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A Second Look, Spring Art Sale/Auction

The following paintings are currently on eBay's Auction. I decided to host a second chance Spring auction that would first include many of the watercolors I posted last Winter and even some new ones. I will also post some of my oil paintings and some ones that have not been seen for a while as I go through my inventory. So Enjoy the work and bid if you have to have them!

"The Knife Edge From Baxter Peak, Baxter State Park, Maine"
This watercolor painting has everything you would ever want in a Vermette watercolor. The setting is a windy day on a mountain peak with clouds desending upon the peaks. There are descriptive lines that reveal the deep ravines and granite crevasses carved by natural elements that is Katahdin with its emerald-like hard granite peaks in color tones that are characteristic of an overcast and windy day.

Michael says, "This painting was painted in my studio from photographs taken by myself from a hiking trip I made with a group of friends to Baxter Peak. The day before we were trapped by the runoff of three days of continuous rain. Multiple waterfalls poured down from the mountain and trails were flooded up to our waists with wild flowing current that made descending the mountain impassable. The following day all the water held up at Chimney Pond flooded Basin Pond and Roaring Brook. As some hikers navigated there way down the mountain, we climbed up to the summit. The weather broke and the sun broke through as I took multiple photos from the summit of Katahdin. We chose Saddle Trail up across to the Katahdin Peak, cross the Knife edge and down the old Dudley Trail. The day after that we were able to hike down the mountain with little problem. The ranger said it hadn't rained like that in 20 years and even today it was one of the wildest mountain hikes I ever experienced."

This is a watercolor painting was made in Michael's studio and is painted in the pure and bold style of transparent watercolor washes. Michael uses descriptive lines that reveal the deep ridges and crevasses of Katahdin painted in tonal graded washes. These are visual lines of power, motion, and shape that distinquish Katahdin in August just after a 3-day torrential rain event.

"Monhegan Headlands in the Fog, Maine"
This is a beautiful depiction of Maine island light burning through a thick fog and upon the emerging headlands of Little White Head, Squeaker Cove and Blackhead silhouetted in the background. The painting is an early plein air work never seen by the public and currently in Michael's portfolio of Monhegan Island coastal scenes. It is painted on high quality Twinrocker heavy weight handmade watercolor paper that has yielded beautiful layers of transparent washes. 

Michael says, "This painting has been shelved for years. Recently I have pulled it out of my portfolio and admired the soft multiple gray tones that depict the iridescent light through the fog on this amazing island-out-to sea light. I intentionally made the distant headlands with less detail and color than the foreground to create that sense of space as viewed above sea level from White Head.The beautiful coastal washes and tones of this watercolor glow with the same Druid color sensation of the headlands of Scotland its self although its painted on Monhegan Island. "

This is a watercolor painted study made on location in Michael's pure and bold style of transparent washes. Michael uses descriptive lines that describe his graded washes, as lines of power, motion, and shape that describe the headlands in early summer. He painted this full sheet watercolor en plein air and is painted with the purest Holbein and Daniel Smith Watercolors.

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, recognizable shapes or even emotional qualities such as the smell of wood smoke in the forested mountain crisp 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"

"Moxie Falls, Kennebec Valley, Maine"

This is the first Moxie Falls watercolor ever painted en plein air by Michael E. Vermette. To view his filmed painting session press Utube for his film series ME Art Spirit Studio called "Painting Moxie Falls". Moxie Falls is a waterfall in Somerset County, Maine with a vertical drop of over 90 feet with a pool of over 17 feet deep. It is one of the largest Falls in New England. It is also a part of Moxie Stream, which flows from Moxie Pond which flows into the Kennebec River, nearly a mile down stream to the falls. This painting is painted on Arches mold made 140b cold press Watercolor paper that yields beautiful layers of transparent washes. 

Michael says, "The beautifully light-sand colored and mica glinted Moxie Falls is a wonderful place to do a plein air painting. There are wooden observation decks with great views of the falls that are easy to access. The rock on each side of the falls is very colorful with graded waterery tonal twists that create a magical sense of place. The full views are amazing from many different vantage points with a total drop of 90 feet and a pool of 17 feet deep. I love the rich but luminous colors and the play of afternoon light on the rock and the roar of this exciting and powerful waterfall that is at its best in Spring just before the bugs set in.

"Helon Taylor Trail, Baxter State Park, Maine"

This watercolor painting has everything you would ever want in a Vermette watercolor. Painted in the rich colors of Fall, it depicts the eastern side of Katahdin and in particular, the Helon Taylor Trail in Baxter State Park.The Helon Taylor Trail starts its accent as soon as it leaves Chimney Pond, giving it the reputation of a steady climb. This trail is said to be exposed at the summit, bushy in the middle, and ledgy on the bottom. This trial is often relegated in discussion to be "the most direct route to the knife edge. But this is no easy hike. With its mostly an exposed ascent to Pamola's rocky spine and with views for miles around, it is truly remarkable hike and view.  

