The Maine Landscape Guild

Alexandra Tyng's Work at the Maine State Capitol in Augusta

2011-12-05T18:09:00.000-08:00

The following article appeared in the Bangor Daily News on 10/27/11:

New art exhibit unveiled at Maine Capitol Complex

Posted Oct. 27, 2011, at 1:19 p.m.

Alexandra Tyng

The artwork of Alexandra Tyng, including this one titled "Painting on Cadillac," is now on display in Maine’s Capitol Complex as part of the Maine Arts Commission’s Arts in the Capitol program.

Alexandra Tyng

The artwork of Alexandra Tyng, including this one titled "Back to the Lakes," is now on display in Maine’s Capitol Complex as part of the Maine Arts Commission’s Arts in the Capitol program.

Alexandra Tyng

The artwork of Alexandra Tyng, including this one titled "Boat Sailing in Sunset," is now on display in Maine’s Capitol Complex as part of the Maine Arts Commission’s Arts in the Capitol program.

Augusta, Maine — The Maine Arts Commission announced Thursday that the artwork of Alexandra Tyng and James Dodds is now on display in Maine’s Capitol Complex as part of the agency’s Arts in the Capitol program.

The exhibit has been loaned by the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, and will remain on display until February 2012. The work is viewable by the public throughout the week at the Maine State House from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and at the Blaine House from 2 to 4 p.m., Tuesdays through Thursdays. Those wishing to visit the Blaine House are advised to call ahead.

“The Maine Arts Commission is delighted to be hosting this exhibition of paintings,” said exhibit facilitator Donna McNeil. “These world-famous artists depict familiar visions of life in Maine and guide the viewer toward a deep and joyful attachment to Maine’s landscape and way of life.”

Tyng began drawing and painting the Maine landscape as a teenager while staying at a nineteenth century rustic camp on one of Mount Desert Island’s lakes, and at her brother’s lighthouse home in Penobscot Bay. In the 1990s she began chartering planes so she could take reference photos of the glacially carved land formations of coastal Maine, which she uses as references to create large-scale paintings. She also paints panoramas from mountaintops, and closer, more intimate views of places. Every summer she spends several weeks painting outside on Mount Desert, Monhegan, Deer Isle and various other locations.

Tyng has had solo shows in Maine, New York and Philadelphia. She was selected as one of Maine’s outstanding artists by Maine Home+Design in 2008. Her Maine landscapes have been featured in “The Art of Monhegan” by Carl Little, and in art magazines, including “Fine Art Connoisseur” and “International Artist.”

Dodds was born in the small fishing town of Brightlingsea, which is nestled on the east coast of England. He trained as a shipwright in the nearby town of Maldon before moving to London to study painting at both the Chelsea School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London.

Dodds, who is a frequent visitor to Maine, has exhibited paintings and prints of boats throughout England and here in Maine at the Dowling Walsh Gallery.

All Arts in the Capitol events are free and open to the public, however, exhibitions are self-guided and may only be viewed within prescribed times. For information on this and all programs available through the Maine Arts Commission, visitMaineArts.com.

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/10/27/living/new-art-exhibit-unveiled-at-maine-capitol-complex/

My Film Debut!

2011-11-23T12:25:00.000-08:00

At the opening for my exhibit at the Rosenfeld Gallery in Philadelphia, a local film maker, John Thornton, interviewed me about my work. It was a wonderful opening event, and lots of fun to talk to John. We had been friends and classmates back in the seventies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. I was thrilled to see the results of his filming and I will post the link here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bscwamkE6aQ

NEW PAINTING FROM MONHEGAN: RED MIST DESCENDS

2011-11-17T21:01:00.000-08:00

Red Mist Descends

Painting on Monhegan is always moving. This morning was particularly beautiful with this pale-reddish mist moving back and forth through Gull Cove. One minute the view was completely obstructed and the next it was being delicately revealed through this pinky-red mist. Touches of blue sky kept appearing and this became one of my favorite plein air paintings days on Monhegan.

Benefit

2011-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

Over the summer, MLG member, Eliza Auth, took part in an auction to benefit the Boothbay Region Land Trust. Her painting "Summer's End", along with work by wonderful painters like Donald Demers and Tony van Hasselt, raised a substantial amount of money to help preserve the land in this state we love to paint.

Maine Landscape Guilders Back to Monhegan!

2011-10-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

Gull Cove

We arrived on Monhegan Saturday with a smooth crossing and gorgeous weather. Alex and I are enjoying two new painters in our house this year. Sue Braswell an old painting partner of mine from the Art League in Alexandria and Linda Brandon a fellow portrait painter of Alex’s. Fellow Maine Landscape Guild artists Mary Walsh and Eliza Auth will be coming next week to the island. Nancy Bea Miller has gone off to grad school! Judy Carducci, Greer Jennison, and Carrie Lewis have also joined us and they are staying at the Monhegan House.

Island life of course can be fun. I had totally forgotten that my phone actually goes dead in it quest to search for service. We really feel like official islanders as we have now outlived the propane crunch. It gets down to basics. If we want to cook then we don’t bathe or have heat!

Maine Landscape Guild Members Diana Ansley and Alexandra Tyng with new members

Sue Braswell and Linda Brandon.

This is the View of Manana and the Johnson house where we are staying.

Sue and I got to work painting this scene and then we did the truck below

Light rain today so we have been regrouping, stretching canvas, and finally washed our hair after seven days! Propane arrived last night. We went to the museum and the curator, Jenn Pye, pulled out some wonderful Alice Kent Stoddard portrait paintings for us to see. She Studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts with Thomas Eakins, and William Merritt Chase. Like many of our Maine Landscape Guilder's she was an artist from Pennsylvania and lived on Monhegan as well.

Alex and Linda were so inspired they had a paint off this afternoon in the fog.

Linda Brandon

Alex's Sketch of Linda

Linda Painting Alex

Alex sits for 30 minutes and Linda paints and then Linda sits and Alex paints. Each have very different approaches to capturing the face. It is amazing to see the faces emerge. Painting, a fire, and tea can’t get much better.

Gorgeous day and Sue and I took advantage of weather to paint the expansive view from White Head to Blackhead.

Deep fog this morning lasting most of the day, but we were all anxious to paint. Sue and Alex at their easels.

Alex in Gull Cove

Fog in Gull Cove

Gull Cove where Alex, Sue, and I painted the lovely pool of water, the cliffs, and the rolling surf. The sun broke through in bits and pieces creating these layers of soft hues.

Heavy Rain today and great for a much needed rest. We spent several hours discussing painting and photography with our painting friends Judith Carducci, Greer Jennison, and Carrie Lewis. We also had time to see their plein air work in oil and pastel.

It has been a stimulating week with such taleneted artists, interesting discussions, and thoughtful critiques. Many Thanks to Everyone!

Vicarious Maine Painting

2011-10-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

I started grad school the last week of August so very reluctantly had to forgo my part in the annual autumn painting pilgrimage to Maine. I am currently engaged on a project called "Women in the Act of Painting" and perhaps to compensate for missing the Maine trip, I found that I am stepping up my inclusion of images of women painting IN MAINE! Here are a few from recent days:

"Two Girls Painting in the Woods", Robert Henri (1865 – 1929)

"Self-Portrait", Alison Hill (contemporary)

"Paintings and Cocktails", Alexandra Tyng (contemporary, of course! ;-)

"Painters on the Beach", Don Stone (contemporary)

"Sketchers in the Woods", Robert Henri (1865 – 1929)

Catalogs Available

2011-08-11T06:25:00.000-07:00

The Aladdin Lamp, oil on linen, 20" x 30"

The Dowling Walsh Gallery is offering a 22-page color catalog of my show Right Here: New Maine Paintings for the very reasonable price of $5. You can pick one up at the gallery, or contact Jake Dowling at 207-596-0084 or at info@dowlingwalsh.com if you would like one sent to you via mail.

