https://scontent-b-lga.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1471897_687262907958817_1094816550_n.jpg Sandy Dolan Maine Painting and Photography: 2014

Friday, November 21, 2014

Large Plein Air and Traveling in the State of Maine


                           September Light    Monhegan Island, Maine 8x16 on canvas panel

This fall I got a chance to do quite a bit of traveling around the state of Maine. Many people have said that this has been one of the best fall seasons in recent memory. I couldn't agree more. I love the light as the sun gets lower in the sky this time of year. I think this painting of Monhegan speaks to that.

 I decided this fall that it was time to get one of my painting goals moving forward and that goal was to paint some large canvases on location. Here is the back of my station wagon loaded up with two large canvases, one 24x24, one 24x30.


 
I found out I really like painting this large on location.
 
 
 
 
Here is the 24x30 set up on a great light weight easel I found at a second hand shop. I am standing at  a place called The Crib Works near Millinocket, Maine. This was such an exciting place to paint. There were some white water rafters passing by as I painted. They were having fun! That is the top of Mount Katahdin you can see in the very back at the top of that ridge. I will complete this painting in the studio. I think I got a good start on it here.
 
 
 
Here is a picture of this location taken by a fellow painter from the other side of the river. If you click on the image and look closely you can see I am a little red dot standing on that large rock right in the middle. One thing you can't tell from the photo is the roar of the river was incredibly loud.
 
 
I took this lucky photo of a deer in Acadia National Park last week while out scouting for painting locations. I hope you like it. Let me know what you think about painting large outside. I found out I love it!  Sandy
 
 
 
 

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Katahdin show, a new gallery, and my open studio

      
                                                    Katahdin-Maynard's View  24x24
                                                       oil on gallery wrapped canvas
                       Available at North Light Gallery  www.artnorthlight.com

  I am so pleased and excited that my painting of Mount Katahdin was juried into a show to be held at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell, Maine November 5th-29th. The show is called Inspired by Katahdin. From there it will travel to an exhibition space at Southeby's International in Damariscotta. That show will run from January to May of 2015. Thank you jurors David and Carl Little and the Harlow Gallery for this opportunity.
I have a lot of news to share. I have been accepted into the North Light Gallery of Millinocket, Maine. I am very honored and pleased about this. 2015 is looking really good.
This past weekend I held my second annual open studio event here in Searsport. Thank you so much to my loyal customers and friends who came by to share hot spiced cider and cookies, chat and see my latest work. Also thank you so much for all your generous purchases!!
Well that is it for today. I will have more exciting news next week so I hope you will check on back then.  Sandy

                                                               www.sandydolan.com
                                                              www.artnorthlight.com

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Summer Paintings, Shows, and Sales


                  Secret Cove  Little Deer Isle, Maine 6x8 oil on panel


   I am amazed how fast the summer has clicked by. I had a very busy July with three shows, two which are my biggest ones of the year. I have been painting in between getting ready for shows. I am happy to say that quite a few paintings have found new homes this summer. Thank you so much to my customers. It is always such a pleasure to meet you all in my booth and be of assistance in helping you to choose art for your home and offices. I am also very happy to meet my future customers who stop in and aren't quite ready to make a purchase but will see me in the future. 
   Another exciting thing that happened in July is a customer who purchased a small painting early in the  season has asked me to do a large 30x40 painting for a special place in her home. I am so pleased to be working on this and am looking forward to showing her when it is done.
  Here are a couple of paintings I did recently. In another post I might show some of the paintings that have sold this summer.
SOLD 



Thursday, July 10, 2014

Arts in the Park Belfast, Maine SOLD

                                          
                                          Pumpkin Island Lighthouse Little Deer Isle, Maine
                                                                   8x16 oil on panel 


This weekend July 12th and 13th is the Belfast Arts in the Park Festival held in the Heritage Park down on the waterfront .  This will be my third year doing this show.  It is such a beautiful location. Along with the juried art and craft displays there is also food booths and live music through out both days. The weather looks like the perfect Maine summer days we all wait for and savor. The painting above is one of the new ones I will bring to this show. I hope to see some of you there!



