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CELT's Paint For Preservation

On Friday, July 11th to Sunday, July13th the day of the auction, I participated in the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust's "Paint For Preservation. I was juried along with 29 other plein air painters and was assigned to paint at Zeb Cove. I set up a series of beach umbrellas that resembled a large turtle on the beach. They served to keep me and the painting out of the weather, which was ever changing from hot and sunny to foggy and overcast. The first day on Friday I arrived early and painted mostly distant objects, where I could see for miles. But most of the day on Saturday was socked in with fog with low visibility, so I focused on establishing the foreground, which I could see clearly. At the end of the day the fog somewhat lifted and I was able to finish the painting by comparing the Foreground, middle and background and making the necessary adjustments.to complete the large painting. I was interested in the reflection of the rock in the cove and had to study the exact moment of the tide when that happened to capture it, since it was a swift ever changing tide. Although I was set up right on this private beach, I still got plenty of visitors and even people who came down who lived locally. They all were able to get a peek and I enjoyed our conversations. It certainly is a beautiful cove.

The painting I titled, "Zeb Cove" was sold to Jonathan Bush and his wife for $6500.00 under the auctioneer skills of Kaja Veileux from Thomaston Place Auction Galleries. The Bush Family had wanted an opportunity to buy my work in auctions in the past and I was excited for the both of them in their winning bid. In the end CELT's 18th Annual Juried Plein Air Benefit auction was a resounding success for all the painters, the CELT staff and the Cape Elizabeth people alike, raising a record $140.000 to support the land conservation, stewardship and education programs that make Cape Elizabeth so special. There is something so fitting and satisfying about having the opportunity to be a plein air artist painting the landscape and seascape of such a beautiful place in support of land conservation. This was such an honor to me. I hope to do it again next year!

The Maine Youth Wilderness Leadership Program

 All 10 of the Maine Youth Wilderness Leadership students arrived with their 2 councilors at Daicey Pond in Baxter State Park an Wednesday July 9th at 10:00 am. These selected juniors and seniors from different high schools throughout the state, proved to be an interesting and self motivated group of kids, all with an enthusiasm and energy toward wilderness conservation. Sponsored by the Friends of Baxter they came to me, their plein air watercolor plein air instructor for the day, to learn an appreciation for Baxter State Park, Katahdin, and also to begin to understand how beauty can not only save our world but cause people to want to be better Stewarts of our natural environment. They started by realizing that the program that chose them, considered them professional painters by giving them the best painting equipment and supplies for plein air painting. They watched me set up my equipment and do a watercolor study in just 15 minutes. They follow by doing the same without using a pencil, but only the brushes they were given, plus they were given an extra 5 minutes to complete as much of their painting as they could. They did amazingly well and even surprised themselves on how qualitative the watercolor came out as evidenced in our group critiques we had over lunch. The lesson focused on quick judgements with the benefit of not allowing time to overwork a painting making more clear their unhindered ideas. After lunch they all had about 30 minutes to touch up and finish whatever they felt needing more work, armed with helpful comments from that group critique that gave them all an opportunity to talk about and represent their artwork. Some of them decided to started over and impressively made a second study in that time.

Then we broke our equipment down, piled into the van once again, me in my red truck, asI led them further north into the park to Ledge Falls where they were allowed time to draw out their images with pencil first and then watercolor paint for 2 to 3 hours en plein air. I painted a larger watercolor and painted with them. In the end we completed over 25 watercolor paintings, including the instructors who participated right along with the students. It turned out out to be a great weather day and the students were rewarded by swimming at the falls, enjoying the natural waterslides, cascading over the large flat rocks that this place is known for.

On the 10th of August I will be going again with a new group of students and their councilors as we paint together en plein air their amazing watercolor views of Baxter State Park.

The Rangeley Plien Air Watercolor Workshop

The Plein Air Watercolor Workshop in Rangeley was one of the best workshops we have ever had. With 8 students enrolled and Nora West as our monitor, they proved to be the most eager to learn and flexible group we have had in a long time, producing over 100 watercolors in just three days!

We also added to our workshop experience the Perham Stream Birding Trail which offered a stunning mountain view from the large field. This place is a recent addition to the Artist's Trail.

I also sold three of my watercolor demonstrations, one, "Smalls Falls" I actually received two offers, one from a student in the class and the other from a tourist on location. It was a first in many ways. Such as the class on the first day, going to three locations on the first day and making three studies. Another was seeing Smalls Falls in a different way. The water level of the falls was so low we could actually stand on the bedrock in front of it and look Bach at the bridge. It offered a wonderful close-up painting view of the falls that was never possible before. Where we were standing it simply would have been impossible due to it being underwater before. Another terrific workshop with great surprises that produced many excellent paintings.

The Rangeley Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop

We will be having another Plein Air Oil Painting workshop coming right up From Monday, August 4th to Friday, August 8th. This might be the last time we offer Plein air workshops in separate mediums, such as in oil or watercolor. We are rethinking of combining watercolor, oil, and adding acrylic plein air painting into one class since Nora and I both have experienced both on location. The good news, is that even though this might be the last plein air oil class I do in Rangeley, there is plenty of room left if someone wanted to sign up at the last minute for this one. If this sounds like you, and you would like to join us, please register as soon as possible at: www.rangeleyarts.org and call Diane at 207-864-5000, The Rangeley Friends of the Arts at Lakeside Theater. The following is a peek at the proposed schedule that starts on Monday, August 4th, 2025.

Itinerary for Rangeley Plein Air Oil Painting Workshop

August 4th to August 8th, 2025

Monday Night August 4th 

6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Meet the Instructor and Monitor at a Free

introductory class on oil painting materials and

approaches to plein air painting at the CONGO barn In

Rangeley.

