Old Barn, Bath, Maine

OLD BARN – BATH, MAINE

Built around 1890, this old barn can been seen from our house in Bath, Maine. The barn belongs to our neighbor, Bob Colfer. I love the old barn – it is weathered and shows its age but still stands strongly ready to endure many decades into the future. Bath has a great number of beautiful historic old houses in excellent condition. During the Summer the gardens and lawns are a delight. No one has fences and great expanses of green manicured lawn lap around white or gray sided old houses like a sea. During the Winter, the green lawns give way to white expanses of snow.

Old Barn, Bath, Maine

Rocks and Fog at Reid State Park, Maine

Rocks and Fog at Reid State Park, Georgetown, Maine.

When I think of Maine, I think of foggy, rugged coastline pounded by waves. The sound of a distant muffled fog horn warns of hull rendering rocks ahead. All these elements are present at Reid State Park on the Atlantic coast. The park is unique as it has rugged granite rocks, sand dunes, long white sand beaches bordered by wild pink beach roses as well as tidal marsh areas. Due to the diversity of terrain it is fertile ground for painting expeditions. I have painted there many times and am never bored.

This Summer we took canvas chairs and set them up under pine trees next to the ocean. The sound of breaking waves and the caress of cool wind coming off the sea made it the best place to spend a hot summer afternoon.

Reid State Park is the first State owned saltwater beach. The land was donated to the State of Maine in 1946 by wealthy Georgetown resident Walter E. Reid. The park is 15 minutes drive from downtown Bath.

June, 2006

It's late June on the coast of Maine. The first major heat wave of the summer is with us. I'm a California resident and not used to the humidity that accompanies the heat here. I decide to go to Five Islands on the Atlantic to paint - there will be a small breeze coming off the ocean there. Just a few miles up the Kennebec River from the ocean the air is still and scorching. At Five Islands Cove, it's as quiet as only a hot summer morning can be. I smell green lawns just mowed and the tang of seaweed and salt. The ocean is flat calm - the outgoing tide makes a slight gurgling sound as sea water leaves little tide pools and rock crevices. On the lobster pier, a man wearing a shocking pink tee shirt that reads "Five Islands Lobster Company" is hosing off the wooden planks. His tee shirt also says "Lobster shipped anywhere" with a www. address. After a while he comes over to visit - he tells me I'm doing a painting of his boat - he sounds pleased about that. He goes back to work with his hose. In the distance I hear the putt-putt of a diesel engine as a fishing boat approaches the Cove. Summer time in Maine can be wicked good.

Bath, Maine

Maine is our second home - we have a small house there on the river bank. We visit once or twice a year, usually in the summer and again in fall. Bath is located on the central coast on the bank of the Kennebec River as it makes its' way to the Atlantic. Two miles down river on a boat will take you out to the tossing swells of the Atlantic Ocean - you can see lonely Seguin Lighthouse on an island off shore near Fort Popham.

Bath is known as "The City of Ships" because of the long history of ship building. The Bath Iron works shipyard is still the major employer in the region. the population of Bath is about 10,000. The town is an honest and hard working place with its gritty places rubbing up against lovely neighborhoods on the river where beautiful old houses show off their acres of green lawns in the summer. The lawns are all freshly mowed with islands of daylilies, black eyed Susan and hostas enjoying the short summer by blooming madly.

My husband Dennis was born and raised in Bath. He knows a lot of people here. We are treated as members of the community even though we don't live here full time. He belongs. Because of him, I belong also. It is comfortable to be here as a result. No pretense about anything, least of all, ourselves. Neighbors drop by and stay and chat for an hour. It's that sort of place.

This painting is of the Maine pine trees in our driveway looking towards Barbara's house across the street. These trees are large and very old. I love their grace and sculptural aspect - they have seen a lot of weather in their time, from blizzards to a hurricane or two. The young Osprey fledglings cling to topmost branches on their maiden flights, squawking with fear. Their large nest is at the top of an old light fixture. We can see the nest as we look out of the sunroom. Watching the Osprey family is part of the summer morning ritual as much as a cup of coffee. The nest is used every year for a new family of Osprey chicks. During the winter, a bald eagle moves in.

TAOS, NEW MEXICO - Winter

A winter break in Taos, New Mexico - 90 miles north of Santa Fe but in a different "State of Mind". We stayed at the Old Taos Roadhouse - a bed and Breakfast sort of place. My room was lovely - the building 180 years old and made of adobe with original vigas, kiva fireplace and niches with little figures and pots in them. I had a skylight in both bedroom and bathroom.

The grounds have 2 horses in a field overlooking the Western view - we sat and watched a superb sunset - we talked about our trip from Santa Fe the previous day - we stopped at Tsankawa - a part of Bandilier National Park - we hiked a loop trail and climbed up onto the mesa top and when into cliff dwellings. Sat there and meditated upon what it must have been like to live here with snow everywhere...

Back at the Old Taos Roadhouse, I wrote the following poem to go with the painting I did in the morning light.