The catalog includes 20 color reproductions and an essay by Carl Little, author of Edward Hopper's New England and other books. His article on Fairfield Porter and James Schuyler appears in the 2011 Island Journal.

Right Here: New Maine Paintings

2011-08-11T06:20:00.000-07:00

Last Friday, on August 5th, my solo show Right Here opened at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine. It was a busy night for the arts in Rockland--First Friday Art Walk with gallery openings all over town and in nearby Thomaston, The Farnsworth Museum open late with free admission, and the famous annual Lobster Festival all coinciding--so I met lots of art lovers that evening! Jake Dowling and his talented team never cease to impress me. The work was hung beautifully. And the food (thanks to Hilary) was out of this world. If you are tired of gallery openings at which only wine is served, go to Dowling Walsh for a multi-sensory experience.

I first met this couple a few nights before at the CMCA Auction.

Suzette McAvoy, Director of the CMCA and former Curator at the Farnsworth, and my long-time friend and painting partner, Diana Cobb Ansley. Suzette wrote the essay for the catalog for my 2009 show at Fischbach Gallery in NY. She has known Diana since she interned for her at the Smithsonian.

Artist Lea Colie Wight flew in from Philadelphia to check out the Maine art scene.

Becca in front of Overlook.

Julian in front of Elemental Balance.

Here I'm standing in for Nancy Bea Miller in front of Star at the Edge.

Artist Richard Ranck and Cartoonist/author Tony Auth.

If you are in Rockland, or anywhere on the coast of Maine, in August, please stop by and see the show.

Show dates: August 5th-28th, 2011

Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5

Dowling Walsh Gallery

352 Main Street

Rockland, ME 04841

207-596-0084

info@dowlingwalsh.com

Star at the Edge: Development of a Painting

2011-06-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Star at the Edge

In response to those who ask me about how I create a painting, from the beginning stages to the finished work, I'm posting a step-by-step description of the process of one painting,Star at the Edge.

Every painting I do evolves a little differently. Sometimes I am painting on location and I know right away that my plein air sketch will need almost no compositional changes to turn it into a larger studio painting. Or the small oil sketch might become part of a larger painting. But in this case, I was working in Gull Cove on Monhegan Island, ME, and I had a vague idea of painting a figure with the trees and rocks as the background. The only problem was, I wasn't sure exactly what part of the scenery, and what angle, I would use. I didn't even have a clear idea of who was going to paint, or the idea behind the painting. So I decided to just focus on some trees and rocks that would make a pleasing composition, and worry about the larger painting later. Here is my oil sketch, Rocks and Trees, Gull Cove, 14" x 11".

While I was in Gull Cove, I also took some photos of the rest of the scene.

You'll notice that the oil sketch gives me an accurate idea of the color and value range, while the photos provide some additional information, but certain things are washed out, like the sky. Even with Photoshop you can't bring that back, so I often take more photos of just the sky. It's better to have too much information than not enough.

A few months later, a friend of mine, Nancy Bea Miller, came to a turning point in her career. After many years of working as a professional artist, she decided to go back to school and get an MFA. I decided to paint a portrait of her at this turning point. We had been discussing the idea of "star quality" in art, and how much was determined by popularity, publicity, and connections, as well as talent and hard work. I thought of the starfish, a sea creature with five arms, i.e. a five-pointed star. Here are some symbols associated with the star/starfish: the eternal, the undying, constancy (the Pole Star), aspiration, education (five-pointed star), spiritual wisdom, and divine guidance.

I was also "playing" with the tidal zone between ocean and land, where the waves churn up things that are beneath the sea and throw them onto the shore. To me this brought to mind the border between unconsciousness and consciousness. If we can go to this "zone" we will find all sorts of treasures that can lead to a fuller, richer life.

One thing that I wanted to convey was the uncertainty of finding a star and wondering what to do with it. Because we can find a treasure and use it in many different ways, or not use it at all! So in Nancy Bea's expression I wanted to convey some of this uncertainty.

Since Nancy Bea didn't have time to pose, couldn't hold the expression very long (the sideways look led to dizziness), and the weather was becoming too cold, I took photos of her and worked from them. I made sure that the lighting conditions in the photos were the same (time of day and direction of sun) as they were in the setting.

Now to the nitty-gritty of painting. I decided it was important to show just a bit of the ocean. There were a few days of tremendous surf that created a golden haze (visible in the distance), and this added a feeling of mystery and excitement to the "zone" between water and land. So I decided to set NB's figure against the long view. My oil sketch of rocks and trees was just to the right of the composition, but nevertheless it came in handy for nearby colors, values and brushstrokes, and also the color of the sky and clouds.

When I plan out a composition, I like to print out photos, paste them together, and move borders in and out until I like the balance. I also print out photos of the figure, and play around with size and position in the same way. Making a polished reference in Photoshop doesn't interest me. I'd rather do this cut-and-paste stuff, because the motley-looking photo-pastiche that results from this process is just a compositional guide. I don't want to just "copy" a finished-looking photo with every detail already worked out. I also have my oil sketch to refer to. The real synthesis is in my head.

Here are some progress shots:

I stretch my own canvases with unprimed Belgian linen, prime them with acrylic gesso, and tone them with a warm neutral wash of black, burnt umber and white. First I drew a grid on my photo-pastiche and a corresponding grid on my canvas. Since I work large, the grid helps me to place complex things like rocks. I keep the grid very large so I don't feel like I'm connecting the dots, and I am still drawing freehand.

Here I'm starting to fill in the dark trees behind NB's backlit head--the focal point and area of greatest contrast.

Starting to differentiate light and shadow areas and put in a color mosaic.

More "puzzle-pieces" of color."

Adjusting values, colors and refining the figure.

Further refinements and adjustments.

The finished piece, Star at the Edge, oil on linen, 34" x 42".

Here are details of the head and hands.

This painting, along with 30 + others, will be in my upcoming show, RIGHT HERE: NEW MAINE ISLAND PAINTINGS, opening August 5th at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine. The gallery is located on 357 Main Street, right across from the Farnsworth Art Museum. Catalogs include an essay by author Carl Little, and will be available through the gallery.

Outdoor Painter article!

2011-06-06T12:01:00.000-07:00

What fun that Alex and I have reciprocal portraits in the Painters Painting section of Outdoor Painter! Both our paintings were done on the same trip, one year ago when we went on a "business trip" to Maine and stayed with Diana (who appears in Alex's piece, too) on Mount Desert Island for a few days. Click each image to enlarge and read the article by Steve Doherty.

What a fun and fruitful trip that was! For a time at least, you can see the piece online by clicking here.

Aerial Landscape Painting in CMCA Auction

2011-04-12T03:24:00.000-07:00

Bowl and Beehive, oil on linen, 34" x 64"

This summer, my painting Bowl and Beehive (showing Ocean Drive in Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island) will be auctioned off to the highest bidder on Sunday, July 31, at Point Lookout in Northport, Maine.

That's because I'm one of the artists who will be participating in Art To Collect Now, the Center for Maine Contemporary Art's 34th Annual Benefit Exhibition and Auction. The exhibition and sale, widely recognized as the premiere contemporary art auction in the state of Maine, draws nearly 1,000 viewers annually. This year it will showcase the work of "100 talented artists to buyers, collectors, and CMCA supporters throughout the state and beyond." Proceeds will fund CMCA's exhibitions and educational programs.

Although the show itself will take place at CMCA , from July 16 through July 30, 2011, the auction and dinner will be held at the Point Lookout Resort in Northport, Maine, on July 31.