Tuesday, August 5th 

8:30 AM-9:00 AM Travel to Height of Land (18 minute drive).

9:00 am- 12:30 PM Paint Height of Land.

12:30 PM to 1:00 Travel to Coos Canyon (29 minute drive).

1:00 PM -1:30 PM Lunch at Coos Canyon (bring a lunch).

1:30 PM- 4:30 PM Paint Coos Canyon.

4:30 PM - 5: 00 PM Travel back to Rangeley (29 minute drive)

Break for Supper 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

6:30 - 7:30 (Optional) Sunset Paint-out at Shelton Noyes Overlook( 5-minute drive).

Wednesday, August 6th 

8:30 AM to 9:00 AM Travel to Small Falls Rest Area (15 minute Drive).

9:00 AM to 12:30 Plein Air Paint Small Falls.

12:30 noon to 1:00 PM Lunch at Small Falls (bring a lunch).

1:00 PM to 1:37 PM travel to The Perham Stream Birding Trail (22 minute drive).

1:40 PM to 4:30 PM Paint Saddleback Mountain en Plein Air.

4:30 PM to 5:00 PM travel back to Rangeley (37 minute drive).

Break for Supper 5:07 PM to 6:00 PM.

6:30 -7:30 (Optional) Sunset Paint-out on Saddleback Mountain (30 minute drive).

Thursday, August 7th

8:30 AM to 9:00 Travel to Quill Hill route 16 in Dallas (19 minute drive).

9:00 AM to 12:30 PM Paint from Quill Hill Summit en plain air.

12:30 PM to 1:00 PM Lunch at Quill Hill (bring a Lunch).

1:00 PM to 1:30 PM Travel to Cascade Streams Gorge (Trailhead Near 

downtown Rangeley 27 minute drive).

1:30 PM to 4:30 PM Paint Cascade Stream Gorge.

4:30 PM to 5:00 PM Travel to Rangeley (only minutes to downtown Rangeley).

Break for Supper 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (Optional Sunset at Bemis Track Causeway, 20 minute drive)

Friday, August 8th

8:00 am to 10:09 am Painter's Choose places to revisit or work on portfolios.

10:00 am to 12:00 noon Final group Critique (at Lakeside Theater and end of workshop).

Paint The Peninsula in Blue Hill

The plein air silent in-person and on-line auction"Paint The Peninsula" at the Blue Hill Library was fantastic but a little different for me this year. Instead of painting views from the Blue Hill mountain I captured the mountain from the new Harriman Point Preserve and also a study from a scene I witnessed on the way back from the point, a place called the "Nub". I had never painted these views before and was pleasantly surprised at the color combinations I found in both of these places. Harriman Point, a bit of a hike, was visited by plenty of tourist and locals whom I met enjoying the view as well. I began by painting a watercolor study of Harriman Point that I did not enter, but settled on an oil that I painted next. I was joined by my friend Eric Glass, and I painted a third view, but just a few minutes down on the trail than the oil. I have that one in my studio. On my way back I noticed the boats in the harbor area called the "Nub" and had to pull over and paint that study.There were a lot of moving parts in this plein air study, so you had to be quick to capture the subjects as they revealed themselves to you. These were the hoisting of the sails of the boats that would be their one minute and gone the next, only to return later on in the day. Not only the wind would change, pointing the boats in different directions, but the tides changed very dramatically. I was happy to do a smaller study for this image and again, I admired the color and energy in all of the activity I witnessed during the afternoon.

More than 90 artists created more over 100 paintings for the weeklong auction, which started Monday, July 14. Library officials said anticipated well known and seasonal artists, including newcomers to the event, for the online auction during the week of July 14-19. There was a closing reception on Saturday, July 19, from 5:30-8 p.m. at the library. The final moments of bidding took place during the reception, which led to plenty of excitement. Last year's auction yielded more than $50,000 in revenue and raised more than $28,000 for the library. I'm still waiting to hear if we beat that record this year. I am happy to report Both of my paintings sold as with my friend's two oils.

MONHEGAN ENERGY

My show called, "Monhegan Energy" opened on June 25 from 2Pm to 4PM at the Island Inn. Sponsored by the Lupine Gallery, It was followed by an open reception on July 2nd that was hosted by the new owners of the Island Inn, Scottie and Dedra Kaylor and their very capable staff. It was a resounding success! They surprised all who attended, both locals and visitors alike, with three different food and beverage bars that reflected their generous southern hospitality. It was a very humbling experience for me as vban artist and a high honor to be the selected as the featured artist for this year.

I submitted over 50 framed paintings of various different sizes, some new, some older works that were hung throughout the Inn and also at the Lupine Gallery. Also at the Lupine Gallery I brought over 50 unframed watercolors that I painted over the years that are also for sale. Visitors can ask to see these and they too are available for sale. So far I have sold eight paintings that I know of, one large piece to one of my students and the others of various sizes. The show is on display at the Island Inn and the Lupine Gallery until October 12th, 2025 when it closes. If you missed the show's opening reception and would like an idea of what was in the show for works and would like to listen to Bill Boynton's introduction of me and my artist talk, Click on the following link:"MONHEGAN ENERGY."

One of my watercolors, " "View of Whitehead from Gull Rock Ravine " was entered into the "Doc On The Rock" art auction and sold for $2300.00.

Kaja Veilleux, of Thomason Auction Galleries, was the auctioneer at the art auction to help raise money for the Monhegan First Aid Station, hosted by the Cabot family! It took place on July 17th at 12:30! "Doc on the Rock" Fundraiser will celebrate the volunteer medical providers who have served Monhegan over the years and raise funds to help ensure the future of the Monhegan First Aid (MFA) program.

For more info, visit: https://docontherockmonhegan.com/