"Taos Mountain Blue"
At breakfast we spoke of moradas and penitentes.
Pinon smoke incense in the air,
the cold finger of frost is just lifting.
Across the road from our Inn, Taos Mountain Blue.

Cottonwood trees in winter dress.
Weak winter sun casts spidery shadows,
Taos Mountain in winter is the view.
Taos Mountain Blue.

I love Taos! Wonderful art galleries, good places to eat and great "people watching" opportunities abound.

Rio Grande Gorge - Taos, New Mexico

The drive from Santa Fe North to Taos is a distance of about 90 miles. It usually takes at least 2 hours to drive as there are so many interesting things to see and do along the way.

If you start out from Santa Fe very early you can stop at Julianna's Cantina in Espanola and have a fabulous New Mexico breakfast of Huevos Rancheros made with blue corn tortillas, or pinon nut pancakes and sage honey.

As you pass thru Indian Reservation lands you can buy gas much cheaper than "off res". Artisan's studios beckon with pottery, sculpture, silver and turquoise jewelry, baskets and clothing. Other vendors sell long strands and wreaths of red chili peppers as well as fresh fruits and vegetables - and of course, New Mexico chili powder!

The road to Taos closely follows the Rio Grande river valley as it flows South from the San Juan Mountains of Southern Colorado. Near Taos the Rio Grande has eroded an immense gorge thru the flat plain. As you near Taos there is an area where the gorge comes into view from the highway. A great gash in the earth that is startling and unexpected. The magnificent scale of the landscape, combined with the contrast of the vast, flat plain fractured by the gorge is breath-taking.

This spot is a magnet for artists of course. When painting there you can watch weather as it unfolds 20 miles away or more. The march of thunderstorms, the play of light and cloud shadow constantly changes the color and feeling of the scene. This magic spot has recently been acquired as a park and so will be preserved for all to enjoy in the future. I recommend painting at this spot with a companion - safety in numbers!

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

February 2001 - Santa Fe, New Mexico

I was excited to get up early and get going on this day. I was staying with my friend Penny at her beautiful South Western home on the outskirts of Santa Fe. It had snowed lightly overnight and all the dark Pinon trees and juniper shrubs were dusted with sparkling snow.

I sat in the outdoor hot tub with my coffee and watched the sun come up over the mountains. We planned to ski a half day at Santa Fe Ski Basin later. But first, I had a painting to do.

I set up in the kitchen looking out at the garden. A wooden carving of St. Francis with snow covered birds on his out stretched arms was calling to me. In the distance the Santa Fe Ski area where we would ski later. I had thought about painting this scene for a while and the painting came together almost by itself - a magical and rare experience! This painting remains one of my favorite New Mexico scenes and it resides on the wall in my California kitchen.

Penny and I went skiing after lunch that day and had great fun skiing from the top of Ski Basin mountain at 11,250 ft. What a perfect day! Painting the morning light and then skiing in fresh snow with my long time dear friend, and all in one day.

SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO

During our visit to Santa Fe, New Mexico in March, we stayed at the Pueblo Bonita Bed & Breakfast Inn near the State Capitol building rather than in the Plaza area. This saved us quite a bit of money as the room rates are more reasonable in this part of town. This painting is of the room I stayed in - cute and Santa Fe funky! I had a kiva fireplace. Each room is different but all are decorated in "Santa Fe Style".

I always encounter interesting people in Santa Fe. While I was painting this Adobe in the afternoon light, Bill, the manager of the Pueblo Bonita came by and we chatted about art making. He does sculpture. Everyone in Santa Fe is either an aspiring artist or writer. My favorite kind of place - The Land of Enchantment!

My sister Katherine and her husband Barrie (from England) were visiting New Mexico for the first time and found it quite amazing - from the landscape to the food and the art. We all skied together the next day at Santa Fe Ski Basin and had a wonderful time on the wide open slopes at 10,000 ft. In the evening we had dinner at Tomasitas - they serve the best New Mexican cuisine in Santa Fe. Tomasitas is within easy walking distance of our hotel. Just as well if you try one of their margaritas - and be forewarned - their chili is incendiary. My brother-in-law, Barrie, got scorched!

Picacho Peak, Arizona

Picacho Peak Park is about 40 miles north of Tucson in the Sonoran Desert. Picacho Peak itself is an amazingly shaped lava extrusion that sits on the flat plain like a clipper ship in full sail - it ascends 1500 ft above the desert floor. The park is very well cared for with lots of shaded picnic tables spread out off of side roads. We found one we liked and I set up my easel for a painting session. This is the painting I did looking from Picacho Park towards the Picacho Mountains. I was facinated by the geology and the sweeping lines of rock strata that were revealed in different colors. It was blazing hot and there was a heat haze which I put into my painting - I hope you feel the heat!

This entry completes my Arizona paintings and I will now do a number of postings about my New Mexico painting times, of which there have been many, as I love the New Mexico landscape and clouds and sky.

