Case's Barn 7"x8" watercolor

I love to ride my bike to spots to paint with watercolors. Even if it's 100 yards away from my house I feel like I am on a painting trip. This is on Highland street -from my spot under a big old beech tree.

I hook a chair to my bike rack and I know it looks ridiculous but it is so nice to have the chair.

Camp and mosaic kids

Tomorrow the 5 week camp ends with our "festival" day where all the campers share what they have created. Music, music video, soap opera production, one act play, mini-musical, animation, tap and hip hop dance, photography, sewing, quilts, pottery, jewelry, mosaics, miniature rooms, landscape painting, painted furniture and more is shared with the families and friends and anyone that wants to come. It is truly amazing what the kids produce in a mere five weeks. Last night the musical for the older kids, The Drowsy Chaparone was performed .I was blown away by the talent! I hate to see it end- it is also a lot of fun for the counselors. I am ready for a bit of a slower pace though- until next summer!
It's tomorrow from 9-3 ish at Derby Academy in Hingham if anyone wants to see what it's all about.

Gratitude #131

I have not abandoned this project- not at all!
My goal is still 365, however long that takes. Why rush?
 I find that the summer is a time for so many other things and the small daily gratitude paintings seem more like a cold weather ritual . Perhaps I need to focus more on gratitude then, rather than now- as summer is a bounty of gratitude!
I am enjoying swimming a lot this summer. Our little pool in the back yard was the best thing we ever invested in- it is an oasis in the hot weather and a morning swim before work loosens up my creaky old bones.

New Harbor , Maine scenes

I am still posting stuff from Maine but actually I am home and finishing up my last week at Summer Arts at Derby- I love being at camp and hate to see it end- however it will be nice to have a little more time for painting.
Of course I go right back to my museum job, but that is part time .

Kelley MacDonald and I painted this little ice cream shop in New Harbor, and the lobster boat is docked in Back Cove, where we stayed.

From the Cliffs of Monhegan

It was not possible to portray the majesty of this view- but I was compelled to try. 

Sitting quietly for an hour or so , painting and looking, is the best form of meditation that I know.

My panoramic format paper was good for this composition.

Monhegan

I must return to this place. Being there was like seeing a famous painting I'd seen only in books  for the first time.
Its a quick sketch- we had a 3:15 boat to catch and had already hiked to the cliff. This painting  is from my perch on a hill looking toward Manana.

Here is a painting waiting to be done!

Gatcombe farm- watercolor- 6"x18"

This is the view from the back of the property of the farm where I stayed last month in Maine. We stayed in the house on the right.
I loved the long shadows in the late afternoon.

Winnie and the mermaid

This is my little backyard pond - my mermaid sculpture was a gift from my friends Jane and John Filer and Winnie is looking for fish. We did put some in there but she tormented them so we are just going to wait for some frogs to show up.

My husband made the bridge modeled after the one my Dad made in Hawaii.

I feel so content to be home lately- must be a sign of maturity. I love where I live and feel like I don't need to go anywhere. Ahhhh.

Hannas Gas Station, New Harbor Maine

This was a fun day- I painted this with Kelley MacDonald and Peggy Bruno on our last day in Maine.Their paintings were awesome!

When I got back to the farmhouse that night I realized I was missing half  one of my favorite tiny travel brushes- but the next day we went back to the spot and there it was waiting for me! It had a little adventure..

Here's Brendan - another counselor from Summer Arts At Derby where I am back teaching again this summer. it is a blast to be with the kids. I missed it a lot last year.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!

Maine memories

Another panoramic format watercolor from our wonderful Maine farmhouse.

Jody Regan is on Monhegan right now- and painting some beautiful atmospheric fog paintings.

Click on her name to see them. Maine has so many moods and I love them all.

Girls Just Wanna Paint Challenge( a month late!)

The challenge group I am in is having a show at Thayer Academy this November- the May challenge was "Thayer" and I just couldn't get it right- this is from a black and white photo I found online.

By the way yesterdays painting was for the June challenge- you can see those here.
I am in love with Tori Bregas mermaid...And Kelley MacDonald and I chose the same scene to paint- I think hers is great!