Artist Renee Lammers

"Pink Lily" 5x7 pen and ink with gouache.  Sent to a client to say thank you for his painting

purchases this week.  I need to do more of these.  I have been so busy selling I hope to keep up

my tradition of sending a free original to my clients!  

   Duke and Daisy celebrated a painting sale last night!  Duke is talking about it.

"Thanks Brian!  Sure do appreciate your purchasing Renee's paintings."

   Frosty Paws!  Frosty Paws!  Yeah!

   Duke enjoying a Frosty Paws outside.  Daisy bit hers and ate the cup too. 

"Monhegan's Sunlight and Shadows" 12x18 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you!

Have a wonderful night!  Let's paint!

"Pretty Face" 4x4 inches oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks!

   Here we are on our way to Lake Alamoosook this morning!  We all enjoy this!

"Cumulus Clouds at Dyce's Head" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold!

    I drove over to Dyce's Head in Castine today to paint the lighthouse again.  I added more

flowers this time.  I also changed the clouds from stratus to cumulus.  I made the lighthouse

thicker.  I have a client looking at this one is a few days so it is on hold for now.  Without all

the excitement of painting during a plein air event this painting took me 7 hours to paint instead

of the 2 hours that day. I had a wonderful time meeting more Castine residents!

   Beautiful clouds at Wadsworth Cove in Castine.

Daisy and Duke celebrating Frosty Paws doggy ice cream for Deborah and Steve's sale

yesterday.  We love you both!  Thank you!  Have a wonderful night!  Let's Paint!

"Under The Stars" 4x6 oil on copper.  Sold off my website a few days ago!  Thank you.

"Silence of Winter" 4x4 oil on copper.  Sold in my gallery today!  Thanks!

"The Flower Garden" 4x6 oil on copper. Sold in my gallery today!  I appreciate this!  Thanks.

   I had a wonderful time last night with Robert at a fine Italian restaurant in Bar Harbor.  A very

nice couple, Deborah and Steve, who are art collectors took us to dinner.  Their friend Liz was there

too. I have the most interesting art clients.  I really enjoy their company and love to learn more

about them.  We laughed, told stories of our youth, and ate amazing food.  I have had the most amazing

Summer yet here in Maine.  I am so lucky to have such faithful and kind art collectors and friends.

Daisy and Duke are going to celebrate as soon as they wake up from their nap!  Have a great

night.  Let's paint!

"Summer Day at Dyce's Head" 6x6 oil on copper.  350$ framed in medium gold wood.  shipped.

SOLD!

"It Takes All Kinds' 6x6 oil on copper.  Framed in medium gold.  350$.  SOLD!

"Gold at The Horizon" 6x6 oil on copper.  350$ framed in medium gold wood.  SOLD!

   I woke very early this morning, at 6:00am!  I drove to Castine.  I had my copper panels

stamped.  I painted at Wadsworth Cove first, then at the harbor, then at the lighthouse!  I 

ended up painting three paintings plein air today.  I had a ice chest full of gatorade.  I gave

out a few cold ones to the artists participating in the event.  What a fun day!  Now I am going

to dress up in a Talbots dress.  I will practice walking in heels for a few minutes. 

   Here I am in my new for me Talbots dress!  I sold all my paintings

at the gala event!  They sold very quickly.  One nice couple was deciding

whether to buy one painting.  They decided.  They picked it up to show me

they wanted to purchase it.  But just then a lady put a red dot on the painting's

receipt.  She had bought it.  They turned to look at me.  I had to tell them I was

sorry.  I could paint them another painting and change it to their preference. 

I hope that works out.  It was very exciting.  I did well walking in my heels.

I met a lot of nice Castine residents.  They were dressed up and wonderful.

The plein air event was so smart to allow free entrance to the gala.  It was standing

room only with the type of people who wanted to buy.  Great event.  Great

organizers.  Great artists too.  Have a good night!  Let's paint!

"Morning's Promise" 10x10 oil on copper.  650$ framed in black and gold wood.  Or gold.  Shipped.

   I painted from the computer monitor today as it was raining hard.  This allowed me to further

study the water lilies.  I chose an early morning light photo to paint from.  I had been painting afternoon

light in the last two water lily paintings.  The colors of the pond's water are much lighter in the morning.

As you can see from my other two lily paintings, the water is darker as the day goes by.  

"Red Water Lily and The Dragonfly" 10x10 oil on copper.  650$ framed in black and gold or gold wood.

Shipped free.  

   I was standing while I painted this painting.  There is a bird's eye view perspective of the water lilies

as compared to today's painting, the photo was taken at a sitting position.  The water lilies are almost

at eye level.  The lily pad are very oval compared to the round shape here.  This is just something else

an artist has to keep in mind while painting at the water lily pond.  Stand to paint to get a bird's eye

perspective or sit to paint and get a more eye level perspective.  Which do you prefer?  Have a great night!

"Reaching for Gold" 10x10 oil on copper.  650$ framed in black and gold or gold wood.  shipped free.

This one was painted sitting plein air.  

"Red Water Lily with Dragonfly" 10x10 oil on copper. Sold.  Thanks.

