View of Whitehead From Gull Rock Ravine, Monhegan Island

View of Whitehead From Gull Rock Ravine, Monhegan Island

an oil on  linen 20 inches by 26 inches

The most beautiful views ever painted on Monhegan Island are areas down below or near the high tide mark. To get to these places you not only have to venture off the beaten path but you have to anticipate when the subject will be at it's best. The lobster fishermen on Monhegan Island have an interesting term they use for an extremely effective lobsterman who shifts strategies quickly when predicting better results in another fishing site. The term is called, "Keeping ahead of the highliner" I often experience the same kind of thing on location when I'm trying to capture the subject at it's best. My strategy can change quickly as I reconsider the direction of the sun, the time of day and the atmosphere. This oil was painted from a small 8 inch by 10 inch oil study on gessoed oak board (you can view the study in the study gallery) and several digital photographs. I added more information and went with a higher view-point than in the study which was rendered a whole lot closer to the ravine, eliminating the foreground hay weaving into the rocks. It was one of those eye-aching days that yield beautiful emerald-like passages among the arrangements of rock, sky and water. It was early afternoon when this painting was at it's best, with dark black walls of granite and shadowed violet white mica dancing in the shadow. This ravine frames the ocean like a Lapis Lazuli jewel set in a white gold setting of grayish green ochre. This is one of my favorite views on Monhegan Island, Maine.