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.

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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.

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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!

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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 !!
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