                                              Belfast, Maine waterfront.   Love this town!

www.sandydolan.com
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Monday, June 16, 2014

The Maine Botanical Gardens


                                               Stepping Stone Cottage  6x8" oil on panel

Recently the Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay generously opened the gardens to plein air painters for three days. Painters could have free admission (the fee is usually $12.00) and come in and paint anywhere they like.  This scene is in the children's area. There is a small pond that was full of pollywogs and small fish. There were large stepping stones to get across the pond. In this little cottage children could find small fishing nets that they could take out and try to catch something in the pond. While I was painting this a large group of school children arrived and they were having the grandest time checking everything out. Many of them commented on my painting as they passed by. "Wow nice painting" or " I like your painting".  Children love art and are so quick to appreciate it in any form. I hope to get a chance to return to these gardens this summer as many different things will be blooming.

www.sandydolan.com
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Saturday, June 14, 2014

East Boothbay


                   In Good Company  6x8 oil on canvas panel   SOLD!

I always love all the islands both big and small that you can see just off the shore in Maine. This was painted in a place called Grimes Cove in East Boothbay. The sun was pouring down while we painted taking the bite out of the wind. We stopped for a while to eat our picnic lunch on the rocks. A perfect Maine painting day.

www.sandydolan.com
www.etsy.com/shop/sandydolanart       

Friday, June 13, 2014

Bernard Trip Plus Lobster! SOLD


                                             Triple Play  Bernard, Maine 6x8 oil on panel

This week my friend Dianne and I went on a painting trip to Bernard. This has been a favorite place of mine for years. Many times I have traveled to this harbor starting out before sunrise to take photos. This time we set up our easels for painting about 8:00 a.m. It was a very sunny sparkly day. Several people came by to talk. Fishing boats where coming and going all morning. Lucky for me these stayed in place the whole time I was working. It is always chancy when painting boats that the one you choose to paint may be the next one out to work the traps. By noon we had worked up an appetite and we walked over to Thurston's Restaurant for you guessed it, lobster rolls. It was my first this year and I told Dianne we were starting our summer out right!

www.sandydolan.com

Saturday, June 7, 2014

Portland's Old Port Festival !

 
                                                          Old Port Festival Parade

 I have been busy varnishing and framing paintings to bring to the Old Port Festival. I will leave tomorrow morning at 5:00 am to get to Portland about 7:00. There I will unload the car and set up my booth in about two hours. This festival is so much fun!! They shut down  5 blocks in the downtown to traffic. There are several stages set up around the streets where there is live music. This photo from last year is of the parade that travels through town about 11:00. There are two streets lined with artists booths. I will be located on Market Street at the corner of Milk Street. Come, come downtown for some fun and drop by my booth. I would love to see you and share the new work that I have been doing with you !!
www.sandydolan.com    

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Marshall Point Lighthouse SOLD


                                              Marshall Point Lighthouse 6x8 oil on panel

Marshall Point Lighthouse is located in St. George, Maine. This lighthouse can be seen from the ferry to Monhegan Island if you take the ferry out of Port Clyde. Many people know this lighthouse as the one made famous in the movie Forrest Gump. I don't paint many lighthouses but I do love them. They are such an important part of the maritime history of Maine and I think they are very symbolic in many ways.   www.sandydolan.com 

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Whetstone, East Branch of the Penobscot River SOLD


                                          Whetstone Reflections  12x12 oil on canvas panel
                               Available at North Light Gallery  www.artnorthlight.com

This view is just below the Whetstone Falls on the East Branch of the Penobscot River. There is a bridge there that provides a great view and location to paint from. I started this painting on location. I did a lot of work on this yesterday in the studio and finished it this morning. I think I will definitely return to this area many times because there are many beautiful views like this one.    www,sandydolan.com   

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Port Clyde


                                              Sun Bathers  Port Clyde 6x8 oil on panel

This is a painting that I worked on this week. I started it on location in Port Clyde while I was waiting for the ferry to Monhegan Island. I liked the dory shapes in contrast to the verticals created by the pilings. I finished it in the studio. www.sandydolan.com

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Sold!


