Painting Trip

I recently returned from yet another trip to Maine, this one devoted entirely to painting! My friends and fellow artists Nancy Bea Miller, Eliza Auth, and Diana Cobb Ansley and I went to Mount Desert Island and Monhegan for a week of blissful immersion in art. We painted the Beehive from Sand Beach during what began as cloudless weather and swiftly changed as a fog bank rolled in from the ocean. The next day was rainy so we painted the Seawall from under a friend's porch roof. Then on Monhegan we had perfect jewel-like clear skies and hardly a breeze--perfect painting conditions--and I was able to complete two canvases and still hike around the island and take photos. We took a boat ride to Manana, an island adjacent to Monhegan. It was open, tundra-like terrain, wild and uninhabited. All in all, we had a wonderful trip and it was hard to return to civilization.

Working vacation in Maine

I could have called this a "busman's holiday" but it sounds un-artistic. Plus, I had too much fun to claim that the work overtook the play. Most of my two weeks was spent on Mount Desert Island. Here I am on top of Beech Mountain with my friend Diana Cobb Ansley. Diana and I have known each other since our early teens, and we actually met in Somesville, a small village in the center of MDI that was settled by our common Somes ancestors. Diana is a painter, as you can see. Yes, I know my eyes are closed AGAIN--but you can't ask a passing hiker to take tons of photos just to get one of me with open eyes.

When I am in Maine I pay a pilot to fly me around in a single-engine plane to take reference photos that I later use to develop my aerial paintings. This year I flew over Rockport Harbor, Vinalhaven and North Haven, Deer Isle, Isle Au Haut, and Mount Desert. The weather was beautiful and it was exciting to see the light, the colors, and the endless forms of land and water.

Sometimes I fly out of Bar Harbor, but my favorite pilot is Sandy Reynolds of Maine Scenic Airways. Besides being an expert pilot, he understands artists and photographers. He operates out of the airport in Belfast, ME. For anyone who is interested in flying wth Sandy, his website is: mainescenicairways.com. You can reach him by phone at: 207-338-4736.

This year I also fit in a short visit to Indian Island, off Rockport, with my lifelong (and multitalented) friend Linda Vizi. This was Linda's second visit to the island; we had gone there together after graduating from high school in 1971! On the island, Linda worked on her applique while I painted a portrait sketch of my brother's mother Harriet and a plein air sketch of the lighthouse and house.

Altogether it was a great two weeks, and it has been a difficult transition back to the regular work schedule.

Summer Show at Gross McCleaf Gallery

If you are in Philadelphia in the next few weeks before Labor Day, the Gross McCleaf Gallery is having a summer group show of works with a summery theme. The air-conditioning is great, and lots of galleries are closed, so it's a perfect place to stop in when you are suffering in the heat and humidity of downtown Philadelphia and you want to look at a refreshing variety of art that reminds you of the nice things about summer. I've got two paintings in the show (photos soon) and there are a lot of wonderful ones by all the other artists in the gallery.

The gallery is located on 16th Street between Sansom and Walnut Streets. Their summer hour are Monday through Friday, 10-5.

Their website is:

http://www.grossmccleaf.com

Artist's Magazine finalist

Just heard that one of my portraits, Young Harpist, was named as a finalist in the Artist's Magazine 24th Annual Art Competition. The actual winners have already been chosen, so this means it has no chance of a prize, but hey, I'm happy with this much. A couple of years ago another painting of mine, Becca in Prom Dress, was a finalist in the same competition. It sure seems as though the judges are preferential to my paintings of young women in long, flowing, formal dresses! I'm not sure whether that's a good or a bad sign, because in both cases the concept of the portrait was not really about the dress or about young female beauty.

Opening Reception in Stonington ME

Here I am with artist Nancy Morgan Barnes at the opening reception for our two-person show at the gWatson Gallery in Stonington, Maine. Yes, I know my eyes are closed, but it was the best of the photos. At least it's a good one of Nancy. It was great to finally meet her and some of the other artists and collectors at the reception. By the end of the evening, we had both sold paintings of the same bridge, very different viewpoints--hers was a ground-level view of recent construction activity and mine was an aerial view--but there is something appealing about the subject, a graceful suspension structure spanning Eggemoggin Reach and connecting Little Deer Isle with the mainland. Every time I visit Stonington I'm struck anew by its spectacular setting, interesting architecture, interesting and welcoming people, and abundance of artists and galleries.

Portraits for the Arts

Some of you may know that I've been working on a portrait project for a couple of years called "Portraits for the Arts." It grew out of a desire to explore ways of giving portraiture more exposure, a wider audience, and a greater role in the art world. Portraits are usually commissioned works, but I wanted to think of other possible roles for the potrait. So I created a way of using portraits of people in the arts to give back to the art world with the help of generous individuals and organizations.

A couple of weeks ago, "Portraits for the Arts" was featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer. The article, by Karen Heller, tells the basics of my project and mentions that I am looking for nominations. So if anyone can think of a well-known artist-- painter sculptor, musician, writer, dancer, filmmaker, actor--and wants to donate the portrait, or funds, to an art-related organization in Philadelphia, please write me an e-mail through the "Portraits for the Arts" section on my website. There are several ways this can work, so If you have questions, I'll be glad to answer them.

Portrait Unveiling

Last week my portrait of Dr.Constantine Papadaks, 11th President of Drexel University, was unveiled. The portrait was commissioned by the Board of Trustees of Drexel and will be a gift to the unversity. Here we are at the unveiling: from left, Dr. Papadakis, me, and on the other side, Mr. Jacovini and Mrs. Papadakis. Missing from the photo is the Papadakis' dog Honey, who attended the event.

Before the official unveiling, I entered this portrait (with the proper permission, of course) in the Portrait Society of America's annual international competition, and it was awarded a Certificate of Excellence!

Here's a better photograph of the portrait. I should mention that most of the photos of my artwork, includng this one, are taken professionally by Karen Mauch.