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FORGED IN FIRE

July has been an exciting month for me filled with many joyful surprises. Starting with the largest silent auction in the state, The "PAINT THE PENINSULA "Silent auction at Blue Hill, Maine to benefit the Blue Hill Library. As with last year, I participated with my fellow colleague Eric Glass. I always look forward to painting with him each year not only because of the fellowship that comes with painting next to another artist, but also how we sharpen each other. The Bible's referenced in (Proverbs 27:17) states that iron sharpens iron. I began to think about how true it is that Iron really does sharpen iron. Particularly, I'm sure when understood as a metaphor of the benefit of close artistic friendships. History is filled with stories of successful artists who's friendships encouraged and even inspired great art.

Unlike gold, silver and copper, iron almost never occurs in metallic form by itself in nature. Ancient metal artisans found that they could reduce iron oxide ore to metal with charcoal (Carbon). Their iron fashioned implements had degrees of carbon in them. In fact the more the metal "bloom" was reheated and worked, the more the excess carbon was 're-oxidized" out of the metal. Ancient forgers, smiths and smelters knew that carbon was a beautiful thing for pure iron oxide. it is the very element that allows iron to have such fantastic ranges of properties. Too little carbon added to pure iron and the metal become workable, but too soft. Too much carbon added and the metal becomes too hard, unworkable and brittle (cast iron from a blast furnace contains about 3.5% o 4% carbon).

So yes, "Recarburizing" a well-forged tool by hammering, shaping, burying it in a hot bed of coals (allowing the excess carbon to re-diffuse into it), quenching the surface in oil, could produce a tool that is hard with a abrasion-resistant surface that will allow extensive use before the tool would wear down to it's softer under layer. In fact the metal smithy can test the newly forged tool with a hard iron file after "quenching", to see if it's hard enough just by the sound.

Eric and I have been "Recarburizing" and sharpening each other's skills for years. Sometimes our friendship was difficult and a bit abrasive, and other times beautifully encouraging as the sound a smith looks for when rasping that perfectly hardened Iron tool. But always we stood by each other watching that our art didn't become too soft and shaped by every passing wordly pressure, or too hardened, never agin to be shaped by anything or anyone.

So today I would like to offer three qualities to look for when choosing an artistic friend to sharpen you.

1. A good artistic friend shares your passion. Find a friend who has the same level of passion in creating as you have. You'll know this because you can talk art for hours with this person and more importantly they are excited to see what you created as much as you are to see theirs and as much as you needed to make your art in the first place. We have been friends since 1976 when we first met at Mane College of Art. We even went to the same artist studio in our high school years in Brunswick, Maine to receive art lessons from Alicia Stonebreaker, a Yugoslavian artist, although we never did meet each other then. We still have so much to talk about even today.

2. A good artistic friend will tell you the truth about yourself. Although difficult, we have both been adjusted by each other's criticism over the years and most always with good advice and helpful direction. We have never allowed offense to break up our friendship. We discovered early on that a good artistic friend will always stand by you when you are at your worst and will not turn away from you in disqust. Criticism may be uncomfortable at times, but in the end you will be a better sharper artist because of it if you don't let offense take hold of your relationship.

3. And finally, a good artistic friend will not try to shape you into what they are, but will inspire you to be yourself. Find an artistic friend that will not expect you to create like them. In fact a good artistic friend will be one of your biggest fans and actually celebrate your accomplishments. They don't waste time allowing jealousy to convince them that they will never get that award or sale you have. They simply use jealousy, if there is any, as fuel to aspire after the same goals and achievements you received.

An artistic friend to paint en plein air with you on location is an invaluable gift. Not only can they become helpful when you find yourself in a pinch, but they can actually help sharpen your vision and future.

The above paintings are the two that sold in the silent auction at the Blue Hill Library. To check out Eric Glass' work go to www.ericglass.com. I painted four paintings and was allowed to enter these two works. Each painting took me approximately 2 to 3 hours to paint on location. The Blue Hill Falls was painted in the stunning light of the early sunrise at 5:00 am to 8:00 am on Saturday July 7th. In fact we arrived back at the Blue Hill Inn just in time for a fabulous breakfast there where we stayed overnight.

The other painting was painted in the afternoon of Friday July 6th at Catarpillar Hill in Sedgwick, Maine. Also considered part of the Blue Hill Peninsula, the views are absolutly breathtaking and a perfect study for recession into space. I love painting in the blueberry field dotted with large granite boulders with a hint of a dirt roadway and off shore islands as far as the eye can see.

"Sunset at Cataplllar Hill in Sedgwick, Maine was painted on Friday July 6th at sunset. This was my third painting study I did on the day and considered a quick-draw painting made under two hours. "The Little Sailors at Blue Hill Harbor, Blue Hill, Maine" was painted at around 10 in the morning on Friday July 6th, during a very high tide on that morning. The sailing boats were just brought in from an early morning sail. This site from the east shore of the town park has an excellent view of Blue Hill mountain. Both of these paintings are available for sale at $500.00 each.

Paint the Peninsula 2018 was a complete success again this year. Thanks to all who put in time at the Blue Hill library for helping to put this event on and the 90 registered participating artists who produced over 100 works for auction. The reception was lively and very well attended, and the artwork was spectacular!

Paint the Peninsula was truly a remarkable partnership between the artists, the library, and the community. I personally use this event to sharpen my skills for The Castine Plein Air Festival that occurred the following week. Thank you Blue Hill Library for making it all happen, I am already making plans to do this again next year! 

THE CASTINE PLEIN AIR FESTIVAL

The Castine Plein Air Festival would be a lot different for me this year because my daughter Tiana and her fience' Nate were getting married on the same day as the festival reception and Exhibition Art Sale on July 21st, 2018. I knew going into this festival that I would not have the time to be nilly willy about choosing my subjects while at the festival. Because I would be agreeably pulled away from the festival to attend events like the rehearsal dinner, and I would need to keep a tight schedule.