This image was taken with a Fujifilm water/shock/dust/freeze proof camera with 18 pixels set on the flower

mode. 

    I thought I would take a photo of my painting today with two different qualities of camera both 

18 pixel cameras.  The same light was used.  One is a inexpensive point

and shoot digital camera, the Fuji.  The other photo here is taken with a professional

camera Canon EOS 7D.  I was curious as to what difference a high quality

professional camera makes.  

    I drove over to Stockton Springs this morning to paint the water lily pond again today.  I had great fun!

  I walked all around the pond first deciding which water lily to paint.  I was

so surprise to see the tall white water lily I paint a few days before was gone.  This red water lily was

 the most brightest. I stood up to paint today.  I was painting for several hours

when a dragonfly sat down on the lily pad infront of me.  He didn't move.

 I decided to go for it! I painted him!   The dragonfly kept still for a record two minutes.  He flew

away.  I looked for another similar dragonflies only to realize there must be a huge amount of varieties of

dragonflies!  Some were smaller and other larger.  I liked this variety because there were some white colors.  I

needed an object with white so I would a greater variety of values.  I didn't fuss with my dragonfly very much.

I didn't want the dragonfly to stand out more than the red water lily!  

    The dragonfly generally symbolizes courage, strength, happiness.  They are one of the fastest insects in the 

world flying up to 30mph.  They have 6 legs but can not walk well.  There is over 5000 species.  They

eat mainly mosquitos.  They do not bite humans.  Their eyes see 360 degrees.  When you see two dragonflies

flying together they are usually mating.  The red water lily symbolizes love and passion!

  Detail of the red water lily taken with the Fuji.  Good to know the Fuji takes pretty good photos too.

   Daisy and Duke are celebrating with Frosty Paws doggy ice cream most days now.

 They are celebrating Lisa's painting purchase today.  Thanks Lisa!  Daisy and Duke love you too.

   Duke sprained his foot last night trying to hop out of the creek.  He couldn't jump

over top a branch that had fallen down.  He fell back into the creek.  He is fine.  He just

appreciates a little more attention.  He likes to have his foot looked at.  The foot is not

swollen at all.  

I surprised Daisy and Duke with Frosty Paws instead of allowing their howling to result in a

treat.  

  Daisy discovered fresh wild raspberries growing along the creek last night!  She is

resourceful!  

   Daisy likes to admire Duke fishing in the creek.  She can't jump down two foot as Duke

can.  Duke has been digging in the creek trying to catch fish.  Perhaps he is increasing the

depth of water in his favorite fishing spot. 

   Have a wonderful night!  Let's Paint!

    Today I was reading  "American Painters on Technique (1869-1945) by

Lance Mayer and Gay Myers.  John Singer Sargent has always been a favorite painter of mine. 

Here are a few interesting things about Sargent from this book.  

      John Singer Sargent's sister reported as a young student in Paris, he "Works like a dog from 

morning till night."  Sargent would spend a full day at Carolus-Duran's atelier, 2 hours of life drawing

classes at Ecole des Beaux-Arts, and 2 hours at Leon Bonnat's Studio.  Artists at the 

atelier described Sargent as being a painter envied by the studio and Carlus-Duran(his teacher).  

Here are Carolus-Duran's methods for beginning a painting.  (Sargent followed his methods).

1.  Draw with charcoal.  

2.  Use a rigger, which is a round brush, dipped in pigment to state the masses.

3.  No color or monochrome is allowed.

4.  Shape, place, light is painted broadly in even tones of flesh tint like mosaic. No details.

5.  No fusion of edges is allowed.

6.  Make a tone for each step of gradation.

Philip Leslie Hale stated "Sargent never departed from Carolus-Duran's methods.  

1.  Wiping in darks were effective.  He used unstudied shadows. (Does this mean he didn't put much details in his shadows?)

2.  Putting in flat demi-teint.  ( demi-teint means half tone.  A half tone is the color not in highlight or in shadow.  It is the true color of the object.)

3.  Cracking highlights into wet paint without bothering too much whether the value is right.  

   In 1880 John Singer Sargent decided to develop a methodical plan to improve his skills

by painting quick outdoor sketches.  He woke up each morning, went outdoors, randomly

chose a landscape to paint.  His plan was to cover the whole canvas with a thin coat of color

so as to make a complete sketch to dry rapidly.  The next day he could do another sketch over it.

Each day the previous day's sketch was sacrificed for the new day's work.  Fresh start!

   Sargent did something unique for his time concerning painting.  He painted

the shadows as thickly with paint as he did in the light areas.  Classically trained

painters always painted very thinly in the shadow or dark areas.  

   Sargent was a conscientious worker.  He strove to paint a painting alla prima, or all at

once.  To do this he had to wipe off many starts.  He once said, "If only one had oneself

under perfect control...one could always paint a thing, finally, in one sitting."  

If he was not completely satisfied he would scrape off the entire painting.  He took

great trouble to get an unworried fresh look as if it were a sketch.  He would rather scrape or wipe 

a painting off instead of correcting it.  R.H. Ives Gammel wrote Sargent's work was a series of super

imposed sketches of which only the final one was visible.  Interestingly enough when Sargent

was doing portraits, he required many more sittings with his women clients than mens.  He

always had an excess of canvas so he could make last minute adjustments.  He could restretch the

finished painting and change the size of canvas.  