Painting in the desert isn't as easy as one might think - so much incrediably bright light and super dry air makes it really hard on your skin. Plein air painting on location is about overcoming difficulties and painting anyway no matter what! On this day I spent a full day at the Sonoran Desert Museum near Tucson, Arizona. It was late March - I wouldn't even attempt this in the Summer or even late Spring. The Sonoran Desert is full of the wonderful sculptural Saguaro Cacti and lots of other types of succulents also. Most of them were flowering due to good rains earlier in the month. We left our hotel in Tucson at 9am in order that I could paint early and be done before the middle and very hottest part of the day. The brilliance of the light made the painting challenging trying to determine color - I had to make some adjustments to this painting back at the hotel. The Desert Museum (outdoors) itself is wonderful and very well worth the visit if you ever go to Tucson. You walk along trails thru the desert which was covered with wild flowers and blooming cacti of all kinds. You could see all the different desert creatures also, birds, reptiles, mammals and insects. A lot are noctural for obvious reasons - there were underground displays with plexiglass caves were you could see the animals sleeping thru the heat of the day. There was a tarantula on display guarded by an older gentleman. I stopped and spoke to him about his charge. He told me that these giant spiders have barbed hairs on their backs to protect themselves from predators. They are not venomous. There was a walk thru aviary for hummingbirds - we saw one sitting on a thimble sized nest. So very sweet. Later in the afternoon I stopped in a remote area to do another painting. While I was there a hiker came by and warned me that he had seen a swarm of wild bees and to be on the look out for them. Luckily, I did not meet up with them.

Wickenburg, ARIZONA

After leaving Sedona (see previous post) we moved on to Wickenburg which is about a 2 hour drive from Sedona on Route 89 (South and West of Sedona) - Wickenburg is in saguaro cacti country and looks the way you expect Arizona to look! We stopped at the Museum of the West that has a gallery of wonderful western paintings including works by George Catelin, Edgar Allen Payne and Thomas Moran etc. They were also featuring a fabulous collection of plein air paintings of the region by such well known painters as Matt Smith and Ralph Oberg.

Outside of Wickenburg we stopped on a side dirt road to paint a desert scene of cacti etc. It was hot, windy and my eyes couldn't take too much of it before I felt dazzled. Here is the painting I did - painting those saguaro cacti isn't as easy as you may think! Dealing with the heat and glare of the treeless landscape is also a challenge. Desert sand is embedded into this oil painting! and a few desicated desert bugs.

Oak Creek/Nr. Sedona, Arizona

April, 2003 - Oak Creek Canyon, Near Sedona, Arizona. Another Arizona trip with my friend Tiah - she now lives near Phoenix. This time to Oak Creek Canyon - we stopped at Taliesin West - the Frank Lloyd Wright house on the way to Sedona. We had an hour tour about "the great man" - The house itself is very shabbily made although the design ideas are very interesting and organic - fits right in with today's green movement. So his ideas were certainly well ahead of the time in which he lived.

We arrived in Sedona at 5pm with fading light and cloud cover - we stayed at an Inn called "The Briar Patch" right on Oak Creek. The next morning after a super breakfast of green chili and cheese muffins, yogurt and fruit, I immediately went to the creekside with my painting gear and set up in the boulders across from a lovely slab of red rock that slopes down to the creek. The creek cascaded out of a dark shadowed area into the sunlight right next to the illuminated slab of red rock - so weird and gorgeous I had to paint it. Canyon wrens called and chirped along with many other birds. I recognized the call of the Canyon Wren because of my bird clock at home. I spent a wonderful 2 hours by the creek painting and enjoying the solitude and sound of flowing water. I would like to go back to Sedona another time to paint more of the red rock country.

Nr. Flagstaff, ARIZONA

ARIZONA

On September 14, 2001 my friend, Tiah and I drove from San Jose, California to New Mexico on a long planned painting trip. We had originally intended to fly, but, because of the events of September 11, all the U.S. airports were still closed. We decided to rent a big comfortable American car and drive instead. It took 3 days to reach Taos, New Mexico. Along the way, we stopped to paint from time to time as the spirit and scenery moved us. Just outside Flagstaff, Arizona, we took a dirt road out into the mesa area and stopped to paint the gathering storm clouds. This painting was done as a response to the boiling and building thunder clouds that seemed to emanate from the mesa tops. Exciting high desert color, and primal and apocalyptic feelings are reflected in this "plein air" painting that I did on the side of the road. I was so charged with the energy of the scene that I actually howled like a wolf at one point in my painting process! My friend Tiah appeared to accept my weirdness with no comment - which is great in a travelling companion! More on this road trip later

The Journey Begins

I've had this idea for a few years now but only now is it taking hold in my mind that this would be a really fun and worthwhile adventure to actually accomplish. As an artist I love to be out in nature and to travel and experience new places and people. My idea is to travel to and create paintings in, all 50 of our States over the next 10 or 15 years of my life. My style of painting, plein air painting (a french phrase meaning "in the open air") is perfect for this - it is by it's very nature, exciting and requiring of quick painting skills. My painting kit is compact and easy to transport - photos to follow. I will post painting photos and write the stories that go with each painting as I go along. That's it for today - Suzanne