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"View from Gull Rock Ravine, Monhegan Island, Maine"

Michael E. Vermette studied this subject for hours before developing it in the studio on Monhegan Island in Maine. It was a part of his routine as a resident artist in 1999 to consult with Ann Hubert, a good friend and patron who knew James Fitzgerald and controlled his estate, and then practice the techniques she suggested. Anne was one of the few students of James Fitzgerald and would speak about his approaches often. Michael also had the unique privilege of usng in this painting one of James Fitzgerald's vintage handmade imperial 140lb Whitman watercolor papers to paint this image from drawings and simplified tracing transfers in the studio. His studio at the time was the "Pink" House" or what was foundly known as "the Carina House" studio. The Monhegan Residency was known as the Carina House residency. In this watercolor he captures the spectacular intersecting granite ledges of Gull Rock with White Head in the distance and the Atlantic Ocean.

Michael says, "this painting is one of my first paintings in watercolor that I made on my Monhegan Island Residency.I began with a careful drawing of the composition, did tracings of the image removing a lot of unnecessary detail and working on the correct tone through ink washes, then transferred the image on a vintage handmade Whitman paper from James Fitzgerald's own stock. The experience of working on this paper was unsurpassed when compared to other handmade papers available today. I was at awe with not only the subject but how well the paper responded to the paint; it was simply incredible." 

This is an watercolor painted study made on location in Michael's pure and bold style of transparent washes. Michael uses a descriptive stroke that describes lines of power, motion, and shape in describing the character of the intersecting angles of the hulking rock ledges of Gull Rock Ravine, yet he paints with a subtlety that captures even the lightest veils of light. He painted this study on vintage handmade Whatman 140 lb watercolor paper and was able to achieve the textural grain that is most prized by painters who have ever painted on this rare paper.

Michael also says, "I am intrigued with the timelessness in change in my paintings. They show a love of color and light with emphasis on the expressive painterly mark and form, which evoke a recognizable feeling, a nostalgic memory, or even emotional qualities such as the smell of salt and balsam in the morning ocean air." 

Carl Little writes in Volume 30 of The Island Journal, " Michael Vermette, who emulates the vision of one of Monhegan island's great painters of the past, James Fitzgerald (1899-1971), adds impasto oomph to iconic views"

Michael E. Vermette double majored in Painting and Printmaking at the Maine College of Art, receiving his B.F.A Painting degree in 1980. He received his Certification in K-12 Art Education in 1986 through the University of Maine at Orono. A full-time artist and part-time art educator, Michael has been painting in oil, watercolor, and pastel for over fifty years and has won numerous awards for his work, including the Marilyn Sabin, Lauran Coleman and the Beverly Awards at the 12th,13th and 14th Biennial North American Open Shows of the New England Watercolor Society where he has been awarded signature membership. Most recently, Has been been awarded the honor of being the 1st Allagash Wilderness waterway artist-in-residency for the summer of 2020 where he expects to paint another 50 small studies. Michael is also the 2018 first place winner of the Castine Plein Air Festival, and a 2015-2017 winner as well. He won Best of Show in the Kennebunk River Club Art Exhibit and Sale for his watercolor, "Sea Dog". Michael leads several oil and watercolor plein air painting workshops in Maine and New Hampshire throughout the year. He is a Monhegan Artists' Residency Fellow and the 2011 Baxter State Park Artist-in-Residence in Maine. He was also an Artist-in-Residence at Acadia National Park twice in 1999 and 2006. His watercolors, oils, and pastels are in private collections throughout the country and internationally. In Maine, his works have been shown at various galleries and is currently represented by the Frame and Art Gallery in Yarmouth, The Lupine Gallery on Monhegan Island, and the Gleason Fine Art Gallery in Boothbay Harbor, all located in Maine. Because of the very high quality of the painting the starting price is set at 1/4 of the painting's worth. Because of this high quality and the confidence with quality custom shipping, I do not allow money back returns at this time.