I also asked a great painter friend of mine, Nora West, (Former Baxter State Park Artist-in-residence) to sell my paintings at the reception for me and to represent me. The festival director Don Tenney and the Castine Arts Association agreed to allow me to have a surrogate artist to stand in my place while I was walking my daughter down the isle at Alamoosook Lake.

So I pre-planned my drawings and composition studies to take a lot of the mystery out of the subjects I would paint and to help take the stress off of producing. I painted 5 paintings and it turns out that the first study that I painting became the first place winner of the festival. As with the first time I won the festival a few years ago, I was stunned and delighted at the same time.

I remember that morning I created the painting clearly. I was the first to register and arrive on location. I got there the same time the owner, Mr. Eaton arrived at his boatyard just after 6 am. He took one look at me, recognized me immediately, raised both of his hands and said in a loud voice, "Welcome Home!" We both laughed as he went on to share about how he had been thinking of me all winter painting the sunrise image that he texted to me last summer. You just never know the impact art can make on our surrounding community. I'll have to paint that painting for sure now. And as quickly as he arrived, he went off to attend a funeral of a friend. He would end up going to the festival exhibit to see his boathouse and I'm told he was very pleased. One of the local historians informed me that during the war of 1812 this building was an old salt house and that Castine was the second biggest port in the United States. I'm sure that is why I am so attracted to it.

"Dawn at Eaton's Boatyard; Sunrise at the Tug, and The Bowden in the Fog" all were paintings that sold in the festival. The "Sunrise at the Tug" painting was an image that I wanted to do since last year. I got up early in the morning to capture the early morning sunrise on the Tug. I just love how the many complex square, rectangle and curved components make up the colorfully rich tug boat in the early morning light. "The Bowdoin In the Fog" was a quick-draw also painted at Sunrise on the private dock on a very foggy morning. This study was painted within a few hours and was viewed by the Maine Maritime Academy Harbor Master who came down to check out the painting and give me permission to paint it. This was a spontaneous oil with expressive and loose bold applications. This was also sold in the festival and went to a patron from Indiana. It was also the favorite painting of Janet and Verge Forbes, the host family who put my wife and I up at their charming restored horse carriage cottage for the week. we are so thankful for them and their excellent accommodations and kindness.

The painting sketch, "The Market Cafe', Castine, Maine" was painted in the early afternoon as the light was shifting from one side of the building to the other. I painted this image twice before in past years of the festival, but this year I wanted to include the lit up building down street as a secondary focal point. I loved including the person about to walk in to the Cafe' as a light figure against dark background pieces opposed to the dark figure in the distance up against the lit up building in the distance. Not only were they a contrast in figure and ground, but different in scale giving a real sense of distance and perspective in the painting.

The painting sketch, "Sunrise at the Bowdoin" was painted as the sun was actually rising early Friday morning.This painting has a very interesting light that I was trying to achieve on the deck and gunnels of the Bowdoin schooner. There are a lot of cool full and half shadows that contrast the eye aching brightness of the morning sun. Both "The Market Cafe" and "Sunrise at the Bowdoin" are available for $500.00 each.

THE WEDDING: At Alamoosook Lakeside Inn, Orland, Maine.

The wedding went without a hitch. It was an amazing experience with many beautiful signs that these two newly weds were meant to be together. There was so much simbolism and meaningful confirmations that made for an excellent and heart felt wedding. Some of the featured events was Pastor Joshua Damon officiating, who came all the way from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahomah to share a biblical perspective on Love (1 Corinthians 13 4-7). Then our daughter Sherri Mitchell performed a beautiful Native American blanket and hand binding ceremony. Sherri and Jason Brown then sang a blessing song for the couples life journey. They called in an eagle over from the island who flew over us all as Tiana placed the ring on her husband's finger. The Eagle was a beautiful sign of a good and happy life together. Many of our close friends and family members witnessed it and where able blessed by the eagle's presence. We even were able to stay at the very comfortable Lakeside Inn which made it nice.The new owners Debbie and Barry were incredible hosts and their staff is very accommodating and friendly. We were all able to feel relaxed and at ease the whole time for this important event in our lives and the lives of the newly weds. And a special thank you to all the wedding party and individuals who planed this event with us starting a year ago. This place is a fantastic option that I highly recommend. It was perfect for our medium-sized wedding.

"Moose Call, Guide at Katahdin Lake" Is an elephant sized watercolor 38 x 28 inches framed in museum board matt and 24 karot gold guild frame. The guide is Alfred Cooper III, painted years ago when Al ran the Katahdin Lake Wilderness Camps on Katahdin Lake before the property was purchased by Baxter State Park. This painting has the organic handmade Twinrocker heavy weight watercolor paper surface combined with my own whiting surface that I have painted upon and contrasted against each other to pull the canoe out of the painting.

"Rusty Spear Stacking Traps, Monhegan Island, Maine" is an oil 40 x 31 inches on heavy weight linen. It has a very thick moulding that is partially guided in Gold. This painting I did as a part of my Mohegan Artist Residency while studying with Anne Hubert the painting methods of James Fitzgerald. It has a wonderful bold impasto presentation and is just as fresh as the day I painted it using James Fitzgerald's own Black Oil Wax Medium.

Both of these fine paintings have been returned to me by one of my patrons to resell first at Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay and now at the Thomaston Place Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Both of these paintings have a starting bid of $3,000.00 just for this auction weekend. I hope to see those who can come to the auction the weekend of August 25th & 26th, 2018. It promises to be the largest auction of contemporary art in Maine history to date.

Have an amazing rest of the Summer,

Michael E. Vermette