I hope you will consider coming out and supporting the CMCA by bidding on your favorite art! Detailed information can be obtained by contacting the Center for Maine Contemporary Art.

Winter at Popham Beach

2011-04-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

I'm delighted that my painting "Popham Beach in Winter" has been juried into "Water as the Source", a show of water inspired landscapes, at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art Alumni Gallery. The exhibit runs from April 29 to July 17, with a special opening reception on May 6 from 5:30 to 7:30. -Eliza Auth

Alice Kent Stoddard at the Monhegan Museum

2011-03-07T19:31:00.000-08:00

View from the lighthouse tower.

Looking back over the last few months' posts, I realized I hadn't blogged about my annual trip to Monhegan with the Maine Landscape Guild. Every year for the past four years, my artist buddies and I have carved out time for a week-long stay on this very special island nine miles off the coast of Maine. Last fall, our stay coincided with "Lighthouse Day," a fundraising event for the recently restored Monhegan Lighthouse. We got a tour of the buildings and we were able to climb up the iron staircase to the top of the lighthouse tower--very exciting for me because not only do I love lighthouses and towers, but also I love to paint views looking down on the landscape from an elevated viewpoint. Needless to say, I took a lot of photos from the tower looking out over the village and neighboring island of Manana.

After the tour, I was walking through the Keeper's house, also known as the Monhegan Maritime Museum, and I noticed a wonderful portrait by Alice Kent Stoddard. I had seen some of Stoddard's work in Philadelphia, in the Drexel Collection, and this portrait of a former lighthouse keeper was among the best I had ever seen of her work! I asked the curator about it, and she said, "Oh, there are some even better ones in the vaults! Would you like to see them?" Of course I said yes. She took me to the "vault," which on the outside looks like just another white clapboard building in the lighthouse complex. But inside was rack after rack of incredible paintings, including a staggering collection of paintings by Alice Kent Stoddard! I thought she painted men especially well-and here are three of my favorites:

Portrait of the man who built the Island Inn, by Alice Kent Stoddard
Portrait of landscape artist Andrew Winter by Stoddard
Another Stoddard portrait

I highly recommend the Monhegan Museum to anyone interested in seeing a star-studded collection of work by well-known artists who painted in Maine. Both the keeper's house and assistant keeper's house have been made into exhibition spaces. And if you happen to get there on Lighthouse Day, you'll get to climb the tower and get a 360 degree view of this artists' island.

FRENCHMANS BAY FROM CADILLAC

2011-03-06T15:48:00.000-08:00

Last fall it was a gorgeous day and I knew the sunset would be striking on Cadillac so I headed up to the top. This is just a bit before sunset and the fall colors were emerging. Everything was crisp and glowing. This painting is 18 x 4o.

Wreck of the DT Sheridan

2011-03-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

We must all have Monhegan on the mind now that the winter is almost over. Here is a painting I have been working on of the wreck on the beach.

Maine Mystery Round-Up!

2011-03-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

I recently stumbled across a trio of mystery series, all set in Maine. What could be cozier on a winter's evening than a cup of tea and mystery novel set in one of my favorite states? All three writers are about as different as they could be. Let me start with my favorite of the three:
The Gray Whale Inn series by Karen MacInerney

This enjoyable series is set on Cranberry Island, one of the places on my Maine bucket list. These are definitely "cozies", mysteries that are not into scariness or grisly details (think Miss Marple.) Innkeeper Natalie Barnes juggles guests, cooking, island community life and the occasional murder with great aplomb and verve. While not contenders for the Nobel prize for literature these entertaining books are nonetheless well-written, with good plots, charming characters and great descriptions of life on a small island. There are even terrific looking recipes at the back of each book: I am a fan!

The Home Repair is Homicide books by Sarah Graves are set in Eastport, Maine. I stumbled into this lengthy series at book 11, and had to backtrack a bit, although it was not hard to slip into the series midway. Graves is an excellent writer, with a real talent for noticing local color and writing description. I read about five of these books before my enthusiasm began flagging, due in part to the high body count and a little too much violence. That's a purely personal taste: I can take some scary, but a little brutality goes a long way in my opinion. I will start up again with these books again eventually, and if you have a thicker skin than I do (as is likely) I heartily recommend them! An unique twist is that instead of recipes, home repair tips are included.

Well-known seafaring life writer Linda Greenlaw has turned her hand to fiction, with this fairly recent series of mysteries set way up near the Canadian border. I am a big fan of Greenlaw's nonfiction and was excited to get my hands on Slipknot. However, I am sorry to say I found it disappointing. Greenlaw's clipped straightforward style which works beautifully when she is writing about real life events does not translate well to fiction. She has a hard time with both description and characterisation and also, sequencing. Several times I had to re-read passages to understand what was happening. And the plot, once revealed, was extremely shaky. I forced myself to keep reading to the unsatisfying conclusion of this book, and I have not yet run out and gotten the other one in the series. Which might be miles better...so I have to admit this is a somewhat unfair review from reading just one book. Let me know if you've read them and what you think? I admire Greenlaw's other work very much, so would be happy to have another opinion on her fiction!

An enjoyable note to all three series is that each features a seasoned, strong, sassy woman as the main character! I like this new tide of middle-aged heroines.

NEW MONHEGAN PAINTING OF THE ISLAND INN

2011-02-15T09:32:00.000-08:00

I just finished this view that captured me on my trip to Monhegan in 2008. It was the view from Eider Duck where we were staying on our annual painting trip with the Maine Landscape Guild. It was late in the day and the sun was setting illuminating the Island Inn built in 1816. The painting is 24" x 34". Makes me want to be there now!

Alexandra Tyng's Upcoming Show at Dowling Walsh Gallery

2011-02-10T11:19:00.000-08:00

I know it's a while until summer, but I wanted to let anyone who reads this blog know that I'll be having a one-person show at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in August (opening August 5th). The title of the show is still a work in progress. At some point close to the opening date, I'll be giving a gallery talk on my work. I'll be posting more specific information in the next couple of months.

The paintings will range from large aerial panoramas to figures in settings. I am focusing on three geographic areas: the Camden/Rockport area, Monhegan, and Mt Desert Island. Stay tuned!

June paintings in August

2010-08-24T13:48:00.000-07:00

Noon Islands, 9 x 12 oil on linen mounted to board, 2010 (Somesville, ME)

Okay okay, I am late. But two recent occurrences inspired me to get on with it: a flurry of comments on some of my old Maine paintings on Facebook, and Alex posting her recent Maine paintings both here and on Facebook. Today was overcast but bright, perfect for shooting art, so I finally took the shots and am now posting the pix of my most recent Maine sketches. These are from June when Alex and I went up to Mount Desert Island and stayed with Diana in Somesville (see two posts back) We had a short but highly productive week of plein air painting (four nights/five days?) These are some I did on that trip, and are AS IS. I did no more work on them in the studio. In fact, I can't bear to do any later retouch at all these days...it all happens on site and in the moment or not at all.

Houses by the Sea, 12 x 16, oil on linen mounted to board, 2010 (Stonington, ME)

Porcupine Islands, 12 x 18, oil on linen mounted to board, 2010 (from Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, ME)

Alex Tyng Painting at Beaver Pond, oil on linen, 12 x 9, 2010 (Acadia National Park, ME)
Funny thing is that I also did a painting of Beaver Pond. It was fun to do but it ended as a confused mess. Alex wanted to keep going with her piece for another 20 minutes. I had a palette full of fresh paint and extra canvas so I speed painted this baby, more as a way of passing the time than with any serious intention. Wouldn't you know, this one was the keeper!

Reflecting Pond, oil on canvas, 12 x 16, 2010 (Somesville, ME)
Yes, that's the library in Somesville. It was the last painting of the last day!