Michael says, "In this painting I wanted to paint Katahdin from the view of the Helon Taylor Trail, named after a celebrated former Baxter State Park supervisor. It's 3.1 mile path is entwined with rocks and roots that get bigger as it reaches tree-line, exiting the trees and beginning the long ascent up Keep Ridge, where most of the Helon Taylor's 3,413 foot elevation is depicted as in my watercolor. I chose this winding mountain composition because it appears as if the hiker is ascending up the trail into the clouds. This is also chosen by hikers as one of the most spectacular trails in the Northeast."

This is a watercolor painting was made in Michael's studio and is painted in the pure and bold style of transparent watercolor washes. Michael uses descriptive lines that reveal the deep ridges and crevasses of Katahdin painted in tonal graded washes. These are visual lines of power, motion, and shape that distinquish Katahdin in October.

"Otter Cliffs in the Afternoon, Acadia National Park, Maine"

This is a beautiful plein air watercolor painting of Otter Cliffs in a sunny afternoon light. It was painted from the difficult to reach flat coastal rock near the water just before the cliffs. This viewing angle gives you the feeling of just how high the vertical rock rises. A wonderful challenge for rock repellers and climbers, these rock formations have created excellent experiences for both the recreational visitor and the visual artist. It is of particular beauty in the afternoon when the shadows stretch across the rock and silhouette the monolif against the sky.

Michael says, "This painting has just returned to me after years of being shelved in a gallery portfolio. Recently I have pulled it out of my portfolio and admired the stark silhouette tones that so accurately discribe the solid massive rock we all know fondly as Otter Cliffs, in Acadia National Park"

This is a watercolor painted study made on location in Michael's pure and bold style of transparent washes. Michael uses descriptive lines that complement his tonal graded washes, uses lines of power, motion, and shape that describe the cliffs in the early afternoon. He painted this full sheet watercolor en plein air and it is painted with the purest Holbein and Daniel Smith Watercolors, which he chooses because of his passion for color.

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, nostalgic memory, recognizable shapes or even emotional qualities such as the smell of sea salt in the crisp offshore 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"

"Gibbs Falls Cascade, Crawford Notch Trail, White Mountain National Forest, NH"

  Gibbs Falls is located in Bean's Grant New Hampshire, which is located in Crawford Notch within the White Mountain National Forest. Gibbs Falls is a small cascade a short distance up the Crawford Path, which, originally was created in 1819, and is the oldest maintained hiking trail in the country. Gibbs Falls has a 35 foot total drop, not a very steep waterfall but more of a small cascade. 

Michael says, "The beautifully light-sandy rock colored Gibbs Falls is really a splendid cascade from which to view and paint en plein air a watercolor at its shallow base. It holds a vast array of color with graded tonal twists and turns that create a magical sense of place in the woods.To visit it requires a walk of little more than half a mile on moderately steep terrain. I started hiking on Crawford Connector, which leaves at the far end of the parking area, crossing Mt. Clinton Road in 0.1 miles. It begins to ascend on the other side, climbing to a wooden bridge over Gibbs Brook, the water source of the falls, in another 0.3 miles. It joins the brook and climbs more steeply alongside it for 0.2 miles, where a spur leading down to Gibbs Falls appears. Then I turned left and walked a short distance to the shore of the shallow pool below Gibbs Falls, a narrow, angled waterfall which always flows through a well-defined rock path. What an amazing place to paint."

This is a watercolor painted study made on location in Michael's pure and bold style of transparent washes and was painted as a part of Michael's Crawford Notch Artist Residency portfolio. Michael uses descriptive lines that describe his flat tonal and graded washes, as lines of power, motion, and shape that distinquishes Gibbs Falls in October. He painted this study during one of his first watercolor paint-outs and his very first contact of the falls as a watercolor artist of the Crawford Notch Artist-in residency program at the Highland Center.

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, recognizable shapes or even emotional qualities such as the smell of wood smoke in the forested mountain crisp air ." 

