paint.  Have a great night! 

     Today I ordered a new plein aire easel called The Open M.  I decided on the 8x10. (UPDATE:  I would order a larger easel!) It comes with a black walnut outer case.Or you can buy a waterproof case.  (I never have used this case!  Waste of money.)  My last easel, a 8x10 cigar box by Guerrilla Painter was a great easel!  At the quick draw event in Callaway Gardens, my easel fell over while I was in the restroom.  The box lid won't shut properly any longer.  I have had the easel for a long time.  It will always be a favorite.  The new easel will arrive soon!  So exciting!  Here is their website Http://www.openboxm.com  (not that great after all).

     As a professional plein aire painter, I really don't order many supplies.  I work with a limited palette of oil paints.  I use the same Old Holland flat Kolinsky brushes for a year before they started to look shorter!  The hair just wears down.  My copper panels are a little expensive.  I seem to go through a few umbrellas each year.  Maine winds can be suddenly powerful!

     I have painted a few larger paintings lately, 12x18.  I went through a half a tube of Titanium White Oil paint for one painting!  I can see painting larger will be more costly!  

     Daisy was funny this morning.  Robert had the day off so he slept in.  Daisy likes to wake Robert up each morning.  She kept banging on his bedroom door with both of her feet!  Robert would get up and close the door.  Daisy would keep at it.  I think I heard this loud bang at least four or five times this morning.  She really didn't want him to be late for work!  Finally he closed the second floor door.  She wacked this door so hard it sounded like a cannon going off!  I opened the door to see a nervous Daisy walking past me over to Robert's door.  She gave it a large loud bang!  She stuck her head inside the door.  Robert finally got up.  Daisy works very hard.  No sleeping in while Daisy is around. 

     There may be sun tomorrow.  I may go paint with Kathi Peters.  She wants to plein aire paint!  How fun!  Hoping for great weather.  We deserve it.  Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

"Roses" 4x4 Oil on copper.  Framed in light gold wood.  sold!  Thanks.

     It has been cold, foggy, and rainy all week.  Today I painted pink roses from a computer monitor.  The computer monitor is very large.  I can zoom in and out.  Kind of fun! 



"American Beauties" 4x4 Oil on copper.  Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free! Sold

     I owned a rose business for 23 years.  I bought hundreds of roses each week.  I also did a lot of flower designing each day.   It took me four years after retiring from the rose business to paint roses!  I can now appreciate them again.  I like to paint them still growing outside.  



     These are a few tulips growing in  my yard.  We had sun a few hours last week!



     Otter cove from Cadillac Mountain on a foggy day last week.



     I think this is Haddock Pond seen from Cadilac Mountain. 



    Seal Cove seen from Cadillac Mountain.  Very muted colors still!

"Another Maine Day" 6x8 Sold today off my website.  Thank you!

     I just love to sell paintings off my website.  It is such a great surprise!  Sometimes clients call me.  Sometimes they email me.  Love it either way.   I run around here in the house packaging up the painting.  I try to send along a free watercolor painting as a thank you to the client.  Then I ship the painting to it's new home!  So much fun!  Thank you for purchasing a painting.  I am very appreciate. 

     Daisy is doing fine after eating an entire lemon cake with lemon icing.  They each had ice cream yesterday.  They enjoyed a raw broccoli stalk afterwards.  Polishes their teeth after sweets!  Have a great night!  News channel says we may have one day of sun on Wednesday!  Grab your easels!  Get out and paint!

    Last night Robert baked a lemon cake.  He put the cake in a tuperware container.  This morning I walked into the living room to find the bottom of the tuperware cake container.  There were no crumbs.  Daisy slowly wagged her tail.  I walked into the kitchen to find the top of the container.  No cake.  I looked in the refrigerator to see if somehow the cake was there.  No cake!  Daisy ate the cake!  



     Here is another photo of the great meadow on Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park.  The colors are very grey still. 



    Here is a creek near Craig's Pond near Orland. 