Some recent plein air paintings of Maine

2010-08-16T08:47:00.000-07:00

Since Nancy Bea posted, I've been on Mount Desert Island for two weeks, and got a few chances to paint with Diana there. So I thought it was time I posted a few of my paintings from my 2010 Maine travels so far.These are from Mt. Desert:
Morning Light on Apel Camp, 14" x 18"
First Glimpse, 14" x 18"
Marsh at Pond's End, 18" x 14"
Wind Gust Over the Ripples, 12" x 18"

Business Trip... to Maine!

2010-06-27T14:24:00.000-07:00

Alex and I (Nancy Bea here) made a quick visit up to Mount Desert Island to stay with Diana while taking care of a little gallery business (Alex and I each have two galleries in Maine that exhibit our work, one is the same) and of course, PAINTING! Which is our business, for real. We stopped in Freeport for coffee and a little L.L.Bean-ing. Notice my business-like attache case (really, an archery set!)

Diana and her sweet dog, Tucker, welcomed us warmly!

Our first day of painting was a total pleasure, despite my easel becoming marooned!

We painted in Stonington one day and did some business with our mutual gallery there, gWatson. Here is Ron Watson talking with Alex.

Lupines were everywhere! It's a very floral time for coastal Maine.

Painting on the side of Cadillac Mountain one early evening was truly a highlight of the trip! Diana's gorgeous hair was flaming:

We worked hard all the hours we could. I came home with eight pieces or "sketches". Here is Alex with her Cadillac piece:

Happy sigh! I wish the rest of the MLG had been there with us. We'll do that soon, I hope. Farewell till we meet again, in Maine!

Where I want to be. . .

2010-02-14T08:41:00.000-08:00

Around this time of year, when I'm hemmed in by snow and busy with work deadlines and back-to-back art events, I find myself thinking of Maine. I realize this has nothing to do with the reality of Maine at this time of year; Maine is colder than Philadelphia and usually gets a lot more snow. What I'm really dreaming about is summer in Maine--the greens and blues, the balsam-scented breeze, and my beloved Long Pond.

I recently completed a portrait of my friend Nan that epitomizes that feeling. It's called Right Here.

Farewell 2009 and Hello 2010!

2009-12-30T23:17:00.001-08:00

Vacation's end-
island of a thousand dreams
dissolving in light

*****************************************

This was my last shot of Monhegan Island when I left in September. Yesterday, several fellow MLG-ers sat round my kitchen table and we planned next year's visit. The joy of it, on a cold, hard day. I wrote the haiku for Haiku Bones: the prompt this week is regret. Also:

Wistful

2009-12-16T14:21:00.000-08:00

dreams and memories
litter that cold rocky shore-
blunt-edge beach glass shards

*********************************************************

I wrote this for the Haiku Bones prompt of wistful. Also:

MLG Holiday shows!

2009-12-07T06:11:00.001-08:00

The MLG ride again
Above is a somewhat blurry photo of four of the MLG at receptions for two of their December exhibits. Left to right: Eliza Auth, Alexandra Tyng, Mary Walsh and Nancy Bea Miller.

Here is Eliza at Rosenfeld gallery where she is participating in the annual "Smaller Works in Various Media by Gallery Artists" show. The title is a bit of a mouthful, but it is a very good show! Click here for more information.

Here I am (Nancy Bea) at Artists' House Gallery's "Small Works 2009" exhibit. I guess I still hold the dubious honor of being "...one of Philadelphia's foremost doughnut painters" as a critic once titled me. Maine aficionados, please also note the two small pieces I painted en plein air while on Monhegan Island a few months ago! Click here for more info.

Happy Holidays!

Even more photos. . .

2009-09-30T07:23:00.001-07:00

Icouldn't resist this: DIANA in a lighter moment (practicing for milk ad)
Diana painting on the cliffs
Exodus
Mary painting on the porch

More Monhegan 2009 From Alex's camera

2009-09-30T07:11:00.000-07:00

Diana painting outside the Red House
Our sunset view
Our morning view
Coffee at the Barnacle
On the ferry

MONHEGAN 2009 with The Maine Landscape Guild

2009-09-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

Just some cute photos of our recent 2009 trip to Monhegan

The Maine Landscape Guild stayed at the "Red House"

Nancy Bea having a quiet moment

Alex and Diana with paintings and subjects!!!

Critique

Alex

Eliza

Nancy Bea

Mary

Alex in a light moment

Week-long Workshop

2009-08-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some photos from my workshop on Mount Desert Island, Maine (July 27-31).

This summer in Maine has been WET! It has rained almost continuously since June-- a worrisome sign of climatic change. The ponds and lakes of Mount Desert were full to the brim, so full that the water level is just under the trees, and hardly a rock is visible along the shore from a distance.

Apart from being concerned about the implications of this weather, I had more immediate concerns that the workshop week would be one long rainstorm--but luckily there was enough sun to give some variety to the weather. One completely sunny day allowed us to paint in two prime locations, Ocean Drive and Cadillac Mountain. On cloudy, foggy, damp days we painted at the Beaver Pond across from the north end of Eagle Lake, and Somes Landing. We painted at many of the key locations on MDI.The talented and dedicated participants worked hard and we all had a lot of fun.

I'm so glad I was able to work with my fellow MLG-er, painting partner, and long-time friend Diana Cobb Ansley in planning the workshop.We stayed in her historic home in Somesville, and she provided hospitality and made sure things ran smoothly. Every day for lunch she ordered delicious gourmet sandwiches from Mother's Kitchen which we brought along for picnics on location. She also knew the best restaurants on MDI for dinner. By the time I got home, I actually felt that I had had my fill of popovers!

We're looking forward to doing this again next year. There are so many themes for plein air landscape workshop, and so many more painting locations on MDI.

Maine was the catalyst

2009-07-21T08:51:00.000-07:00

...that got me to this "exalted" position as Judson's Art Outfitters Artist of the Month for July 2009. Notice the painting is of Manana, and the artist photograph was taken by Alex on Diana's deck on Long Pond: I surely do get by with a little help from my friends. Thanks guys! If interested, click images below to read in higher resolution.

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Consider the Lobster!

2009-06-25T06:11:00.000-07:00

Lobster with Brioche, oil on canvas, 18 x 24 inches, 2009

Alex and I just had a wonderful road trip to our favorite state (that's Maine of course!) dropping work off at three different galleries. It was a long drive but it was lots of fun! The first destination was Portland, where I dropped several pieces off at Susan Maasch Fine Art. She has a lovely new gallery space in the perfect location: right across the street from a coffee shop and within one block of the Portland Art Museum! We had a fun visit with Susan and her gallery assistant and then Alex and I explored Portland a little: what a fascinating city!
The next day we made it up to Stonington, where we were both bringing work to gWatson Gallery. Alex shows there regularly, and I had just been invited to participate in a summer show "Consider the Lobster". I absolutely had a blast painting this lobster: can you tell? (I blogged about it here, if you want the back story on how I rented the lobster in the painting!) I enjoyed meeting Ron Watson who could not have given us a warmer welcome. His gallery is amazing: I feel honored to be included. This was my first time in Stonington and even through the mist of a mizzly day it was utterly gorgeous. Can't wait to get back there and paint!
We headed back down the coast after that, and our last gallery stop was in Rockland, where Alex was dropping off work at Dowling Walsh Gallery (see previous post for show details!) It's a beautiful gallery space with lots of art stars on the walls: including our Alex! In fact, I was chatting to someone when my eye was caught by a gorgeous painting on a far wall in one of the main galleries and I disregarded the rest of the show and went right up to it. I was probably about 5 feet away when I suddenly realized it was one of Alex's paintings: way to go girlfriend!
If you are in Stonington soon I hope you will stop in and see

Consider the Lobster
Consider the Lobster opens on Friday, June 26.
A Celebration of artists and their lobster images will take place on Friday, July 3 from 4 to 7 PM.
gWatson Gallery
68 Main Street
Stonington, Maine 04681
207.367.2900
http://www.gwatsongallery.com/

"Monhegan" show at Dowling Walsh Gallery

2009-06-08T09:12:00.000-07:00

For the second year in a row, my work will be included in a summer group show entitled "Monhegan" at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine.

