I know it’s been a while since my last posting here. (Do I still know how to do this?) The last entry summed things up so nicely when I said “I feel very fortunate to be painting and sharing some of what’s good in the world.” I continue to spend weeks at a time, even whole months, painting in Maine. Let me share some more images and paintings, and you’ll see why I keep coming back again and again.
Everywhere I turn on Mt. Desert Island I find beauty, nature, drama.
Some of the beauty is fleeting, and impossible to capture in a painting which takes hours: patches of green sunlight in the water,
or fog
or the immensity of reflected morning sky in a mirror lake.
I do what I can, trying to capture some of the beauty and strength which surrounds me. So far I’ve been able to do all my painting on site, en plein air, alla prima, almost always in one sitting.
And I do love the rocks. Strong, powerful, colorful, beautiful rocks.
Since I last wrote, I did paint some “kayak paintings,” and I can’t wait to do more. I had a bit of a learning curve, and had to figure out how to anchor my kayak and deal with wind. I loved being on the water though, and I was able to paint from a different perspective, no longer limited to the views from paths and trails.
I love my “origami” Oru kayak, which fits beautifully inside the car. No need for a roof rack, and no heavy lifting.
Another new development was finding new places to explore. I was intrigued by the books by Matthew Marchon entitled “The Acadia You Haven’t Seen.” What? Impossible! After all these years (decades!) of exploring and hiking all over Mt. Desert Island, there were places I had not seen??? Really?
Yes! Really! Some places I knew, and some I didn’t. And some of those places were possible painting spots:
Another new development was painting in NOVEMBER.
Yes, November. Yes, it was cold. Yes, the days were terribly short. It’s a very different experience than painting in May/June or even in October, my usual painting trip times. Amy at the gallery was sure I’d say “Never again!” after a November painting trip. But on the contrary, I LOVED it. I loved the absence of crowds, I loved being able to park anywhere, and I loved the open airy-ness of the Park and the late fall light.
The weather was often gray and beastly, but there were enough gorgeous moments so I could paint.
Here, let me share some painting moments from the past year or so, in all seasons:
If the sky turns to “milk” or becomes totally overcast with “cotton batting” clouds, or it rains, I usually don’t paint, at least not outdoors. As I say, “If one side of a house is the same color as another side, it’s not a painting day.” In that case, I’ll hike and scout, or read, or even do a still life.
But mostly I love getting outside and painting the strong, rocky Maine coast.
Can’t wait to get back there to paint!
If you’re interested in seeing or purchasing paintings, please visit the Argosy Gallery in Bar Harbor, Maine. (6 Mt. Desert Street) Amy and Charlie will be glad to show you the beautiful paintings by many talented artists. You can also see my Argosy Gallery paintings on-line:
http://www.argosygallery.com/artist.asp?id=75
You can now also find an eclectic selection of my paintings at Donna Parson’s Online Gallery, based in Providence, Rhode Island.
https://www.donnaparsonsgallery.art/shop-17
I am so grateful to have galleries and kind people who support my work. Thank you!
I have an important exhibition coming up in January/February of 2025, but I’ll save the details on that for my next posting.
Thank you for visiting. Until next time…
Jana Matusz on Site 