HIking on Schoodic

Schoodic Head

8x10 oil on linen panel

#10/#20

I took a hike the other day.  I really wanted to get into the woods, and explore some of the trails here on Schoodic.  I decided to take my backpack and put my pochade box in, just in case I wanted to paint.  I read how far the trail was, but wasn't quite aware how up and down and rooty it would be.  Still, it was a gorgeous day, and so much fun!  The views on top and along the ridges were spectacular.  I stopped and did a 10 minute painting looking off the top.  I am quite please with its simplicity and how it caught the feeling of the moment.  I need to do more quick paintings, and stress the use of simplification.  I know, I've talked about that before, but I have to keep reminding myself of it!  The trail turned out to be about 3 miles total, with lots of climbing up and down steep places.  It was truly a magical trail.

            

Fast Post

After the Storm

16x20 oil on linen canvas unfinished

#7/#17

Birch Study

8x10 oil on linen panel

#8/#18

I promised I would get these posted today, and it IS still today.  We had a really fun night hike, and evening learning about night creatures.  Mostly for the teaching assistants who will be leading the night hikes when the Schoodic Education Adventure (SEA) kids arrive.  All of us Artists In Residence (AIR) people (3 now) get to tag along and have fun.  Then we drove down to the point to take in the fantastic night sky which is amazing!  So, finally got back in and decided to quickly post a couple.  Neither are really finished, but then maybe they will stay as they are as learning experiences.  Enjoy.

Getting into the Rhythm

Looking towards Schoodic Point, from the Anvil Trail

Marks Island Lighthouse

As you can see, I didn't get any photographs of my paintings done today.  I painted this morning on the Schoodic Point, then took what turned into a rather long and medium intense hike.  By the time I got back, via the grocery store in Winter Harbor, the light wasn't right to photograph paintings.  I have a growing number lining the floor and leaning against things.  So I will work on getting pictures posted tomorrow.  I am intending to get up early tomorrow to go out to paint in the early light.  I am struggling with the whole idea of simplification when it comes to the waves and surf.

Met another Artist in Residence this evening, so now there are three of us.  That's fun.  We are like ships in the night though, passing here and there.  I talked to a man this morning who had taken a workshop with one of my favorite artists, Carol Marine (http://carolmarine.blogspot.com)!  Small world.  I looked up his website again, and found that Bruce is quite the author, check it out:  http://brucemcmillan.com/.

I will post paintings tomorrow.... promise!

Welcome Tropical Storm Earl!

Day's Beginning

8x10 oil on linen panel

#4/#14

Off Sundew

8x10 oil on linen panel

#5/#15

Fun times!  These paintings were done yesterday before the storm arrived.  Everyone was greatly anticipating the arrival of Earl, and wondering what it would be like.  Those NPS people in the know say that the waves can go right over the low roads, over the parking areas on Schoodic Point, and generally wash things and people away!  So, great precautions were made, with signs up, the staff out at 6:00 to keep the public wave-gaukers (is that the right spelling for that?!) safe from themselves.  

These two paintings were done off a trail known as the Sundew Trail.  I packed everything in my backpack and headed out. Not a long trail at all, but fun to get out into some spots best seen by foot.

Today, I walked out to Schoodic Point in the pouring rain, about 7:30, high tide.  The road there was closed, and our trusty NPS men and women in green were out patrolling the roads keeping people from going to close to the BIG waves.  (Fun having met most people last night at the Hurricane Party!).  When the road was opened, I drove out, and painted in the car while the waves slammed into Schoodic Point and the rain pelted down.  Now, back inside, having had tea, I'm ready for the next adventure of the day.  The sun is coming out, so maybe more painting here, or possibly over on MDI (Mt. Desert Island).  Tough life....someone's got to do it!

I never could get pictures of the REALLY big wave!

But these were much larger than they look here.

                            

                                Where waves crashed last year                   Everyone was ready

More Gearing Up

Crowd Pleaser

8x10 oil on linen panel

# 2 Acadia Paintings

#12 100 in 100

Little did I know I was going to be having two challenges which involved keeping track of what order the paintings were done!  I am trying to mark them accordingly after I get back to my Acadai apartment. I'm not sure exactly where I will be putting them all.  They have started creeping along the floor behind the TV (who watches TV in a national park?!), and the recliner.  I think they will begin taking over the other floor space.

Schoodic Point Breakers

8x10 oil on linen panel

#3/#13

These two were done late in the evening at Schoodic Point.  The spot where everyone seems to end up when they want to watch a really good show.... the big waves at high tide.  There were quite a few people there.  It was fun to watch people watching the waves.  I am learning, the challenging way, that painting waves is tough.  I knew it, I just didn't KNOW it.  I love the colors and the amazing colors on the rocks where the sea weed and other living vegetation grows, against the beautiful blues, greens, steel purples that are in the water.  I feel as if I am just getting my feet wet, metaphorically, here.  I have a whole car full of larger canvases, which I aim to work on, but I need to play with these smaller ones to begin to understand what it is I want to say about this amazing park and area of the country.

Geared Up

Mark Island Light

8x10 oil sketch on linen panel

#11 of 100 in 100

#1 of Acadia Paintings

Whew!  That's a lot of numbers!  My first day of actual painting in Acadia for my Artist Residency.  A little bit of a slow start, and not stellar, but I decided not to wipe it out, just go on and push through it.  This little sketch was done across what I think, I need to find out, is part of Frenchman's Bay, towards Mark Island Light.  I know you can't even tell it's a lighthouse, but hey, it was the first one.   I fiddled around after this one, went to Winter Harbor for some groceries, and to stock up before the hurricane comes our way.  

After getting back to my Acadia home, taking a short nap, yes, nap.  I stretched canvases, got things together and went out to Schoodic Point to catch high tide.  Very cool.  I was out there a long time, did two other 8x10's, which by the time I got back it was too dark to photograph.  So I'll post them tomorrow.  Much better, and I can feel a rythmn starting, whew, that's a relief.  I painted the rocks and waves, which is something I haven't done before but am fascinated by.  Love the colors.  

Tomorrow and Saturday everyone is expecting the hurricane to come to Maine.  BIG waves are expected, and high winds.  Should be exciting!  A Hurricane Party is planned by the interns and ranger in charge of them.  So we're all headed to that tomorrow night.  Putting water in the bathtub, getting flashlights ready.  I hope to get some good wave photos that day.  Maybe even paint!  I could easily get used to life up here!

Acadia National Park - Schoodic Penninsula

No pictures yet, but tomorrow I plan to start putting up work I'm doing, as well as a little bit about the area. So pretty here!  Fir trees, Birch trees, ocean, rocks, all waiting to be painted!  Amazing!  I got "home" to my little apartment here in the staff housing after a fun pot luck dinner with a group of the interns and volunteers.  Most are here to be working with kids that come with their schools to the S.E.A. program.  A program to teach kids about the environment of this area by staying out here for a couple nights, and learning all sorts of fun things.  All part of the Schoodic Education and Research Center.  I won't be here when the kids start coming (drat), but I'll talk to whoever else shows up.  I give two talks/demos, then take the visitors out to paint or draw.  The interns are mostly college or just out of college age folks, with some older people here also who volunteer/live here for the season.  The other "house-mates" in the "suite" that I am living in is a husband and wife team who have come here for several years to work in the park.

Tomorrow I will be out scouting for painting locations, and doing some work.  I will post what I get done, at least that's the plan.  I'll throw in some photos of the area, just to make everyone jealous! :)  Stay tuned!