The gallery is located on the main street of Rockland, right across from the Farnsworth Museum.

Please come if you can to the opening reception:

Wednesday, July 15, 5 - 8 p.m.

MORNING GLOW ON MANANA

2009-05-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

Manana is creeping into my dreams!! Summer is approaching and I am really looking forward to our return. Keeping in the Manana frame of mind, this is what I was painting which Alex has now painted in her new painting of that wonderful glow on Manana in the morning.

painting and model

2009-05-10T08:44:00.001-07:00

Painting and Model
meet up at my recent Episcopal Academy show! Eliza stands in front of the painting she posed for on the cliffs on Monhegan Island. Recognize that inimitable Eliza hair? Well, maybe it is imitable...when this painting was first exhibited an acquaintance sought me out to ask if the figure was Eliza Auth? The face is turned away, it is a seated figure wearing baggy clothing...it is amazing how little information our eyes need to make recognition.

To the right is another painting of Monhegan, done from the porch of the Monhegan House hotel one afternoon.

New Monhegan Painting

2009-05-08T09:38:00.000-07:00

Though I think about Maine all year, I notice a heightening of excitement in my thoughts as spring moves toward summer. I find myself reliving the outdoor painting experiences of last summer and planning new compositions. Here's one I just recently finished of my MLG friends Diana and Mary painting the orangey glow on the island of Manana from the rocks on Monhegan's western shore in the early morning.

It was composed from a photo I took, and the color information and the feeling of "being there" was inspired by a small oil sketch I had done on two successive mornings at the spot. In my larger painting, I made a direct reference to my process: the third (higher) easel in the painting is mine, with the sketch on it. At the top I've posted my oil sketch so you can see the relationship.

Can't wait for the summer and Maine!

PLEIN AIR PAINTING WORKSHOP on Mount Desert Island, Maine

2009-05-02T10:12:00.000-07:00

PLEIN AIR PAINTING WITH ALEXANDRA TYNG
MOUNT DESERT, MAINE July 26-August 1, 2009

Thomas Cole and Frederic Church first popularized Mount Desert Island in the mid- 1800s. Their works inspired families from New York and Philadelphia to make the journey by steamer to "rusticate" and enjoy the untouched beauty of Mount Desert.

Artists will be painting outside in a group for approximately 3-5 hours a day. Sites will vary from the spectacular summit of Cadillac Mountain to the rugged shores and quiet lakes and ponds of Acadia National Park. The group will focus on plein-air painting techniques and strategies. Participants will stay in the Abraham Somes III house built in 1800. Daily critiques, individual instruction, and demonstrations will be provided. Alexandra Tyng and Diana Ansley will lead the group.

Tuition is $500.
Lodging and lunch is $575.

For further information on the lodging, travel arrangements, and daily schedule, or to enroll, contact organizer Diana Ansley at DianaAnsley@aol.com

2009-04-28T05:09:00.000-07:00

Three other Maine paintings donated by MLG members to the Family Support Services auction: Daina's landscape, Nancy Bea's painting of a Maine apple and Eliza's pomegranates (painted on a recent trip to Maine).

All of the paintings received multiple bids and the event raised almost $20,000. Yea!

Maine Lighthouse

2009-04-20T13:25:00.000-07:00

Alex generously donated this painting to the FSS fundraiser. A beautiful maine scene. Many of the event organizers are already mentally bidding on the paintings.

2009-04-08T07:15:00.000-07:00

The Maine Landscape Guild is contributing small works to a fundraising auction for Philadelphia-based Family Support Services. ( www.fssinc.org )

This is Carla's painting and the sharp-eyed observer will note that it is from an unusual part of Maine called Florida.

Toast to Lobsters

2009-03-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

This summer (2009) I'll be participating in a themed group show at the gWatson Gallery entitled "Consider the Lobster." Anything goes as long as the work relates to lobsters. Since the artists at gWatson are a varied and accomplished bunch, the results should be interesting! The show will be up in July, but I will have more specific information as the summer draws near.

Here's my entry, Toast to Lobsters, oil on linen, 22" x 30."

The gWatson Gallery is located on 68 Main Street, Stonington, Maine. Stonington is a small town at the very tip of Deer Isle, Home to many artists and art galleries.

All Together

2009-01-13T10:09:00.000-08:00

GROUP SHOT
of the MLG, taken last Friday. We were getting together to plan our annual group painting trip to Maine. Many of the MLG members go to Maine at various other times, but we are trying to keep up the tradition of a yearly group visit, as well. So far so good!

Front Row left to right:
Carla Tudor, Mary Walsh, Diana Ansley
Back Row left to right:
Eliza Auth, Alex Tyng, Nancy Bea Miller

Opening night at Fischbach Gallery

2009-01-11T08:30:00.000-08:00

Eliza Auth with star of the evening Alexandra Tyng: Lawrence DiCarlo, Fischbach gallery director, in the background.

Diana Ansley and Nancy Bea Miller share a light-hearted moment.

Peter Trippi, editor of Fine Art Connoisseur magazine, Brad Marshall, another Fischbach artist, and Nancy Bea Miller, in animated conversation.

Eliza Auth, Carla Tudor, Diana Ansley and Nancy Bea Miller.

The MLG turned out in almost full force (minus Mary Walsh, who had a previous commitment) at my opening last Thursday. Thanks to them, and all the other friends, fellow artists, and others who came in to see the work, there was a great turnout. I also want to thank gallery owner/director Larry DiCarlo and the gallery staff who created a festive atmosphere. It is a wonderful space and the work was hung beautifully.

I'm posting some photos which, I think, speak more eloquently than words.

Tyng Show at Fischbach

2009-01-03T07:54:00.000-08:00

The Fischbach Gallery in New York City will be showing my recent Maine landscapes beginning January 8th. Here is the info:

ABOVE AND BEYOND

January 8 - 31, 2009

Reception for the Artist: Thursday, January 8, 5 -7 p.m.

Fischbach Gallery
210 Eleventh Avenue at 25th Street
New York, NY 10001

Tel: 212-759-2345
Email: info@fischbachgallery.com

A catalog of the show will be available for $20. It contains 16 color images and an essay by Suzette McAvoy, former Chief Curator of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine.

Three to Watch!

2009-01-03T07:45:00.000-08:00

Breaking news! An article BY a Maine Landscape Guilder, ABOUT a Maine Landscape Guilder, is hitting the newsstands about now.

Fine Art Connoisseur Magazine has featured Alex Tyng's work in an article "Three To Watch:Artists Making their Mark", in the January-February issue. The text is by Nancy Bea Miller. Wow, that's teamwork!

The subject of the featured painting is Isle Au Haut, a lesser-known section of Acadia National Park.

Currently on Exhibit

2009-01-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

Four Seasons
Eliza and I are both in this group show
Jan 7-31, 2009
Sherry French Gallery
601 West 26th street
New York City, NY 10001

For more info on the show click here.

This is another of my plein air pieces from September's stay on Monhegan Island. While there we got lashed with the tail end of Hurricane Hannah. After one gray stormy day the weather started clearing towards sundown. There was an eerie, exhausted calm: dark sky, rosy sunset and the water of the harbor looked like glass. I painted as quickly as I could before the light went.