   Sargent was a classically trained artist.  But he loved the impressionists.  He even

traveled to paint with Monet.  He used Monet's paints.(I wonder why he didn't bring his

own paints with him?) He asked for black.  Monet said he had no black paint.

 Sargent cried out, how could he paint without black?  He

also used 'long brushstrokes' instead of the impressionist's 'short brushstrokes'.  

John Singer Sargent's studio in Paris.  

Here is the colors on John Singer Sargent's palette.  On the right are modern colors one could use.

This is from the book, "The Technique of Portrait Painting" by Harrington Mann, J.B.

1.  Blanc d' Argent                                                             1.  Permalba White

2.  Pale Chrome                                                                 2.  Cadmium Yellow Light

3.  Transparent Gold Ochre                                               3.  Transparent Gold Ochre

4.  Chinese Vermillion                                                       4.  Cadmium Red Light

5.  Venetian Red                                                                 5.  Venetian Red

6.  Chrome Orange                                                            6.  Cadmium Orange

7.  Burnt Sienna                                                                 7.  Burnt Sienna

8.  Raw Umber                                                                   8.  Raw Umber

9.  Garance Fronce                                                             9.  Rose Madder or Perm Alizarin Crimson

10.  Viridian                                                                        10-14.  same as old name

11.  Cobalt Blue

12.  Fr Ultramarine Blue

13.  Ivory Black

14.  Cobalt Violet

   The Conservation Dept of Tate Britain, London also discovered Mars Yellow,

Emerald Green, Sienna, Mars Brown, Red Lead, Cerulean.   The dark backgrounds were often a mixture

of ivory black, mars brown, and lot of medium mixed from stand oil and turpentine.  

  Here is one of John Singer Sargent's palettes.  He always told students, "Do not

starve your palette". (Put a lot of paint on your palette).   Have a great night!  Let's paint!

"Jeffersonville, Vermont Morning" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks.

    I thought I would show you my top 8 favorites that are still available!  I am having difficulty uploading

photos for this blog.  I changed browsers.  I may have to go back to the old browser.

"Warm Colors Of Winter" 7x5 oil on copper. Sold.

"Sailor's Delight" 6x6 oil on copper. Sold.

"Golden Hour in Negril, Jamaica" 6x6 oil on copper.  My private collection!

"Grace" 10x10 oil on copper.  SOld.

"Reaching For Gold" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!

I think this might be one of the best painting I have done.

"View of Castine's Smith Cove" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold.

"Monhegan's Wild White Roses" 7x5 oil on copper.  Sold.

   Photo taken by my friend Kathleen on Black Point Drive in Florida.  Have a good night!

   Today I framed many paintings, wrap them each in bubble wrap, and carried the giant

box to the post office!  Daisy and Duke celebrated Brian's painting sale with a Frosty

Paws doggy ice cream.  Duke was the first to grab his treat!

   It was so nice outside Daisy decided to have her ice cream out on the deck!

   Daisy says, "Thank you!"  Duke ran inside somewhere in the house with his ice cream.  He

enjoyed his treat too!  I took a nap today.  Tomorrow I will work really hard painting.  Let's Paint!

"Reaching For Gold" 10x10 oil on copper. Sold!  Thanks.

    I woke up early this morning, had a hot tea, an Adkins crustless chicken pot pie for breakfast,

and drove to Stockton Springs to paint the lily pond.  Oh what fun!  One frog jumped out of the

water and snatched a dragonfly for breakfast.  The frog was giant and green.  I have never

painted water lilies before.  In Florida it would be too dangerous to do so.  Too many snakes and

alligators in ponds.  I put up my best brella, a plein air umbrella.  I set up my easel to be standing

at first.  Then decided the reason I wanted to paint this lily was because it was jetting up out of the

water unlike any other water lily.  Sitting down gave me a better vantage point to paint.  I painted

the white water lily first.  My goal was to get that white water lily painted perfect before the light changed. 

After that was finished I worked on other things.  To make some of the green things look like they

were underwater I softened the edges with a clean brush quickly.  I used thick pure white for the highlights.

Sometimes white becomes transparent as it dries allowing darker color paint underneath to show through.

This darkens the white highlight so after a while the painting has no light values and looks dull.  The

trick is to make the light colors thicker than the dark colors.  Most of the time I paint the light areas

first so there are no dark colors to fade through. This is the exact opposite of how most schools train

oil painters.  But it works. 

   Here is a close up detail of the white lily.  I was happy to capture gradation on each petal.

I was also able to capture some reflective warm lights within the shadow areas on each petal.

I was careful not to make them as light or warm as any highlighted area.

Each lily pad is different.  I made sure to pay close attention to each lily pad's colors and values.

Painting the pink lily was so much fun!  Beautiful colors. The stems of the lily pads and lilies tied

the whole painting together. 

    We took Daisy and Duke to Lake Alamoosook last night after a storm.  Here they are

fishing together.  This is one of my most favorite photos of them.  Heading into the sun.

Daisy enjoying her swim!  She is taking her last antibiotics for her Lymes Disease today.

