Off to Monhegan!

Open Studio and Workshop on Monhegan Island

"The Discovery"                       20x30"                                 oil

Summer pulled up outside my door and revved it's engine. When I got in it peeled out of the parking lot like something out of Dukes of Hazzard. The only thing missing was the cheesy horn.

The studio has been in high gear since May getting ready for my annual trek to Monhegan Island, Maine. This year is the Quadricentennial (or for those of you who are spelling challenged like me - the 400 year anniversary) of the visit of John Smith and his seafaring entourage to this little island off the coast of Maine. 

There is not a lot written about this landing but I'm guessing they weren't uber impressed because although they traded with the natives and checked out the fishing, they continued on in their task of mapping the coast and their search of resources so as, the plaque outside the one room Monhegan School states, "to add to England's glory" (some credit Smith for naming the region "New England") Even so, I can imagine he was a little leery of starting a new colony since Jamestown was a bit of a rough time with the village burning down and almost half of the inhabitants dying in the first winter.

Last summer, I got to thinking about John Smith & co. sailing in their tiny little ships across the huge Atlantic Ocean. Monhegan is not a large island - barely a square mile in area and it is located almost 13 miles out to sea. To find anything in the ocean is amazing but to do it with the basic navigation tools of 1614 in a little wooden ship with no radar or radio is pretty impressive. It took artists a bit longer to find Monhegan. The first artists landed there in 1858. I've been going to the island for almost a decade and I never fail to be amused and surprised by how I never seem to run out of subject matter. The harbor, people, houses, the ocean, cliffs and the sky all inspire so many in new ways each year. Artists go to great lengths sometimes to find inspiration and I made the painting "The Discovery" to allude to this in a way. I don't assume that this is how it is for all artists who travel to Monhegan but just my take on it. It is a place worth looking for.

"The Discovery" will be a part of my open studio with Bradley Hendershot this year. If you are not familiar with his work in watercolor please check it out: Brad Hendershot  Also, I will be holding a small workshop during our open studio this year. Please check out my earlier blog about that here: Workshop  There are still two spots left if you have interest in painting on Monhegan.

I started "The Discovery" pretty much like usual with an idea sketch based on things I have in the studio. 

Then made up a full size cartoon which was transferred to the canvas. Feel free to envy my mad skillz with masking tape.

After transferring the drawing, I wanted to create the feeling of an old time photograph but keep things away from being drained of color so I kept my palette subdued but not too tonal.

Background laid in upper part

Starting into the bottle and shadows

The message in the bottle was a blast to do. I really want to paint more bottles.

Starting to add the objects. Being careful to keep things related and not too colorful.

First pass on the compass. If you want to find really cool compasses at darn good prices check out amazon. Things were not shadowy enough on the lower shelf so I darken this to keep a mysterious feel to things and add a solid feel to anchor every thing (get it? "anchor"? ok, enough with the corny jokes)

Things were a bit too brown so I threw in a spot of blue to act as a foil for all the browns and oranges.

First layers on the box and basket. Still not entirely satisfied with the way the eyepiece of the spyglass was looking. Elipses are the bane of my existence at times. I also removed the lower shadow of the compass to give the impression of the ledge being wider. Sometimes it's not how things look but how they are supposed to look.

I settled the boat down a bit but was not satisfied with it being darker and too similar to other objects so I changed it back to make it warmer and more vivid. At this time, I made a small strip of blue on the paper inside the bottle for interest.

Continuing to calm things down and push things around. Deepening and warming some shadows and defining the basket weave.

Some detail shots-

detail 1 - that bottle was almost too much fun. Man, I loved that!

Did I mention I loved painting the bottle?

detail of first pass on compass

So, there it is. Our open studio will be from July 12 to August 1. It is located on the road to Fish Beach. Hours are 12-3 usually but also by chance & appointment. I am really excited to have a 3 week stay on island this year. Please stop on by if you are on Monhegan during this time. An open studio reception is planned for the first week! Thanks!