Monhegan Harbor study, oil on canvas laid to board, 8 x 10 inches, 2009

Murder on Monhegan

2008-12-30T13:26:00.000-08:00

Just been reading a murder mystery set on Monhegan Island! Came across it by chance. It's not bad, certainly not great literature or anything. And somehow I don't get a real sense of the island, but many of the familiar landmarks do get mentioned. And for somebody hungry for Monhegan, that's a plus.

An interesting detail: digital cameras must have been new when this book came out and there are several fun and fascinating references to people trying to get their heads around this new technology! On the other hand, one of the main protagonists is an artist but the author does not seem very conversant with the visual arts. At one point she mentions the whole Wyeth-Helga thing and manages to get Helga's hair color wrong as well as misunderstand the whole nature of that exercise. But I digress...

Just thought it was worth a mention and a read for the Monhegan-starved! Murder with Puffins by Donna Andrews.

2008-10-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

After such an intense week in a place like this, it takes a while to process the experience and start planning major paintings. Here is a tiny study for a possible large painting. It's the view from the house we rented. I believe we all leaped up from dinner and scrambled for our cameras when we noticed the dramatic fading light that evening.

2008-09-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Hi to all who are interested! I'm a beginner to the blog system so I'm experimenting by posting a couple of my favorite pix from our incredible Monhegan painting vacation!-- More images to come

Group Shot of the Guild

2008-09-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

The Maine Landscape Guild
Taken last week on Monhegan Island! We are standing on Fish Beach and the small island of Manana is behind us across the harbor. From left to right you see Carla Tudor, Nancy Bea Miller, Mary Walsh, Alexandra Tyng, Eliza Auth and Diana Ansley.

What a week it was!

More Monhegan Photos

2008-09-19T12:03:00.000-07:00

Here are few more memories of our painting trip:

1) Relaxing in the living room

2) Eliza, Nancy Bea and Mary on Lighthouse Hill, looking over at the village and Manana

3) Diana walking on Burnt Head, Trail #1, towards White Head, through the natural fall "garden."

Monhegan Trip 2008

2008-09-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all the MLGuilders for a wicked good week! Hope you enjoy these bits of our week together.

Mary and Eliza enjoying popovers on a rainy day-

Manana from our window-

Carla drawing with the birds-

Eliza bewitched by the view out our door.

Alex inspiring us with her songs-

We took pictures from all angles-

And from every window-

No wonder with the stunning sunsets-

What better way to end the summer!

Back from Monhegan

2008-09-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

The Maine Landscape Guild has just returned from our annual trip to Monhegan. It was a fabulous and eventful trip, with lots of painting and eating and hiking - and we even weathered a tropical storm. It was sad to leave the island, but the skipper of the ferry Laura B took us through the narrow channel that threads between the cluster of islands owned by the Wyeths. He told us some of the history, pointed out a pair of bald eagles, and then there was a final touching moment when Andrew Wyeth himself waved to us. A perfect ending to a wonderful week.

In the picture above you can just make out AW between MLG members Nancy Bea Miller and Diana Ansley.

Best Blueberry Crop

2008-08-28T18:22:00.001-07:00

I thought you would all enjoy seeing this photo of guild member Diana holding up a stem laden with blueberries. I guess the growing conditions were ideal because it was by far the best crop we've seen in years! On this occasion we were hiking up Champlain Mountain on Mount Desert, and we couldn't resist stopping and filling quarts of containers full of them. Between hiking and painting we managed to keep busy during blueberry season.

2008-08-27T11:29:00.000-07:00

This is one of the paintings that I (Eliza) will have in the Sherry French "Mainly Maine" show, called "Summer's End".

2008-08-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

MAINLY MAINE SHOW

Both Eliza and I (Nancy Bea) were invited to participate in this exhibit.
Mainly Maine
September 3rd thru 27th, 2008
Sherry French Gallery
601 West 26th Street
New York, NY 10001-1101
212-647-8867
http://www.sherryfrenchgallery.com

Click here for more info on this group show. I have two pieces in it, both set on Monhegan Island, Maine. Unfortunately neither Eliza or I will be at the reception for the show as right then we will actually be on Monhegan, painting, with the rest of the Maine Landscape Guild. Can't wait!

Dead Tree, Burnt Head, oil on canvas laid to board, 8 x 10 inches

Vacation Time

2008-08-15T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm currently in Maine for a long anticipated family vacation. Yesterday I managed to carve out some time to paint. The view is the path that leads from the cottage to the beach. From the beach you can gaze over to Mt Desert Island. Bliss!

Two Maine Galleries showing my work

2008-07-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

In case any of you get to either Stonington (Deer Isle) or Rockland, ME, my work is being shown in two galleries this summer.

gWatson Gallery
68 Main Street,
Stonington, ME
Group show--all summer

Dowling-Walsh Gallery
357 Main Street
Rockland, ME
"Monhegan," opening July 18th

Long Weekend

2008-06-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

This is the place I envision myself when I get my blood pressure checked. Truly. Either here or lying on the dock, being rocked gently by the waves, feeling the heat of the sun.

Last weekend Steve and I drove up to Maine to deliver some paintings, visit galleries, and take care of a few other art-related things. We also fit in a day or two of relaxation. Thanks to the generosity of Diana and her husband we were able to stay at her camp on Long Pond and enjoy the lake. We had one really nice day, and Steve took advantage of the weather to enjoy a good book in the hammock.

Island Life and Still-Life

2008-06-01T18:35:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it, but my show is up! Still-life paintings and Maine landscapes. Please come this Saturday to the reception if you are in New York.

Still Moments
Representational Still Life and Landscape Paintings by
Nancy Bea Miller
May 28th – June 21st, 2008
Opening Reception for the artist:
Saturday, June 7th from 1 to 4 pm
at
SHERRY FRENCH GALLERY, INC.
601 WEST 26TH STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10001-1101
212-647-8867 fax 212-647-8899
sherryfrench@earthlink.net
www.sherryfrenchgallery.com

Monhegan Museum, oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches, 2008

Monhegan Paintings

2008-04-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

The trip last September, to Monhegan Island, resulted in so many new paintings. Several of these new paintings will be included in a one man show opening this week at the Sherry French Gallery in New York City. This painting, "Towards the Mainland", is a view from Manana Island, with that intense blue and gold of early Fall on the islands. The exhibit runs from April 30 to May 24, 2008. The gallery is located in Chelsea at 601 West 26th Street, NY NY, 13th floor, and there will be an opening reception on Saturday, May 3rd, from 1 to 4 pm.

Semper ubi sub ubi...

2008-04-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

LONG JOHN ALERT!
Remember how cold we were at times on Monhegan? It got very chilly at night, despite the gorgeously sunny days. Just wanted to mention that this is a good time of year to buy thermal underwear...when the temperature starts rising the prices start dropping. I'm stocking up now for September! :-)

...And a Rear View!

2008-03-26T11:57:00.000-07:00

Now that N.B. has posted her charming characterization of the artist on Horn Hill, I thought I'd post another view of her that I incorporated into a painting. I don't know what it is about her--whether it's her Western style hat or her red shoes or her stance--but she was an appealing subject. I also borrowed a photo from N.B. and painted myself into the view, though I consider myself to be ordinary in comparison.

I'm calling this Painting and Cocktails because everywhere you look on Monhegan there are artists standing in front of easels and people sitting and admiring the view while sipping cool drinks.

Another View

2008-03-13T06:02:00.001-07:00

Horn Hill Again
This painting is on a painting board I bought at a funny little art supply shop on our way up the coast. Diana (or Alex?) needed some piece of equipment for their folding easel and so we stopped at this place those two knew about from former trips. In a tiny strip mall it was part hobby shop, part craft shop, part art supply shop. I guess diversification is sometimes the key to survival!