She is feeling very spunky again! 

   Robert said he always enjoys going to the lake with Daisy, Duke, and I.  I really enjoy

this time of the day too!  Have a wonderful night!  Let's paint!

"Flowers By The Sea" 7x5 oil on copper.  sold.  Thanks.

     I was excited to get out there to paint today!  I drove to Fort Point State Park in

Stockton Springs near my house to paint in their flower garden.  There is a nice lighthouse

there but I hardly ever paint lighthouses.  You would think if an artist lives in Maine

they would be a lighthouse specialist.  Truth is lighthouses are a nightmare to paint

because they are so symetrical.  You could spend hours trying to get the top of the lighthouse

right.  Then it takes years for a lighthouse painting to sell.  Lighthouse paintings tend to

look very primitive not matter how great of a painter you are.  So I avoid them.  There

are many other painters out there that specialize in lighthouses.  I am thankful

for this.  I love to paint flowers, trees, and the sea!   I worked for

a few hours and had to wipe off the first painting.  It was terrible.  I can't even show

you the one I wiped off.  It looked like a third grader may have done a better job than I did. 

I perservered.  I changed the design. I started over again.  Many hours later I did it! 

        I found a really beautiful pond in Stockton Springs that has white and pink lilies.

  I hiked around the entire pond searching for the best spot.  I would have been painting in full sunlight.

 I decided this may not be the best idea for me right now.  

   See the water bug swimming in circles on the left?  Dragonflies were flying here too.

Once in awhile there was a frog croaking.  What a wonderful place to paint. 

   There are backlit lilies.  The reflection would be tricky to paint on location.  Time is

an issue painting here as well.  Lilies close at 1pm!  That is it folks!

   Daisy and Duke are howling.  They want to go swimming.  They want Frosty

Paws!  I have to go!  Have a good night!  Let's paint! 

"Monhegan Bath" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Exciting!  Thank you!

"View From Fish Beach" 3x4 oil on copper.  Sold!   Thank you!  I have always hidden

this painting when people have come to see my gallery!  Glad it is going to a good art client!

"Firefly Garden" 8x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you!  I loved Jamaica! 

"Beautiful Jamaican Day" 8x10 oil on copper.  Sold.  What a lovely day that was painting.

"Goodnight Monhegan" 7x5 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you!

"Nantucket Veggie Stand" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks.

"The Model" 12x12 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks!  I pulled this one out of my private collection

last night and put it on my website.  I think I will continue to do this once in awhile.  You might

have to be quick because I will put it back into my private collection!  What fun!

"Shopping on Park Avenue" 12x18 oil on copper.  Sold!  Here is another one from my private collection.

I painted in my Mom and I strolling down the avenue in Winter Park.  She loved this painting.  Thanks!

"Night Before The Fife Race" 12x12 oil on copper.  Sold!  This was a fun painting to do at

the docks of Castine, Maine!  I had a small light to see my palette.  Very expressive work!

"Pretty Boy" 8x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you! 

"Birch At Fort Point" 12x18 oil on copper.  Sold!  Wow!  I am so excited! 

   I was visualizing all paintings sold.  Really I was!  You just never know!  Good to think

positive.  I am feeling 100% better today!  I took Daisy and Duke for a swim.  I went into

the water also.  Daisy was pretty scared for me.  She had the most worried look on her face.

She stood next to me in the water.  I petted her and reassured her I would be fine.  Finally

she decided I would not drown and enjoyed herself.  Dogs are so funny!  I am off to buy more

Frosty Paws!  Have a wonderful night!  Thank you very very much!  Let's paint!

 "Sailor's Delight" 6x6 oil on copper. Sold.

 Framed in walnut with black and silver.  Shipped free.

All paintings will be framed and shipped free!  Also included is a pen and ink with 

gouache original painting for free!   

"Lilac Time on Monhegan" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold. 

"Monhegan Chickens" 5x7 oil on copper.  SOld.

"The Flower Garden"  4x6 oil on copper.  sold.

 I like to choose frames that enhance the painting's beauty.  

sold.

   Here are "Monhegan's Wild White Roses" 7x5 oil on copper paired up with "Rhapsody in Blue" 7x5 oil on copper.

sold.

   sold.

"White Pine at Twilight" 7x5 oil on copper paired up with "Twilight at Wadsworth Cove" 7x5 oil on copper.

Sold.   Have fun!

  I did do this little 5x7 pen and ink with gouache today of flowers in my yard

and a new vase called a hat vase.  I have been very sick these last few days.  I am

feeling a little better today.  I slept most days.  I also somehow framed

a lot of painting, packed them, and carried them into the post office!  I really do not

know how I did all of that! It is all kind of fuzzy.  I hope I sent the right paintings off.  