     It is very grey and foggy out today.  If there is any painting happening, it will be inside!  Hope you have a great night! 

"Spring At The Great Meadow" 12x18 Oil on copper sold.  Thanks!

     Today I drove to Mount Desert Island on Park Loop Road.  I drove through Park Loop Road twice before finally deciding to paint the great meadow.  I have painted the meadow many times.  My painting, "Great Meadow" was chosen by Jackson Laboratory for their 2011 National advertising this last year.  I had  never painting the great meadow during the Spring.  I really loved all of the light greens, peaches, and purples! 



     Here is a photo of the great meadow today.  I started painting at 2:30 pm and finished at 6:30 pm.  This photo was taken right at 2:30 pm.  I liked the light right before sunset for my painting. 

     I have been painting very small paintings, 6x6 in size lately.  Today I wanted to paint larger.  Painting larger is faster and easier for me.  There is so much more room!  I can use my size 14 flat brush and really move it!  It is very liberating! 



     Here is the Asticou Gardens.  There was no sun!  But the colors were nice still.  I almost painted here today.  Maybe tomorrow!  Have a great night!  Get out and paint!

     Daisy decided to jump into a skiff at fish beach, Monhegan Island.  There was a little bit of rain water inside the skiff.



     Doesn't see look happy? 



      Robert and I have the flu.  I am making Robert some chicken soup!

     Here are photos of Daisy and Duke and I hiking on Monhegan Island in 2008.  We stayed with a large group of painters and dogs at the Eider Duke house for a week.  Daisy and Duke hiked all over the island where most dogs don't go! 





     I like this photo of Duke and I.  

     I am finished painting Koi.  Now I am wondering what I should paint next!  It is raining and cold outside.  Looking through images trying to decide on a subject!  Kathi Peters suggested I paint Daisy and Duke!  That is a great idea.  Still thinking about what to paint.  Give me another day! 

"Good Luck" 6x6 Oil on copper panel.  Framed in light gold wood.  Shipped free!  Sold!  thanks.

     I drove to Mount Desert Island today.  I have been looking forward to painting Asticou Garden's Oriental Cherry Tree in bloom.  Today it was in bloom.  For the last three years I have painted this tree's beautiful pink blossoms.  Today I just took a few photos for you to see.  The tree didn't do anything for me!  I returned home and took a few sips of Vitamin D!  I don't know what is wrong with me!  How could I not want to paint the pink cherry tree?  Wierd. 





     Maybe I will want to paint this pink Cherry Tree tomorrow.  It was overcast.  The loons might be keeping me awake at night. 


    I watched Daisy and Duke put on a show for me.  They are very funny!  Today is Mother's Day.  I think I miss visiting my Mom today.  She lives with my Dad all the way in Florida.  Normally I would have dinner with them.  My brother and I would have a present for her.  We might have desert.  Tell stories.  Then we would go home.  Today my Mom, Dad, and Brother are having dinner and opening presents without me.  Yesterday my parents bought two tiny Yorkshire Terrier puppies.  I am sure they are so cute.  Wish I could be there to join in the fun!   But instead I watched Daisy and Duke play tug of war!







     I am not sure which dog won!  I think it was a tie.  Have a good Mother's Day!  I hope you enjoyed my new Koi painting.  I think I am really getting good at painting Koi!  It is a lot of fun.  Get out and paint!

"Feeding Frenzy" 6x6 Oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you.

     I took Daisy and Duke to Sears Island first.  We walked all the way down the beach at high tide.  We had to jump over logs and hop rocks in some places to avoid the cold water.  Then we said hello to Ben.  Ben is a regular dog who also visits Sears Island.  Daisy and Duke always run up to Ben as if he is an old friend.  Then they run up to Ben's owner.  He pets them and says hello.  This is a great way to start off any day.