"Upper Small Falls, Rangeley, Maine"

This is the among the first Small Falls paintings in a series of watercolors made by Michael E. Vermette as a host for the "Brushes With Nature" New England Watercolor Society's plein air paint-outs. This was the third of his demonstrations on the day that featured painting with modulated washes present in the flowing waters against the colorfully massive gorge-rock. This painting captures the full light and color of an afternoon day in August of 2019. It is painted on rare 1936 vintage handmade J.Whatman Watercolor paper that has yielded exceptional layers of transparent washes. Small Falls is located just off the Rangeley road at the Small Falls rest area about 15 minutes from downtown Rangeley, Maine. The rest area is a spectacular spot along the Sandy River where you will find a wooden bridge at the base of the falls. There are two falls with a chain link fence running up the steep hill to the head of Small Falls with equally incredible views. Michael painted this stunning watercolor from the vantage point of the upper falls as a signature member of the New England watercolor Society and instructor of the Rangeley Friends of The Arts who sponsored the workshop that followed the paint-out day that year. Michael chose this site because it actually offers a complex series of waterfall reflection features that cascade through the gorges of the Sandy River, in township East, of West Franklin, Maine. There actually are two Falls, both are majestic totaling 54 feet in height, and consist of 12-foot slide/horsetail features, a 25-foot segmented waterfall, a 14-foot horsetail, and a 3-foot cascade, separated by wading pools. This provides the perfect subject for a graded wash lesson where tones blend from one value into another and one color hue into another. The rock here is amongst the most beautiful light-colored beige stone in the state and offers the painter a dazzling array of color-interaction and transitions.This location is also one of the designated sites of the famed, "Artists Trail" that can be searched by going to the website of the Rangeley Friends of the Arts or by googling rangeleyarts.org.

Michael says, "The beautifully light-sand colored Small Falls is a splendid subject to pit yourself against as a painter. It holds a vast array of color with graded tonal twists and turns that create a magical sense of place. The full views are amazing from many different vantage points with a total drop of 54 feet with wading and swimming pools depths at the base. I love the rich but luminous colors and the play of afternoon light on the rock of the falls."

This is a watercolor painted study made on location in Michael's pure and bold style of transparent washes. Michael uses descriptive lines that describe his flat tonal and graded washes, as lines of power, motion, and shape that distinquish Small Falls in August. He painted this study during one of his first watercolor paint-outs and his very first contact of the falls as a watercolor artist through the Rangeley Friends Of The Arts. It is archivally framed with 100% cotton rag mattboard uv protective glass and a beautiful custom leaf frame, ready to hang on the wall.

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, recognizable shapes or even emotional qualities such as the smell of wood smoke in the forested mountain crisp air ." 

"Small Falls, Rangeley, Maine"

This is the first Small Falls watercolor ever made by Michael E. Vermette as a host for the "Brushes With Nature" New England Watercolor Society's plein air paint-outs. This was the second of his demonstrations on the day that featured painting the modulated valued washes present in the flowing waters against the colorfully massive gorge-rock. This painting captures the full light and color of an afternoon day in August of 2019. It is painted on rare 1936 vintage handmade Whatman Watercolor paper that has yielded beautiful layers of transparent washes. Small Falls is located just off the Rangeley road at the Small Falls rest area about 15 minutes from downtown Rangeley, Maine. The rest area is a spectacular spot along the Sandy River where you will find a wooden bridge at the base of the falls. There are two falls with a chain link fence running up the steep hill to the head of Small Falls with equally incredible views. Michael painted this stunning watercolor from the vantage point of the wooden bridge as a signature member of the New England watercolor Society and instructor of the Rangeley Friends of The Arts who sponsored the workshop that followed the paint-out day that year. Michael chose this site because it actually offers a complex series of waterfall features that cascade through the gorges of the Sandy River, in township East, of West Franklin, Maine. The two Falls are both majestic totaling 54 feet in height, and consist of 12-foot slide/horsetail features, a 25-foot segmented waterfall, a 14-foot horsetail, and a 3-foot cascade, separated by wading pools. This provides the perfect subject for a graded wash lesson where tones blend from one value into another and one color hue into another. The rock here is amongst the most beautiful light-colored beige stone in the state and offers the painter a dazzling array of color transitions. This location is also one of the designated sites of the famed, "Artists Trail" that can be searched by going to the website of the Rangeley Friends of the Arts or by googling rangeleyarts.org.

Michael says, "The beautifully light-sand colored Small Falls is a splendid subject to pit yourself against as a painter. It holds a vast array of color with graded tonal twists and turns that create a magical sense of place. The full views are amazing from many different vantage points with a total drop of 54 feet with wading and swimming pools depths at the base. I love the rich but luminous colors and the play of afternoon light on the rock that reveals the face and figure of the wizard-like character of the falls.

This is a watercolor painted study made on location in Michael's pure and bold style of transparent washes. Michael uses descriptive lines that describe his graded washes, as lines of power, motion, and shape that distinquish Small Falls in August. He painted this study during one of his first watercolor paint-outs and his very first contact of the falls as a watercolor artist of the Rangeley Friends Of The Arts. It is archivally framed with 100% cotton rag mattboard uv protective glass and a beautiful custom leaf frame, ready to hang on the wall.

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, recognizable shapes or even emotional qualities such as the smell of wood smoke in the forested mountain crisp 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.

Thank you for viewing my Paintings!

Michael E. Vermette