   Today I took Daisy and Duke to Craig's Pond near Alamoosook Lake in Orland, Maine near

our house.  This lake is cooler during the Summer time.  Duke fished for hours.  Daisy

swam around.  A little girl came over and asked if she could pet them.  Once she knew their

names she called out their names loudly.  The dogs didn't like this.  I tried to tell the girl

how Daisy and Duke liked soft voices because they are 144 years old.  She giggled.  I finally told

her the dogs wanted to be left alone.  She swam off for a while but then she was back.  When

I wasn't looking for just a minute, Daisy was swimming over her head for dear life.  The little

girl had Daisy's leash and had taken Daisy out deep.  I called to her to let Daisy go.  Daisy swam

back to me.  I could tell Daisy was not too happy about that. I gave Daisy a little hug.  Soon

she forgot about the incident.  The girl's Mom came and got her.  Thank heavens.  You just

can't be too safe now days.  My goodness!

  We stayed at the lake until Daisy was yawning.  Time to go home.  Enough excitment

for the day.

   I am drinking Gatorade.  This really seems to help.  I hope to get back to painting

soon.  Thanks for the emails and comments.  Much appreciated.  Goodnight.

"Miss Lily" 4x6 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you so much.

    It has been a few days since having heatstroke from painting on Grand Manan Island in 

Canada.  The temperatures those fews days I was there were 91-96 degrees.  I was so excited 

about the beautiful dories I didn't realize how hot I had become.  Here are a few things I have

learned about heatstroke.   It started with a throbbing headache.  It didn't go away for two days.

I was dizzy.  I didn't seem to be sweating.  My skin was red but I had long sleeve shirts on so my

skin was not sunburned.  My muscles ached.  But all I had done was lift my painting box

into the car.  My heart was beating very fast.  It was difficult the second day to breath normally. 

At night I felt like I had a fever.  Instead of being hot I was freezing sometimes.  

I became nausea the second day. Vomiting for six hours followed.   I felt a strong sense to

get off the island immediately.  I was taking Claritin D for my allergies.  I took aspirin for

my headache.  I was drinking a lot of caffine drinks.  I also had warm water with me. I didn't

feel very thirsty.  One of the symptoms for heat exhausion is thirst.  I didn't

realise I was in serious danger.  Here are a few mistakes I made.  I am writing this to enlighten

other plein air painters.  

   When it is 90 degrees plus outside it is not a good day to paint.  With the heat index add

15 more degrees to the temperature.  I was painting in over 100 degree heat from 9 am-9pm

for two days.  Do not drink caffine drinks.  Caffine creates more difficulties.  Water is best.

Gatorade is recommended.  But many people think those types of drinks are dangerous too.  

Antihistimes create more difficulties.  Also people who are diabetics and the elderly tend to

be in more danger.  Medications for blood thinning and high blood pressure make things more

dangerous for individuals too.  

   When I was doing research about heatstroke it was mentioned once a person has had

heatstroke they are unable to tolerate the heat well again.  Sometimes this is permanent.  

Sometimes this is temporary situation.  I am not able to go outside for longer than a minute

or two right now.  The symptoms come back quickly.  So I am keeping cool.  I go outside at

night.

   I also read heatstroke can cause some brain damage. I think I have killed a few more

brain cells.  I tried to write a few cards and it

was difficult.  I am lucky to have left Grand Manan when I did.  The ferry was ice cold.

Seizures and unconsciousness and then coma would have been the next events if I had 

stayed on Grand Manan.  

   Painting was very difficult for me this last week.  My hand eye coordination is off.  Painting

involves so much decision making.  So I am going to relax today, keep cool, and watch a painting

video to inspire me.  If you find someone with these symptoms, they say to call 911.  Make the 

person go to an airconditioned place.  A fan or an ice bath is best to cool the body down. In

Grand Manan at night I did take two cold baths at least.   

Heat stroke victims have a body temperature of 105 degrees.  Heat stroke is a very serious 

condition.  Please be careful painting during the Summer time.  Have a good night.  Be safe.

   On a lighter note, here is Duke yesterday after having a treat!  When it cools off outside

they will have more Frosty Paws tonight!  Photos tomorrow of course.  Good night.

"Golden Hour at Wekiwa Springs" 12x18 oil on copper Sold!  Thank You!

"Raindrops" 18x24 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks so much!

"Morning at Dark Harbour" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks!

"Stonington's Sand Beach" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!

"Sand Beach View" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold!

"Winding Creek" 8x10 oil on copper.  Gift to generous art client!  Thank you for all the sales today!

   I thought it would be fun if Daisy and Duke had an ice cream social today.  They liked

this idea!  In the beautiful sunlight they shared Frosty Paws doggy ice cream to celebrate

painting sales.  

"Thank You!" 

   Duke was so happy today!  Daisy was too.  Have a great night!  Let's paint!

   I drove to Acadia National Park today on Mount Desert Island.  There were so many scenes

I wanted to paint I just couldn't decide.  The beaches were full of colorful umbrellas.  I knew if

I set up to paint all these people would run.  So I decided to just take photos.  Here is Seal Cove.

   This is my favorite place to paint.  The water level was great too.  When I paint a seascape

I prefer a lot of water instead of sand and rocks in my painting.  Normally at low tide

the water line is really far out.  So I always invent more water.  Good trick!

   Sand Beach was beautiful today.  There were so many people there.

   I have never layed out in the sun in a swimsuit here.  I am always painting or scouting

for a painting.  Painting is a lot more fun than sunning.

   What a beautiful red and white striped umbrella!

   I always admire the birch trees mixed with a spruce tree near Sand Beach.  

