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A Katahdin Winter Fellowship

From February 18th to February 21st my wife and I traveled to the New England Outdoor Center and meet up with artists Eric Glass, Paul Girdzis and their wives Teresa Glass and Adrianne Piawonski at the Loon and Raven cabins on Millinocket Lake. Five years ago Paul and I did this with two other painters and we always talked about how we wanted to do this very thing again but this time bring our wives. That dream finially came to be relized. For these four days we were able to rent the same cabin as we did back then only to discover that very little had changed from the way it was back then. We were able to capture spectacular views of Katahdin from Millinocket Lake, Compass Pond and even on the banks of the west branch of the Penobscot River at Abol Bridge. The days were eye achingly bright but brutally cold with wind gusts below zero. Our experiences were not without mishaps. Paul lost his imfamous red hat and had to retrace his steps on the trail to find it. Eric's specially designed wet paint carrier required a much needed adjustment from a bungee cord. And my easel blew back crashing onto the ice of Millinocket Lake when my back was turned for only a moment. I watched my tubes of paint get slowly covered by blowing snow as I frantically retrieved my equipment before they got totally buried. But despite all of that, and unlike Robert Henri when he painted 25 small studies on Monhegan Island in just four days in the summer of 1903, we each painted three paintings. We also captured many photos for future work, discovered new painting sights, and even hiked out to one of the islands on Millinocket Lake that had old abandoned cabin structures built on it, an old dock and a for sale sign that had blown over.

But the best thing about this adventure was that our wives came to support us; and our fellowship was the most enjoyable and refreshing experience in our little corner of wilderness. It didn't matter weather we ate out at a four star restaurant or stayed in our warm cabin for our meals. Just being together as friends, sharing stories, and the laughter made it the richest experience of all. I once read a letter written by Robert Henri to his wife Linda when he was on Monhegan Island and she was on the mainland. He said something to the effect, " If you were here, I could paint twice as many paintings." I think that is true. I think he was yearning for the kind of fellowship we experienced. And since you can't yearn for something without experiencing it first; I think Robert Henri was remembering how he was motivated by his wife's encouragement because she would come with him on his painting adventures. The older I get the more I find that I want that in my life. I want my wife by my side when I go to paint on my adventures. In regards to all three of us painters and our wives at the New England outdoor Center, I think it is true that since our wives were there, not only were all our needs met, but we were motivated to paint for them and accomplish what most people would consider impossible. The heated floors in our cabin weren't the only warmth appreciated. Our wives made our Katahdin Winter Fellowship even more of an amazing adventure!

2020 Signature Members Show-New England Watercolor Society

My watercolor Painting, "Freeport Clam Digger" has won an honorable mention award in the 2020 Signature members show at the Guild of Boston Artists on 162 Newbury Street, in Boston, Massachusetts. The watercolor show is sponsored by the New England Watercolor Society and is up for only one more week, closing March 1st. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10:30am-5:30pm. For more information go to NewEnglandWatercolorSociety.org.

Rangeley Plein Air Watercolor Workshop

 August 11th to August 14th - 3 nights

To Register: CLICK HERE

$250 for three day Workshop - Lodging and meals extra

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION 

Come and join award winning and New England Watercolor Society Signature member Michael E. Vermette and paint from the newly designed Artists Trail in Rangeley, Maine. In this watercolor painting workshop you will be among the first to hike to one spectacular conservation area each day and paint in plein air the unique geographical wonders of the Hatchery Brook Preserve, the falls found at Cascade Stream Gorge, the panoramic views of the South Bog and the hidden jewel of Rangeley Lake. Michael will demonstrate each day and guide you through the technical and fundamental approaches used to successfully paint these unique Maine landscapes. There will be lots of personal one-on-one instruction from Michael's generous and approachable style of teaching. Absolutely no experience in painting a watercolor outdoors is required, although experienced watercolor painters are welcome to participate as well. Watercolor trail kits containing all the supplies and equipment needed for this outdoor workshop can be rented for an extra nominal fee and will be ready for you to use each day. This workshop is sponsored by the Rangeley Friends of the Arts and the Rangeley Heritage Trust. Come and be a part of a workshop that puts life back into your outdoor painting experience!

Itinerary - Rangeley Plein Air Watercolor Workshop:

Tues, Aug.11th: Check-in at The Rangeley Inn 

1:00 PM- 4:30 PM Meet the Artist at the Rangeley Inn; then Paint at Bemis Track Causeway Boat Launch at the intersection of Bemis Track and Shelton Trail.

5:00-6:00PM Early Dinner

6:30PM - 8 PM Sunset Paint-out at Whip Willow Overlook

Wed, Aug. 12th: 

5:00 -7:00 Sunrise at Shelton Noyes Overlook

7:30 AM-11:00 AM Meet in Lobby of Rangeley Inn and Paint at the Height of Land.

11AM-12:00 Bag Lunch at Height of Land.

12:00- 4:30PM Optional Guided hike and Paint at Bald Mountain

5:00 - 6:00 PM Early Dinner

6:30 - 7:30 PM Critique session with the artist at Rangeley Inn .

Thurs, Aug. 13th: 

7:30 AM -11:00 AM Meet and paint at Cascade Stream Gorge.

11:00 PM-12:00PM Bag Lunch at Cascade Stream.

12:30 PM - 4:00 PM Paint at Small Falls.

5:00 PM -6:00PM Early Dinner.

6:30-8:30 Sunset Paint-out at Quill Hill. 

Fri, Aug 16: 

8:00 AM 11:00 AM Final Critique at The Rangeley Inn, Farewell, and Check out at Rangeley Inn.

Have an amazingly creative week everyone,

Michael E. Vermette