Encore for "The Duet!"

I'm going to have to stop teasing one of my artist friends (he knows who he is) for getting so much mileage out of a painting (it was a very good painting), because for some reason I'm getting more mileage than I expected out of my painting The Duet.

This painting was chosen for a show of figurative work at Susquehanna University, north of Harrisburg, PA. I don't want to bore anyone by posting the painting again. . . but here's the information:

FIGURATIVE DRAWING AND PAINTING JURIED SHOW

Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University
Show Dates: October 24th--December 21

Opening Reception and Awards Presentation: October 24, 7-9 p.m.

Painting at the Red House

Sunset from the Red House
The cemetery in fog
Nancy Bea at Lobster Cove
Mary painting on the porch
At the Barnacle
Two Houses
Edges in Light
Ferry Dock in Afternoon
This was the Maine Landscape Guild's third summer on the island of Monhegan off the coast of Maine. We stayed in the Red House, famous for its bright color and its connection with artist Rockwell Kent. The view from the house was magnificent in all directions, and we were tempted to just stay there and paint, but the cold wind drove us to find good painting spots in other, more sheltered corners of the island.

Our system of meal preparation and chore-sharing, which we planned out beforehand, worked beautifully, allowing us a hassle-free week of painting, delicious food, and good company. We met a few other artists, but due to the fact that we came later in September we missed the crowds of artists that we encountered all over Monhegan last year. I'm not sure which I like better: solitude or artist-mania!

Here are some shots from the trip, and a couple of paintings.

Painting at Beaver Farm

A few days after returning from Maine, I was off to Beaver Farm in Pennsylvania for a day of painting outdoors with a group of artists from all over the area. My friend and fellow artist Nancy Bea Miller organized the event. Her son Henry attends the Camphill Special School, and Beaver Farm was recently purchased by the school. Upon visiting the farm, Nancy Bea was struck by its particular beauty and thought it would be a great place to paint. I drove out there with her early in the summer and agreed wholeheartedly. The idea of holding a fundraising event for the school began to take shape, and evolved into "Plein Air Day at Beaver Farm," with around 30 artists participating.

I was one of the first to arrive, and I got down to work painting the barnyard and side of the huge red barn. On my way to lunch I saw a green tractor parked in the doorway of the barn and whipped out another painting before the tractor had to be driven out to do the haying. Then on to a delicious lunch. My afternoon painting was not as fruitful but I had time to take a bunch of photos. The day ended with an incredible dinner of organic food straight from the farm! Many, many thanks to Guy and Ani who run the program at Beaver Farm and hosted the event.

Our day at Beaver Farm was mentioned in several national publications including the October Issue of American Artist Magazine!

To see a selection of paintings by participating artists and photos of the day, check out the online gallery on the Camphill website.

Week-long Workshop

I wanted to share some photos from my workshop on Mount Desert Island, Maine, that ended last weekend.

This summer in Maine has been WET! It has rained almost continuously since June-- a worrisome sign of climatic change. The ponds and lakes of Mount Desert were full to the brim, so full that the water level is just under the trees, and hardly a rock is visible along the shore from a distance.

Apart from being concerned about the implications of this weather, I had more immediate concerns that the workshop week would be one long rainstorm--but luckily there was enough sun to give some variety to the weather. One completely sunny day allowed us to paint in two prime locations, Ocean Drive and Cadillac Mountain. On cloudy, foggy, damp days we painted at the Beaver Pond across from the north end of Eagle Lake, and Somes Landing. We painted at many of the key locations on MDI.The talented and dedicated participants worked hard and we all had a lot of fun.

I'm so glad I was able to work with my painting partner and long-time friend Diana Cobb Ansley in planning the workshop.We stayed in her historic home in Somesville, and she provided hospitality and made sure things ran smoothly. Every day for lunch she ordered delicious gourmet sandwiches from Mother's Kitchen which we brought along for picnics on location. She also knew the best restaurants on MDI for dinner. By the time I got home, I actually felt that I had had my fill of popovers!

We're looking forward to doing this again next year. There are so many themes for plein air landscape workshop, and so many more painting locations on MDI.

Where the Action is

Last week I went to the Dowling Walsh Gallery in Rockland, Maine, to the opening of the Monhegan show. Looking around at the crowd, it was hard to believe this country is in the middle of a recession!

First of all, I must reiterate that this gallery space is worth seeing--and it keeps getting better. There are three rooms (each as big as an average storefront) downstairs, and now there is an equal amount of space above it, on the second floor. This means the gallery can hold several exhibitions simultaneously. The crowd poured in the door and went every which way depending on which shows they were interested in. The artists range from N.C. Wyeth, George Bellows, and Andrew Winter to Peter Poskas, Jon Redmond, Connie Hayes, Colin Page--famous artists to emerging artists. Wine, cheese and delicious finger food was served. I had a great time chatting with other artists, art lovers, and collectors. Maine artist Mary Cupp traveled two hours to the event--it was nice to see her there.

Here I am beside one of my paintings in the show. This one is of Monhegan village and the Island Inn, from the lawn of the Monhegan House. The photo was taken by artist and friend Diana Cobb Ansley.

Unveiling at Mutter Museum

There have been so many landscape-related happenings lately, I totally forgot to mention a significant portrait event in early 2009. These days there are too many blogs, Facebook posts, and newsletters for an absent-minded, un-tech-savvy person like me to keep up with! I know, I shouldn't be making excuses, but it's all too true.

On January 9th, 2009, the Philadelphia College of Physicians (which houses the famous Mutter Museum of medical artifacts) hosted a party to celebrate their 150th anniversary. I had been asked to paint the portrait of the museum's former director, Gretchen Worden. It is a posthumous portrait of a dynamic, humorous, and compassionate woman who devoted her career to the museum. You may have seen her on the David Letterman Show; she appeared on the show three times over the course of several years.

The Mutter Museum is a medical museum founded by Thomas Dent Mutter in the 19th century with the donation of his collection. The collection, studied by medical students of the day, includes human skulls and skeletons; preserved body parts showing evidence of various diseases, conditions and abnormalities; and old medical instruments. A plaster cast of Chang and Eng, the original Siamese twins, resides there. The purpose of the museum is to preserve knowledge of, and to educate the public about, human pathology and medical history. Personally I have always found the museum to be a fascinating place, and I was thrilled to be asked to paint its director.

In the background of the portrait is the skeleton of a 7' 6" giant and the skeleton of a 3' 6" achondroplastic dwarf. Ms. Worden is holding a lithotrite, an antique instrument used to crush bladder stones!

everyone loves GOOD NEWS

This is the title of the Fischbach Gallery's summer group show. What is good about the news? you might ask. Well, your glass can be half-empty or it can be half-full. Some aspects of the economy seem to be showing a glimmer of hope--art, for instance. It could be that people just get tired of doing without all the luxuries that make life more than just subsistence. . . or it could be that people are actually feeling that the stock market is on its way up and they can start spending again. Whatever the reason, collectors are venturing out again.

Some of my work will be in the show, namely Maine landscapes. My work ranges from sweeping aerial vistas of the Maine coast to smaller, more intimate views of places, and some in-between.

everyone loves GOOD NEWS
June 2 - August 14, 2009
Fischbach Gallery
210 11th Avenue at 25th Street,
New York, NY 10001

Tel: 212-759-2345

info@fischbachgallery.com

www.fischbachgallery.com