Anyway, browsing around while the others were researching their easel issues, I decided to give this art board a whirl (it is almost impossible for an artist to enter an art supply store and not buy anything...even if its just a new pencil!) The manufacturer was some major company, like Windsor Newton: a thin piece of masonite or hardboard with a smooth oil-primed surface. I thought if it worked out, its thin width and light-weight but durable qualities would be a plus for plein air work.

Turns out I hated it. I started painting on site, Horn Hill on Monhegan, but the board's slippery smoothness did nothing for me but cause grief and annoyance. The light changed and the artist whose back view I was painting started cleaning up so I gave up too, put it away and went on to other paintings. But when I got home from Maine, even though this was just a rough start, there was something about it. I looked through my photos and yes, I had taken one of the scene right before I started to paint. So...I went on with it in the studio. Swearing and sweating for the first few days till I'd built up enough "drag" with layers of paint. Some people like to slide their brush over a smooth surface, others prefer the drag of some textured surface (c'est moi!)

There was some strange tenacity to this painting, something that insisted on being born! Sometimes you just have to give in.

Painter on Horn Hill, oil on primed board, 12 x 16 inches

A very small, special island

2008-03-02T14:52:00.000-08:00

A while ago our photos and paintings of Long Pond got me thinking about all my favorite places in Maine, so I thought I'd talk a little about another of my favorite places. This is one island that is very special to me. It is small, only seven acres, only a mile or so from the nearest harbor. A wonderful place for contemplation, good conversation, and painting. Here is a painting I completed last fall from a plein air study I did while on the island last summer.

Waiting for Spring

2008-02-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

It's a dark raw day, and I can barely wait for spring, but there are compensations. I'm not tempted to leave my studio. I have a fresh pot of tea beside me. And I'm getting a lot of work done. Here is a new painting from my last trip to Maine, in January. This is a pasture along the road to Wolfe's Neck. I had been planning to get a hike in before I started driving back to Pennsylvania, but the park was closed, apparently due to dangerous ice conditions. Sometimes it's better to be in the studio.

Daydreaming...........

2008-02-21T07:03:00.000-08:00

Although this clearly isn't rural Maine, the sunlight on the building as viewed from my studio window is quite Hopperesque don't you think?
September won't come quickly enough!

Tea and Popovers Anyone?

2008-01-23T13:02:00.000-08:00

Willowbrook

With this cold winter weather I thought you might be up for this. After years of perfecting the recipe, we first tried this in "Willowbrook" our old house in Maine. We have tried various combinations of ingredients, cooking methods, and everything from outdoor ovens to convection ovens. We thought we had finally found the secret from a server at the Jordan Pond House. She let us know that they baked them in convection ovens. We tried it, but it didn't work. I think this recipe works because of the jumbo eggs and the special instructions. Enjoy!!

Popovers

1 1/4 cups milk
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 jumbo eggs

Preheat oven to 425 degrees
Generously grease popover cups--1/2 pat of butter per cup.

Pour milk into medium size mixing bowl. I have also heard that ingredients should be at room temperature.

Add flour and salt

With rotary beater or wire whisk beat until well blended ( I have to say that I blend as little as I possibly can and think that if you blend too much the popovers are tough. So do it gently!!!)

Add the eggs one at a time. Beating in each until blended

Pour batter into popover cups, filling three fourths full. Do not scrape the bowl.(Tough Batter?)

Bake at 425 for 20 minutes.

Reduce oven to 325 and continue baking 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Check how your oven works because it may only take 20 minutes. I sometimes cook at 425 for 10 minutes then reduce to 325 and check it after 10 minutes.

Painting in Maine

2008-01-23T01:49:00.001-08:00

I was organizing last summer's photos when I came across this one of me in Surry August. After three days of hazy skies I couldn't wait to get out and paint the sunny morning.

Yet another book about Maine!

2008-01-13T12:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody!

While looking around for a Monhegan Island guide in my library's card catalog I saw this book, A Year on Monhegan Island by Julia Dean, and requested it. It had to go through inter-library loan and took a few months to arrive. I read it in about five minutes, and that included gazing at the photos. Not sure why, the writing was good and the photos too, but the book seemed unsatisfactory somehow. I finished and thought "Yeah, so...?" It is junior non-fiction, aimed at kids, but I can't imagine any kids finding this book very interesting. Seems like the kind of souvenir book a Monhegan-vacationing Grandparent might buy for a grandchild...more of a gesture than a real treat.

However, I don't mean to say it was awful, far from it. The idea of it was good, and oh how I'd love to be commissioned do my own version! If any of you own this book, or get it somehow, let me know what you think. Maybe I was in a bad mood when I read it...or my long wait had built up hopes of something rarer and finer than reality.

More Maine Literature

2007-12-23T07:42:00.001-08:00

Thanks for that information, Nancy Bea! I just saw this and realized that my post might be a little late for those in need of last-minute Christmas presents, but, still, it's always good to have Maine books on hand to read on cold winter days and nights.

The Maine Poets: A Verse Anthology, Edited by Wesley McNair

This is really my daughter's book so I haven't had chance to read it through, but every so often I pick it up and read parts of it. It includes poems by H. W. Longfellow, Edna St. Vincent Millay, and Edwin Arlington Robinson; also many other poets, some of whom are contemporary. The verses are often not the most famous by those authors, which creates a sense of discovery while reading. It's a good break from fiction.

My favorite author of Maine fiction is Ruth Moore, who grew up on Gott's Island. Spoonhandle is my current favorite, set in a fishing town on a Maine island. Others I enjoyed are: Candelmas Bay, A Fair Wind Home, and Speak to the Winds. The Weir is perhaps her most famous novel, though when I first read it I had trouble getting into it. You might have better luck than I. I just bought an old hardback copy of The Fire Balloon but I haven't read it yet. For a short and interesting biography of Ruth Moore, go to:

http://dll.umaine.edu/welcome/wom/rmarticle.htm

Books set in Maine

2007-12-20T18:31:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, I almost hate to post and move on from the breathtaking achievement that is Diana's last post! Probably we all feel the same.

But, I want to post these book recommendations before I forget about them! The first book takes its title from the slogan Maine: The Way Life Should Be which is apparently printed on a sign that you see just after crossing over the Maine border (I have to admit that I did not notice this icon but will look out for it next time!) I really enjoyed this book, which could be characterized as fast-paced chick-lit with recipes(yay, I love books with recipes!) It was well-written and amusing and I probably would have enjoyed it even if it had been set in Spokane, Washington. Of course, because the setting is Mount Desert Island I REALLY enjoyed it! For more of a book synopsis click here.

The Lobster Chronicles by Linda Greenlaw is a riveting piece of non-fiction. Greenlaw returns to her hometown on Isle-au-Haut to work as a lobsterman (according to the author there is no such word as lobsterwoman!) I was so entranced by this book that I immediately went on read her previous book The Hungry Ocean. It was interesting too, but not quite so much as this one. Maybe cause there is less about Maine in it! ;->

Anyway, if you read either of these, I hope you like them as much as I did!

Winter Bliss on Mt. Desert Island

2007-12-16T12:14:00.000-08:00

How I missed all of you on my recent trip to Maine!!! It was incredible! We drove through a blinding snow and woke the next day to a clear, crisp, frozen world. Hope you recognize this panorama from Trenton as we approached the island.

Somesville had so many wonderful views. The mill pond had such incredible colors, I had to take a picture every time we passed it. We spent most of the morning there. I was hoping to paint the view from inside the old house, but it was colder inside than out! I think next time I will paint like Hopper in the car!!As you may have heard we had a mix-up on closing the house so all the pipes had been drained and the house was all closed up. I was fortunate that one of my friends let me stay in one of her rentals in Southwest Harbor.