                                                        Sunflowers  6x8 oil on panel


Garden Table for Two  6x6 oil on panel


First Boat Out 6x8 oil on panel

These are a few paintings that sold recently.  I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to my customers and followers.  I am looking forward to a great year.  Thank you for being a part of it all!

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Plein Air to Studio SOLD!



                                        Just Around the River Bend  12x12 oil on canvas panel

  This painting was started about 1 1/2 years ago outdoors on the East Branch of the Penobscot River.. It has been hanging around the studio because I knew it was not done. I just didn't know yet where to take it. I just finished it yesterday. It is a good feeling to get something like that moving again to completion. I often paint on location as many of you know. Some artists think that a painting done outside should not be touched again once it comes back to the studio.  I prefer to keep working on a painting until I feel it is complete whether it is finished on location or in the studio. I learn a lot from the paintings I complete in the studio.    www.sandydolan.com

Friday, April 25, 2014

New Web Site!!



Check out my new web site www.sandydolan.com   I still have some tweaking to do but I wanted to get something up there. You can see my list of upcoming shows for the year and some of my photography work. There will be more photos added and other things too!

Monday, April 14, 2014

Monhegan Island Dreamin' SOLD


                           Swim Beach Landing   Monhegan Island, Maine 12x16 oil on panel

This time of year I start making my travel wish list for the coming spring, summer, fall.  The first one that gets penciled in is always Monhegan. I love traveling out to the Maine islands and this is my favorite.  I did this painting last August. I took the earliest ferry at 7:00 a.m. and about one and a half hours later I was standing on Swim Beach painting away.  Love that!
This year I hope to also spend time in Stonington, Acadia, Baxter State Park, and some of the beaches that dot the coast.
I will also be working about 8 outdoor shows starting with the Old Port Festival in Portland June 8th. Then on to Bar Harbor June 21st and 22nd. It is going to be a busy summer and I hope you will stay in touch and visit my blog to see what is new.

My Etsy shop is here  www.etsy.com/shop/sandydolanart.com  just click on the link.

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Serendipity!


                                          Serendipity 315 Main St. Winter Harbor, Maine

On Tuesday I traveled north to Winter Harbor to deliver paintings, photographs, and greeting cards that I make to a shop called Serendipity. This is a very cozy shop run by Kathryn who is not only a creative artist herself, she specializes in beautiful pottery, but who also makes sure there are daily fresh baked goods, coffee, and tea to enjoy as you relax and browse. There are several artists represented in this shop including my friend Wendilee Heath O'Brien of Who Paints. Her gallery is across the street from Serendipity.  Kathryn also has a great selection of used books for sale and can order new books for those who are looking for something special. To learn more about this shop go to
www.serendipitywinterharbor.com

Good news one of my paintings there has already been sold! Thank you Kathryn at Serendipity!

                                                                                
 
First Boat Out    Sold

Friday, February 28, 2014

Sun Kissed SOLD!

                                               
                                          Sun Kissed 24x30 oil on gallery wrapped canvas

I recently finished this 24x30 painting of sunflowers. Those of you who have been following me will see that it resembles  a small painting I did in January.  I  used that smaller study to then jump into a large canvas.  I was really quite intimidated by the large blank canvas at first. I am not used to working in this size. I sketched it in first in my usual way with a thin cobalt violet line drawing. Then starting in the upper left corner I worked my way through to the finished piece.


  Here is a photo of the canvas in mid process. You can see here that I started with a thin wash of cad red light all over the canvas. I wanted to add warmth to this painting as this color peeks out through the second layer of paint. Here you can also see my simple line drawing.

I am applying to my outdoor shows for this coming season. I have one more application to do tomorrow when it comes on line then the process of show applications will be over. That is always a good feeling. Now the wait to see which ones I get into through the jury phase. I am looking forward to this year and will post all my shows when I know what they will be for sure.

Today I delivered three canvases to the Aarhus Gallery in Belfast. They will be on display for the month of March along with many other local artists work. This is always a fun show with a wide variety of work. The opening is great because many people come out to see the work and all their friends who have been hibernating all winter come out too. It is a big reunion of sorts.

Thanks everyone for stopping by!! I really appreciate your thoughts and attention!!