     Then I started to paint and paint!  All day until sun set I painted on these Koi.  I have decided I like to paint each fish first.  Then I like to paint the water around the fish.  Then I go back to the fish and paint them more.  The very last step, I add sky color and specks on top of the water.  I have decided I like the fish's face to show.  They look more friendly as if they are interacting with the viewer.  Here I hoped they would be waiting to be feed.  There would be a feeding frenzy!

     Have a great weekend!  Get out and paint!

"Taking a Break" 5x7 Oil on copper panel.  Sold tonight!

    I was taking a break from painting today.  Still feeling lazy!  I did work really hard for several weeks.  Maybe I deserve a few days off?  I was looking through photos all day.  I was trying to get inspired.  Photos don't do anything for me.  I love to go out and find something to paint and just do it!  Painting from a computer monitor hurts my eyes after two days.  Tonight I sold this painting.  He has quite an impressive art collection.  So I am happy this painting will be going to a great home!  Thank you.  I think I need to buy Daisy and Duke a lot of ice cream. 

     Here are a few more paintings still available!



"Winding Creek" 8x10 oil on copper.  sold!  Thanks.



"Yummy Yummy" 5x7 Oil on copper sold!



"View of Southwest Harbor" 7x14 sold.



"Vermont Spruce Tree" 6x6 Oil on copper. sold.



"Vermont Sunrise" 4x4 Oil on copper.  sold

"Ugly Tug" 5x7 Oil on copper sold!



"Southern Spring" 12x12 Oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks.

     Have a great night!  I do hope I get out and paint tomorrow!  Thank you for the sale.  I really appreciate it!

"Boumboulina" 5x7 Oil on copper panel.  250$ framed in light gold and shipped for free!

     For the last four days it has been foggy and rainy!  I could really use a little sun over here!  If you want to find out if you are sensitive to lack of sunlight move to Maine.  Maine is a beautiful place to live.  But some weeks there is just no sun!  I am thinking about purchasing an automotive mechanic light for the house! 



"Going Home" 5x7 Oil on Copper panel.  250$ Framed in gold wood and shipped for free!



"McLoon's Wharf" 5x7 Oil on copper panel.  250$ Framed in light gold wood and shipped for free!



"Sailing School" 5x7 Oil on Copper 250$ Framed in light gold wood and shipped for free!



"Taking a Break" 5x7 Oil on copper.  300$ framed in light gold wood.  Shipped for free.

     I may go to the sun tanning booth for a dose of sun tomorrow!  Hopefully this will get me back to painting!  Till tomorrow!  Get out and paint!

"Good Fortune" 6x6  Sold today off my website!

     I am very lucky to have an art collector who may have more than 20 of my paintings.  She saw this painting and decided she must own it!  She also has a Koi pond.  I didn't know this.  How lucky it is I painted nice Koi!  Thank you!

     My painting frames came in today.  Robert framed up many paintings.  I packaged them up.  I wrote thank you notes too!  Tomorrow I will ship them out.  So if you are waiting on a painting, it will be there very soon!  I will ship them priority mail!  I think many paintings will be Mother Day's gifts.  What a wonderful idea to give a painting as a present for Mother's Day!  A painting is a special gift that will last for generations.  A purchase of a painting, creates a salary for an artist!



     Here is the Koi pond in Atlanta, Georgia.  Daisy and Duke would love this pond and Koi! 



     In another pond lived two geese.  One had a nest!  This would make a nice painting!

     Tomorrow night Daisy and Duke will have an ice cream treat!  I am spacing out their treats so they don't get addicted to ice cream!  Have a great night!

"Perseverance"  6x6 Oil on Copper panel.  350$ Framed in light gold and shipped for free!

     I painted from a computer monitor today because it was suppose to rain!   Painting Koi is difficult!  When I was visiting Atlanta, Georgia, I was taken  to an amazing 10 acre estate home with beautiful Koi gardens.  I stood there staring at them.  I loved the colors of the Koi.  I loved the sun shining on them.  They were iridescent!  I do love things that are iridescent. 