More views of Somesville!!! We then went out to the camp. The road had been plowed, but was still all snow. We walked from the end of the driveway into the camp. I was so taken by the stillness and beauty of the woods. The lake was just freezing over down the sides of the lake. In front of the house the water was still flowing and looked much the same as September except for bits of snow on Beach and Bernard. Anyone for a swim?

The days just flew by as the island is in darkness at four o'clock in the afternoon. You really have to get up early to enjoy the day. Next year we need to do a December trip!!! I wanted to go to Monhegan, but the boat only runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It makes one trip and then turns around. I was trying to go Monday and return on Wednesday, but we woke up to snow on Monday. The ferry is weather permitting so if you get there it could be a while before you are able to get off!! We had to leave a few days early as a huge storm was due.

Nancy Bea thanks for sending me notes on posting!! I'll leave you with these two views of the head of Somes Sound and then another view of the Sound from Sargent drive.

Monhegan twilght

2007-12-15T07:01:00.000-08:00

That is a gorgeous painting, Eliza! I love the backlit garden plants against the graceful forms of the very tall spruces in the background. And the house nestles in there so perfectly. Can't wait to see more (from everyone).
Our trip to N.Y. was lots of fun. Thinking over Nancy Bea's reaction to Peter Poskas' paintings of Monhegan, and even her reaction to Mount Desert compared to Monhegan, I realized that the Maine experience is extremely dependent on the weather. If you don't have much time there, and your whole week, or two weeks, is marred by constant rain and fog, it totally affects your experience of the place. You might know in your rational mind that it must be beautiful when the sun is out, yet your memory of Maine will be dreary and wet and depressing. I have had guests who are amazed when the fog lifts and the can see the mountains and the colors, even though they have enjoyed their first few rainy days of vacation. The only way to really experience a place is to be there for longer periods of time, or in different seasons. Then you can tolerate and even enjoy fog for a while.

Another way of saying this is that we were incredibly fortunate to have perfect weather when we were on Monhegan, and the colors were brilliant and almost surreal. There was one evening when the sky was perfectly clear and brilliantly colored from red to orange to yellow, violet, and blue. There was one hardy soul who was actually trying to paint in the dusk. I don't know how he could see. The best I could do was to take lots of digital photos and interpret the colors from my mental notes. Here are two of my paintings of that evening.

Bright Lights, Big City

2007-12-13T07:10:00.001-08:00

Three of the Guild took a road trip to New York yesterday. Alex had to pick up her painting (which by the way, won a big prize!) from the Allied Artists of America annual show at the National Arts Club, and Eliza had to deliver some work for an upcoming show at Sherry French Gallery.

The other main purpose of the trip was to look at the Peter Poskas show, New England Revisited, at Spanierman Gallery. This show was reputed to include a large percentage of paintings of Maine and in particular, Monhegan Island, where of course we just were a few months ago. There was an added point of interest in that Poskas used to show with Sherry French gallery, where Eliza and I both now exhibit. So, interest was high on many levels.

My review of the show: I liked the CT farm pieces, but I found the Monhegan pieces to be too bland for my taste, almost unrecognizable as Monhegan in fact. Blurred edges, pretty pastel shades, soft and flowery. Huh? Admittedly, I only visited Monhegan the once, but the way Posakas sees Monhegan is not the way I see it. When I first stepped foot on to that island I felt a kind of zinging in my blood...a heady sense of heavy rock and brilliant sky, an almost crushing feeling of desperate, hard, human toil amidst the intense beauty. I guess my vision of Monhegan aligns more closely with that of George Bellows...all knife-edged rock and crash of waves and strong colors and sharp contrast. Poskas's Monhegan vision was pretty gentle, soft-edged and pastel in color. If not for recognizing various places, I would have thought we had visited two different islands! Of course, there are seasonal differences: he must paint there in the summer, and I was there in the Fall. And I should add that both Eliza and Alex completely disagreed with my perspective on the Poskas show...both finding it much more to their taste than I did. And that is why there is more than one artist working in the world at any time: we all have our unique viewpoints. Vive les differences!

Monhegan

2007-12-11T16:06:00.001-08:00

Part of the September 2007 trip included a few days on Monhegan Island. While my fellow Maine Landscape Guild members painted en plein air, I found lots of views to photograph which I am now turning into paintings. This is a new painting of a garden I passed while walking back from the lighthouse. The tangle of flowers was back lit in an interesting way which added to a feeling of intimacy and discovery. This painting will be on display at the Sherry French Gallery in the "Flowers in February" exhibition.

. . .and a little more...

2007-12-10T07:03:00.000-08:00

If you do a 180 degree turn from the view Nancy Bea just posted, this is what you see. I did this little oil sketch this summer, trying to capture the usual daily activity at the Ansleys' camp. The dock was rocking, dogs were running back and forth past my feet, and there was a lot of commotion, but you don't see any of that because I was trying to concentrate on what stayed still. The painting is now at the Gross McCleaf Gallery in Philadelphia, having been part of their summer show. I'll be using it as a study for my next painting, a larger version of this view with a little more activity.

A Little More Long Pond...

2007-12-08T13:56:00.000-08:00

Well, Alex,that was a beautiful and moving post! You're a natural at this blogging stuff. Since we were on the subject of Long Pond I thought I'd post this little painting of it I did, sitting on Diana's lakeside porch on Mount Desert Island. Was it the first evening we got there? Or maybe when we got back to the cabin after our rainy day of painting at Seawall. Can't recall now.

Alex's post made me think of this piece, because it and another plein air (the rainy morning near Seawall one) are currently in the Small Works show at Artists' House Gallery in Olde City. I am going to the Sunday reception tomorrow, 1-4. If any of you are around please come too!

By the way, I uploaded a page of all the paintings I did on our September trip:
Maine plein air 9/07
Five of these are currently hanging on gallery walls: Sherry French Gallery has all three of the Monhegan ones up, and then two from Mount Desert Island at Artists' House. Five out of eight is pretty good odds, for me anyway.

Last Light on Long Pond, oil on canvas laid to board, 4 x 6 inches

More Long Pond

2007-12-07T18:37:00.000-08:00

While we're on the subject of Long Pond, I wanted to add that Long Pond is my favorite place on Earth. It's the place where I feel most at peace with my senses fully tuned. I first went there as a young teenager with my family, and I met Diana, another member of this guild. Who knew that, almost forty years later, we would still hang out together and even paint together?

There are other places in Maine that come in as close seconds to Long Pond. One of them is Monhegan, a jewel of an island down the coast from Mount Desert. Undoubtedly we will be writing a lot about Monhegan and our experiences there. And there is the little island where my brother spends time in the summers. There will be others, I'm sure, if I keep on exploring Maine as I hope to do. But Long Pond is first in my heart.

Welcome!

2007-12-06T13:45:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone and welcome to The Maine Landscape Guild blog! The Maine Landscape Guild started out as a group of four painter friends who went to Maine to paint in September of 2007. When we came back, I was so still entranced by my Maine experience that I did not want it to end. I decided to start up a blog for our little group to use to post about our trip, our future trip, our paintings from the last trip, and essentially all things Maine. We had jokingly agreed to call our group The Maine Landscape Guild, on one of those long car rides, with our motto of course being "Remember the Maine (landscape guild!)" We are planning our group's return trip for next September, and have already grown to include two more painters who have thrown in their lot with us painting-in-Maine nuts. So anyway, here we go with the blog, and lets see where it takes us. Right back to Maine I hope!

Rainbow over Long Pond, Mount Desert Island photo: N.B. Miller Click on the image to enlarge.