Thursday, January 23, 2014

The Inside Story


                                                  The Inside Story 6"x8" oil on panel

Today I have finished this painting of the inside of a lobsterman's workshop.  There are many small workshops such as this one along the coast of Maine. Here lobstermen prepare all their equipment for the work they do.  I hope you like today's choice of image. Thanks for stopping by to have a look. Leave a message if you wish. I love to hear from my visitors.

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Friday, January 17, 2014

Devocean in Stonington, Maine SOLD


                                                Devocean  6"x8" oil on panel  $195.00

 When I saw this boat in Stonington, Maine I knew I would have to paint it. I loved the color of it first of all and then I noticed the creative name this lobsterman had given his boat. DEVOCEAN.          Today I have to say no matter how many times I paint water I still struggle with it.

 Thank you so much for stopping by to see my work!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Stonington, Maine Stern Man Watch SOLD


                                                 Stern Man Watch 6"x8" oil on panel

Stonington is a hard working fishing community on the coast of Maine. I always love how the islands look off in the distance from this shore as the boats head out of the harbor. These lobstermen are done for the day and just finished unloading their catch at the dock.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Late Summer Fish Beach Monhegan Island Maine


                                            Late Summer Fish Beach 6"x8" oil on panel

This is a scene I saw on Fish Beach on Monhegan Island, Maine when I visited there in late August of 2013. I always love the beautiful simple wooden dories that dot the beach there. The great shapes and subtle colors are what attracts me. The late summer afternoon light added a nice dimension to this scene.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Summer Sailing Curtis Island Light SOLD


                                 Summer Sailing  6"x8" 

This location is in a town called Camden, Maine. Curtis Island Light guides boats coming into Camden Harbor. All kinds of boats can be seen in the summer coming and going from large passenger schooners to the smallest of sail boats and kayaks.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Tea Roses SOLD

Tea Roses 6"x8" oil on panel SOLD!
 
These are my favorite cups from my still life shelf. I go to second hand shops and look for diner dish wear. I like the sturdy shapes and the down home feel they have. Wouldn't this be great for a breakfast nook wall. I can see the morning sun splashing across the table and smell something good cooking in the kitchen right now.
 
To purchase my paintings click here www.etsy.com/shop/sdolanart


Saturday, January 4, 2014

Garden Jive in Pink and Purple

   
                                   Garden Jive in Pink and Purple 6"x8" oil on canvas panel
                                                                   $195.00 unframed

I wanted another day of flower painting as an antidote to this winter weather. This may become a yearly tradition because I am having fun with this! I have several flower gardens in my yard that I have been nurturing for about 25 years. Every year I try something new. These Peonies are very hardy here in Maine and I love them every year when they return.


Friday, January 3, 2014

Garden Table for Two SOLD

                                
                                  Garden Table for Two  6"x6" oil on canvas panel $95.00  SOLD

I am continuing the garden theme with today's painting. I think I really need the color right now! Today I also decided to work with a limited  palette. Three colors plus white.
This looks like a cozy corner to enjoy a visit with a good friend, share some food, drink and fun.
Let's go!!

My shop www.etsy.com/shop/sdolanart .  If you scroll down to the bottom of my blog page you can also see a link to the Etsy shop. It is called an Etsy mini. I can't figure out how to bring it up to the top of the page where I want it. Any suggestions on that?

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Enchanted Garden SOLD

                                                Enchanted Garden 6"x8" oil on panel

I decided to continue with the garden theme today. It is -5 degrees here and we are expecting our 3rd snow storm so I thought I would take temporary refuge inside this garden I photographed last summer. Ahhh.... Pass the lemonade.

                                         
And now back to reality. Here is a photo taken near my house in the last few days. As they say a picture is worth a thousand words and you can see what I mean. Pass the wood for the stove please!

.Thanks for stopping by today and I always welcome any comments!

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Happy New Year Sunflowers SOLD!

New Year Sunflowers 6x8 oil on panel

 Happy New Year all. It has been very cold and snowy here in Maine and I thought it would be a good time for some bright sunflowers. I will be adding more paintings too so stay tuned. 2014 is going to be a great year. I am so excited to have my new shop up and going. Thank you so much for stopping by and please have a look at my new shop and tell me what you think.