    Daisy and Duke howled for their Frosty Paw treat tonight!  Then they howl again trying

to get another one!  Very sneaky!  Have a good night!  Let's paint.  

"Grace" 10x10 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

   This morning I took a long look at my ten hours of work on this painting.  I decided to get rid of a 

few things:  all ropes and wooden ribbing inside the boat.  This was not an easy task.  I had to repaint 

almost everything.  After I did this I realized the photograph was flawed because I had used a perspective

correction on the photo.  Somehow this distorted the reflection making it larger and off kilter.  So I fixed

the drawing.  I prefer a floating traveling dory as compared to one all tied up.  

   Now I am going to find some flowers in my garden to paint pen and ink with gouache paintings for

gifts for clients!  Have a great night!  Let me know how you like the dory!  You can make a comment

below.  Let's Paint!

   I decided I needed a new dory painting for my collection.  They seem to sell rather

quickly.  Dory paintings in New England seem to be like Palm tree paintings in Florida.

They help to keep me in art supplies!  They are a tremendous amount of work.  It takes

me a few hours to get the drawing right.  Sometimes I will walk away, go outside, come

back in, and take another look at the drawing.  This painting took me 10 hours today.

It still needs another four or five.  It is close!  

   Here is the painting after about five or six hours.  I like the simplicity of it.  But decided

to push further!  Daisy and Duke sleep during the day.  Sometimes Duke will come over to

me, sit still, and stare at me.  I will reach down to pet him while I paint.  

   When Robert came home from work we all piled into one car to go to the lake!

Here is Daisy coming out of the water.  She really loves it here.

  I wonder how long Duke would march back and forth in the creek looking for fish?

   Duke enjoying a Frosty Paws doggy icecream with his favorite Giraffe dog toy.

   Daisy really feels energetic after one of these treats.  Sometimes she hops around full

of happiness!  Have a great night!  Tomorrow I should have the finished golden dory painting

for you to see!  Let's Paint!

   I woke up this morning.  I took a look at this painting I had worked on for over 9 hours

yesterday.  I admired two or three lilies.  But I didn't like the greens.  There were too many

stripes in the green area.  I also thought the whole painting looked like wallpaper.  I worked

on the painting trying to fix this and that.  But I decided it was completely hopeless.  I used

a palette knife to remove all the oil paint.  Then I used two paper towels to remove more oil

paint.  I used some gamsol, a turpentine substitute, to remove any excess.  I can now paint

on the copper panel again.  I could have cut the few lilies out of the painting with tin snips.  

But decided not to bother.  I learned a few things about the experience.  

1.  I prefer a darker background for floral paintings.

2.  Try to minimize the greens on lilies.  They are too striped.  

3.  Choose only a few buds.  Less is more.  They just created more stripes!

4.  Maybe choose less Lilies.  Zoom in on a few Lilies.  Pick one to be the star.  Make

sure they are all touching so your eye flows from one to the next.  Disconnected lilies

seem to make your eye yo yo back and forth.  

5.  If you really don't like a painting, get rid of it!  Don't agonize on the bad painting.  Just

move on!  Don't spend time trying to fix it.  Just go paint a better one.

   On a lighter note!  Here is Daisy looking through weeds into a creek where Duke is fishing.

 She would have liked to join him.  But there is a few feet enbankment.  She can't climb as

well as Duke.  I did purchase more Sea Jerky for them.  This helps their joints considerably.

   Duke searching for fish.  His tail is wagging so fast it is a blur. 

"No I am not going home yet."   

   "I am staying too."  

    Tomorrow is another painting day!  I am excited about the possibility of a better painting.

Have a great night!  Let's Paint!

"Pink and Yellow Lilies" 10x10 oil on copper.  Almost finished.  

    Today started off kind of wierd.  I think my recent heatstroke caused me to be forgetful today.

I was so excited temperatures were cooler, 68!  I took care of Daisy and Duke.  Gave Daisy her

medicine for Lymes Disease, 9 giant pills a day.  She likes her pills hidden in little tomato grapes or

a giant blueberry.  I put my home depot box full of painting equipment by the car.  I forgot to put

it inside the car!  I drove to a closed restaurant.  They had an amazing garden.  I went to set up to

find no equipment.  I drove home.

   Put the box in the car this time!  Went back.  Set up to paint. 

It started to rain.  I put the box back in the car.  Went home.

    I decided to paint inside.  I couldn't download any photos. Had to delete a few

 programs so my photoshop would work better.  Computer just wouldn't download images off the camera!

 I gave up on that.  Sun came out.  Put the box back in the car again!

     Drove to the flower location.  Set up to paint.  I met 

a nice lady who thought I was doing an arts and crafts project on the copper.  Luckily I have

postcards printed up telling the information about painting on copper.  Thank heavens.

    Another car came slowly by me.  This time a good looking man leered at me as he slowly drove by.  I 

decided better to not look.  Keep painting!  Lady came back to let me know that was the owner

of the restaurant.  He wanted to know what on earth was I doing.  Luckily she filled him in. 

I painted and painted today!  I brought the painting back to the house, downloaded the photo,

and worked more until 9:30pm.  

