Cherokee Falls

These beautiful falling waters drop over the cliff into an emerald pool of clear water.  It is worth the steep hike down to the bottom just to enjoy this peaceful spot for a while.

This is a 9x12 oil on canvasboard.  Email me for price and availability.

Peer Critiques

Over the years, I have come to treasure opportunities to participate in group critiques, either after a plein air outing or, as in this case, just a group of artists getting together for an informal critique of each others' work, as a help to solve problems with a painting or just to get feedback from other artists whose opinions you respect.  I brought several paintings to this gathering, but one in particular stands out, because I was so impressed with the sharp eyes and great suggestions of the other artists - all members of the In Town Gallery co-op in Chattanooga, TN.  Here is the painting, Cape St. George Light, as presented to the group.

Critiques:
1 - the white trim on the shaded end of the house is too bright - it needs to be darkened
2 - the blue sky should be lighter at the horizon than at the top of the painting
3 - considering this is a bright, sunny day, there should be more sunlight on the grass lawn
4 - would like to see more obvious sunlight on the right side of the black top of the lighthouse, the palm fronds, and the palm tree trunks

I agreed with all of these suggestions and fixed them.  Here is the "after" photo.

The two photos were taken under very different light conditions, but even allowing for that, the revised version is so much better.

The moral of this story?  Seek out opportunities for getting input from others, particularly from other artists whose opinion you respect and value.  Thank you, Marie Miller and company!

Cape St. George Light

As you come off the bridge onto St. George Island, Florida, this replica of the Cape St. George Light greets your weary eyes - and what a delightful sight it is!

If interested in this painting, contact artist at kittelsen@aol.com.

Thompson Island Plein Air Revisited (See earlier post)

Sometimes, after you have finished and signed a painting, another pair of eyes might see something you missed.  Like clouds that look like Mickey Mouse, or in this case, a straight line of purple beach flowers that look like rocks.  My wife looked at this painting and commented:  "That straight line of purple-grey rocks looks weird".  Well, when my wife speaks, I listen.  Looking at it I had to agree.  So, yesterday I followed her advice and made the straight line of flowers a little more uneven, added a few flowers to the left of the big rock, and put some brighter spots of purple and fuchsia on the flowers.  Voila, the offensive line of rocks is no more!  The lesson here?  Another pair of eyes can be an important tool in inproving a painting, and even after a painting is "finished" it's not to late to make corrections.

Thompson Island Plein Air - August 3, 2013

Three of the Plein Air Connection members painted (in the rain) at Thompson Island on Saturday August 3rd - Kay Carter, Becky White, and me.  When the drizzle turned to light rain, we retreated to Sylvia's in Ellsworth for lunch.  I finished my painting in the studio today, three weeks later! 

This is an 11x14 oil painting on canvasboard and will be priced at $500 once it is framed.

Goose River Cove, Waldoboro

The Plein Air Connection members painted in Waldoboro this past Saturday.  Michael Vermette and I painted different views from the Goose River Cove on the beautiful shore property of Tom and Connie Hammermeister.  My painting was purchased by the Hammermeisters at the wet auction that night.  Thank you, Connie and Tom!  One of my challenges was the rapidly ebbing tide - probably 6 feet from the time we started painting until we finished...

 

 

Friends of Baxter State Park Benefit Auction

Several members of my painting group, the Plein Air Connection, me included, were selected to participate in a benefit paint-out and live auction on July 24.  We scattered along the Kenduskeag Stream in Bangor and captured our favorite scenes, returning to 51 Thomas Hill Road to frame our wet paintings.  Here is a (bad) snapshot of my painting, an 11x14 oil on canvasboard.  The title is Lover's Leap, Kenduskeag Stream.

 

 

It was purchased by Mr. & Mrs. York of Millinocket, Maine.  Thank you!

Gull Rock - Monhegan

This week I had the pleasure of participating in a plein air workshop on Monhegan with the excellent artists and instructors Michael Vermette and Eric Glass.  We hiked across the island and down to the Eastern shore, where we painted a view of Gull Rock from the North (a scene painted many times by a number of famous artists).  It was an amazing experience and learning opportunity.  Here is my 11x14 painting.

Here is a photograph of Michael Vermette and a couple of the students in the group.

Thank you, Michael!

Snow Scene - Commission Delivered

This recent commissioned painting is now framed and delivered!

The Road to Somes Sound

This old pine has greeted many a traveller on Mt. Desert Island, just as Somes Sound comes into view.  I love the rugged look and the sweep of the elegant limbs - all superfluous little dry branches have been stripped off by the merciless Maine weather.  It's probably the most photographed tree in Maine!

This unfinished 11x14 oil painting will be priced at $480, beautifully framed.  It's destined for a gallery in Bar Harbor.  Call me for price and availability.

Carriage Road, Mount Desert Island

Last fall, the Carriage Road on Mt. Desert Island was ablaze with color.  This scene caught my attention.

This is an oil on canvasboard, 9x12, priced at $400.  Call me for availability (207-266-6027).

Commission: Ronnie's Deer

Just delivered this 24x48 landscape painting of a deer, seen from just outside his cabin in the woods.  What a beautiful spot!  For various reasons, it took over 3 years from start to finish... 

Thanks for you patience, Ronnie & Connie! 

Bull Moose in Pond

Since the Alone Moose Gallery in Bar Harbor sold my Bull Moose in Fog, I brought them another recently completed moose today, Bull Moose in Pond. 

This one is a 14x18 oil painting, framed in Mahogany with gold liner, and priced at $440, available at the Alone Moose Gallery in Bar Harbor.