      I first sat down on a bench and drew them a few times.  I was not trying to draw them as they looked in a group.  I was trying to capture their shape.  I knew if I could figure out how they were shaped then I could possibly paint them.  I concentrated on drawing just one of them.  I drew them five times.  Their shape is not very complicated.  I saw their fins had all soft edges.  Their bodies had soft edges too.  Most curved edges are soft especially if they are moving.  I only spent a few minutes drawing them.  I moved on to painting them. 



"Carpe Diem" 6x6 Sold.

     Here is the results of my plein aire Koi painting.  The fish closer to the pond floor had less colors and more ground colors.  They had less light on them. They also had less details visible.  The Koi sparkled closer to the surface!  I tried to capture their sparkle and their form.  When I paint from a photo now, I use this plein aire experience with my Koi. 

     Plein aire painters develop skills such as drawing moving objects.  This is done by developing visual memory.  It is difficult to explain how this happens.  It does seem most of my friends who are plein aire professionals can do this with ease.  I think a good way to start to develop this skill is to draw outside.  Find people moving.  Find animals to draw that are moving.  Sure you might mess up many times.  But over time you will have a few drawing that are great!  Then move on to painting moving people or animals!  At first these people or animals may lack details.  I am sure you will at least capture the feeling of them.  This can be more important than details!  I think too you just have to be brave.  Don't be afraid of making a mess!  Just jump into it!  Get out there and paint!  

    

"Spring In Acadia" 6x6 Oil on Copper Sold.

     Today Robert called me to let me know it would rain tomorrow.  He said it might be good if I go paint today while it was sunny!  Good idea.  I drove to Acadia National Park.  The road up to Cadillac Mountain is open finally.  All Winter the road is closed.  I love the colors up on Cadillac Mountain in Spring! 



     Here is my easel, by guerrilla painter called a cigar box.  I use a plastic palette with gray wax palette paper.  The plastic palette comes with a lid.  I love this set up with the palette.  Many times I have had to throw the lid on the palette and take off!  Snow falling or rain has caused impossible painting conditions!  I also think it might be more environmentally friendly to wrap up the paint.  The alternative is to use many many paper towels to wipe off a glass or wood palette. 

    The islands in the distance are called the Porcupine islands. 



     Here is the great meadow in Acadia National Park.  I paint here often! 



"Good Fortune" 6x6   Sold

     I finished "Koi" today.  Koi Fish's symbolic meaning in Japan is good fortune and luck.  They are associated with perserverance in adversity and strength of purpose.  Koi Fish can swim upstream in any condition without being distracted or deterred.  They can even swim up a waterfall.  They are also a popular symbol for family.  The black koi is a symbol for the Father.  The red and pink Koi is a symbol for the Mother and Girl.  The blue and white Koi are a symbol for the Boy. 

       This painting was more difficult than I thought it would be.  Sometimes I nearly give up on a painting.  But I just keep working.  Most of the time the painting works out!  I have heard if you are not struggling with a painting, then you are not growing as a painter!



     One of my goals for writing this blog is to make the reader feel good.  Here is Daisy enjoying her baby pool.  She is 11 years old this Spring.  In Florida she and Duke loved a baby pool.  I always kept the hose on to keep the pool clean and cool while I was away for the day at college.  Many times I would come home to see both dogs in their pool!  One time I cleaned the pool but turned off the hose.  I came home to find both dogs in my bathtub.  Duke was turning on the cold water slowly. Daisy was laying down in the tub.  It was another suprising moment all in a day with Daisy and Duke!  It is nice to see Daisy still enjoys the pool.  Duke is just too mature for such things!

     Have a great day!  Get out and paint!

    

     I have been working hard on these koi.  I might finish it today! 



     Here are Daisy and Duke on their way to Stockton Springs for a walk.  Duke is yawning! 

     There are daffodils at Stockton Springs!  



    Later Daisy was fast asleep!  I fluffed up her silk pillow.  She liked this!

     Have a great Spring day!  Get out and paint!