     I had wanted to bring out a large 24x24 with a big easel. Luckily

after the box incident I decided to paint smaller.  Somedays are challenging. I just keep being

persistent.  Painting is so exciting I don't mind challenges.  Oh yeah, my loaded paint brush did

a flip up into the air and landed on my shirt.  Luckily there was no one around to see that!  I

like my painting. I will take a better photo of the painting tomorrow when there is natural light.  

I will take a better look at it.  I am thinking about painting in a very interesting bug I saw sitting

on one lily.  Have a great night!  

   Here are a few paintings I sold last night!

"Vermont's Golden Hills" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you!

"Winter Golds" 5x7 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thanks!

"Wicker Chair Under The Oak Tree" 8x10 oil on copper. Sold!  Brian is the best art client!  Daisy 

and Duke will start to celebrate tomorrow night!

"Fireworks" 6x6 oil on copper.  350$ framed in black and gold wood.  Shipped free. 

    I painted today at Lake Alamosook while Duke fished.  He was easy to dog sit while I

painted.  He just ran up and down a small area of the creek that runs into the lake.  People

commented on him.  They were curious as to what he was doing.  Daisy and Robert 

joined me a little later.  I knew I could watch after Duke but not Daisy while I painted.

My painting today is a bit more expressive than normal. I decided to just have fun!

I like some of the brushstrokes that have more than four colors.  That was fun.

   I filled up the baby pool and had my first customer before it was full of water!

  I enjoyed watching Daisy blow bubbles.  She is really cute.

   Now there is a content dog!  Ice cold water in 90 degrees!

   I bought giant raw hide bones for Daisy and Duke.  They liked this.

   Daisy really enjoyed her bone.  Duke was not as interested.  Eventually Daisy was hoarding

both bones.  Duke looked a little helpless until Robert helped him out.  

   I went with Robert to have a sushi feast!  It was great.  Sushi has a lot of Vitamin D.  I feel

really good after eating sushi!  I had a beautiful piece of cheesecake with strawberries and whipped cream to 

celebrate.  I had a great day.  Hard to believe I am 50 years old!  I am happy!  Have a great night.

"Silhouette" sold yesterday!    This one will be paid off in 10 payments of

35$.  I allow checks to be sent.  Or I can send a paypal invoice where credit cards can be accepted.

Your privacy is completely protected.  I send the painting!  Payments are a beautiful easy way to

add to your painting collection!

Let's paint!

"Morning at Dark Harbour" 10x10 oil on copper 650$ framed in black and gold wood.  Shipped free.

   I wanted to show you the finished painting done completely on location in Grand Manan.  I only

could complete two paintings during my three day stay.  I am happy with both of them.  Quality

is much better than quantity.  I am sure these will both sell eventually.

   I had asked permission last week to paint at a Lavender farm in Maine.  Robert and I

drove to the farm to take a few photos.  I am still recuperating from heatstroke.  Gatorade

is doing wonders!  The Lavender was in bloom.  I hope to paint here before they harvest their

crops.  

   Lavender is really pretty.  I wonder if I could paint this plant?  Very challenging.  

   Here is Duke enjoying his Frosty Paws doggy icecream treat in honor of Brian's painting

purchases a few days ago!  Thank you so much Brian!  You are one of our very best clients!

Daisy and Duke really have enjoyed their treats celebrating all of your painting sales.  The vet

complimented their thick shiny fur!  

   Daisy is delighted with Brian, our art client too!  Big thank you!

"Dreaming of Sushi" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold at auction.  Thank you.

"Magical Day in Cathedral Woods" 8x10 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thank you!  Have a great

night!  Let's Paint!

"Silhouette" 6x6 oil on copper.  Sold!  Thank you!

   It was 90 degrees yesterday as I painted all day at Dark Harbour on Grand Manan.

I had three giant bottles of water.  I wasn't feeling too well as the sun set.  The hotel I was

in didn't have air conditioning.  It was a very hot night.  I woke up with

a bad headache.  I tried to paint but was too dizzy.  I felt nausea.  I decided to drive

around in my air conditioned car.  This helped some.  I decided I had to go home.  I packed

up, drove onto the ferry, and drove home! It only takes 5 hours to get to Maine from

Grand Manan including the ferry.  We have AC units in our house for Daisy and Duke.

Today I was also thankful for the AC!  The drive home was difficult.  I had to stop many

times.  At one point I thought I wasn't going to make it.  So glad I made it.

   I vaguely remember finishing the first painting I started this morning.  I will have to

show you the photo tomorrow.  I will drink some lemon water.  Heatstroke can wipe out a

person.  Plein air painters be careful this Summer painting in heat.  Paint during early

morning hours or at night.  

   The dories were so beautiful lined up along Dark Harbour.  It was a dream come true

to see and paint them.  

   The Canon EOS 7D worked like a dream.  I didn't have to photoshop any of these

photos.  I shot 2000 photos!  I will have plenty of dory photos to paint from now.

   I stayed at the Marathon Inn, a sea captain's house on a hill overlooking North Head.

This is the view from my room early morning.  Have a great night!  Back to drinking

more fluids.  

"Morning at Black Harbour" 10x10 oil on copper.  SOld!  Thanks.

   This morning I had oatmeal and 2 scrambled eggs, a sensible breakfast for any plein 

air painter!  I drove over to Black Harbour to paint today.  It was beautiful.  The dories

were in water as the tide was still high.  I set up to paint after taking a few photos.  My

new camera is working great even though it is used.  I don't have to photo shop them as

much.  I just have to decrease the size of the image so I can download them on to the

blog.  The colors seem more accurate.  The photos seem sharper.

   I met a young man who was drinking a beer for courage this morning.  He was heading

out to scuba dive in these frigid waters to help build a weir to hold sardines.  I asked him

if the job was dangerous.  He said it was.  He said he had a few close calls. I felt badly for

him as I could tell he was nervous about going out today.  I told him

seems like any job can be dangerous these days.  He said really?  I told him even a plein

air painter's job can be dangerous.  He said really?  I told him about the time I was almost

ran over by a garbage truck while I was painting.  Good thing I looked up in time!  I jumped

out of the way.  Another time I almost fell off a cliff trying to retrieve my hat that had blown

off my head. I stumbled on a little rock and fell onto my stomach inches from a cliff.  A few

times in Florida I had almost gotten eaten by a mother giant gator.  Once a 6 foot copperhead

was sneaking up behind me as I happily painted.  He said wow!  

   Wearing a wetsuit and diving down into really cold water sounded terrifying.  I was

so glad I didn't have to do that.  I wished him well.  

    Here is the scene I was painting when I first arrived.  It was beautiful.  In order to make

the white dory the center of interest I decided to darken the other colors.  I am going to

take my painting back out tomorrow morning.  It may be done.  I just want to take

another look at it.  I doubt the dories will be arranged as they are.  But who knows.

Apparently those little wooden shacks in the distance cost only 20,000$.  They overlook

the ocean on the other side of the bank.  Dories are pulled by machines over these banks.

The light was really beautiful today.  I am so fortunate about the light!  

  After painting I decided to explore a hiking trail.  I saw Sheep Rocks written in white

chalk on the highway.  There were a few cars parked.  I wondered through the woods.

      I came to a clearing where I saw men working on a weir.  I think the scuba diver

drinking a beer was there working.  What a coincidence.  Now I could really see what

he was talking about.  What a tough job.

   Here are old smoked herring buildings along Seal Cove Beach.  Very interesting old

buildings over a hundred years old.  

   Have a wonderful forth of July!  Let's paint!

   I have been wishing to travel to Grand Manan Island in Canada for years to paint

these dories in Dark Harbour.  I purchased a used Canon EOS 7D with a 18-200 lens!

Photos on this blog should be improved for you to view!  After arriving on the island

via the ferry, I drove right away to Dark Harbour where all the dories are located.  There

were so many brightly colored dories lining the harbour!  I really love to paint these 

dories.  They have a great shape.

Lupines are still in bloom here as it is further north!

 Today I had five hours to take photos.  I will paint tomorrow.  I wanted to scout around today.

Here is Seal Cove Beach.  The water was particularly luminous! I saw a entire family, including

parents, their kids, and their dog busily digging!  The parents were young.  I had to smile

when I saw their large white with black spotted dog digging too.  The dog was very inspired!

Here is a Pinkie Whale I saw on the ferry.  Have a wonderful night!  Let's Paint!

"Rhapsody in Blue" 7x5 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks

   I worked all day long until the light was lost on this painting.  Daisy

and Duke started to howl.  It was time to take them somewhere.  They

wouldn't stop howling until we were headed out the front door.  I am

glad Daisy and Duke let me know what they want.  If it is time for dinner

and I am painting they howl too.  They are smart dogs.

   I was searching for ideas for a title of this painting.  I discovered 

Vincent Van Gogh painted purple irises the last year of his life.

   This has nothing to do with me understand.  I am a very happy person.  I do dislike all

of Maine's grey weather.  It makes me sleepy.  Nothing looks appealing to paint because I

prefer sun and shadows.  I like brighter colors.  Here is a few interesting details about 

Vincent Van Gogh since today's subject is Irises!

    After a period of intense self-mutilation (I still have both of my ears),

Van Gogh, admitted himself into an asylum in France.

During the last year of his life he painted 130 paintings, many irises.  He died in 1890.  He felt he could

keep himself from going insane by painting purple irises.  He called them, "The lightning conductor 

for my illness".  

   His work showed strong influence of Japanese Ukiyo-e woodblock prints.  There was strong outlines,

unusual angles, closeup views, and flat color, no attempts at modeling.  

   His brother, Theo, thought it was more than a "study" as Vincent had suggested.  He put this

painting into a exhibition. Of course it won!  He wrote to Vincent, "This painting strikes the eye from a far."

  Vincent studied each Iris on location so every Iris was very different in the painting.

    Have a wonderful night!  Let's paint!

   Fun picture of Duke fishing in his creek!

"Pretty Face" 4x4 oil on copper.  Sold.  Thanks.

   I bought these Pansys, planted them, and painted them.  There is nothing like painting

flowers on location.  I concentrated on making the pansys look luminous.  I have never painted

Pansys before.  It was challenging and fun.  Have a great night!  Let's Paint!