My good friend , Tori (artist Victoria Chesley Brega) invited me to spend a night at her wonderful family camp in Maine before we jumped east to catch the ferry to Monhegan for the week. Her family's Maine home is a lovely testament to family, history; simple living with time to think and to be and to contemplate. It is a place to hunker down. We arrived in the afternoon with the intent of chilling out for a bit, then heading off to the grocery to stock up for the week... but we hunkered and didn't leave until the next morning. The camp on Lake Watchic is soooo peaceful. I sketched this lovely birch tree from Tori's screened porch. The sun filtered through and splashed on it low, then higher, then low again. We watched the surface of the water change in the distance... indication of rain coming our way; which it did. Almost consecutively, one of us said, "Ooh, we're getting misted by the rain", as the two of us jumped up and headed into the house because the "misting" became "drenching". Skies cleared, then repeated the whole process less than 2 hours later. I love New England.
I love Tori's sense of family, legacy, history. I understand the importance and awareness of revering objects that family gone by have chosen, used, touched.
Hoping to spend more time with Tori basking in layers of relaxation.
Take a few minutes (or more) to breathe this summer. Thank you for looking.
These summer nights are beautiful; the air kisses your skin as the light lingers and lingers.
I added some color to my drawing from earlier this week, trying to capture that late light clinging to the west-facing planes in the city skyline.
It's been a lovely summer so far... here's a link to the Lovin' Spoonful's 1966 hit "Summer in the City".
... but at night it's a different world...
Thanks for looking.
One of the luxuries of my summer break from school is the opportunity to clean up and clean out. I spent a lot of time today digging into boxes and bags and corners, sorting and sifting. Today, as I rearranged shelving in my studio, I found a sketch book I hadn't opened since last year.
The first is a sketch looking up along the rocks near Monhegan's Dead Man's Cove, one of my favorite places to sit. There is a small rocky protrusion called "Nigh Duck" close by, covered with gulls who yack and chatter. I love their sounds across the water.
The second drawing is a coloring page I created for the Monhegan 400th celebration at the request of Moe Oberman, who was coordinating and collecting "coloring book" pages as part of the celebration.
Today was a great day, hot as blazes outside, but peaceful inside.. music, cats, progress, organization.
Thanks for looking.
From a photo I took at an evening concert on Boston Common, beautiful night. Don't you love the evening air in the summer? It kisses your skin. I'll add some color to the drawing to show time of day.
Thanks for looking.
I love the festive flags and bunting that adorn the buildings in July, and Hingham's Lincoln Maritime Center is no exception. I always have, and as I write this, I think it's all due to Robert Preston.
"The Music Man" movie, 1962, with Robert Preston, Shirley Jones, etc, is filled with holiday bunting. The movie takes place during one summer in fictional River City, Iowa. A lot of the movie's fabulous singing and dancing takes place in front of red, white, and blue bunting. "The Music Man" was my Dad's favorite, and we grew up knowing every lyric, every move, every nuance. I remember Dad telling us that the melody of "Good Night, My Someone" was the same as "76 Trombones", and I tried and tried to hear it. I think I pretended I could (but I lied) .. now I can. I loved the barbershop quartet, and sang along to "Lida Rose" and "Goodnight Ladies"... all the while, absorbing the patriotic bunting backdrop. (Click the link above for the rousing win-them-over-by-hijacking-the-assembly-in-the-gym scene.)
Thanks for reminiscing with me, and thanks for looking.
My mornings have me swinging by Hingham's Harbor this week; so much going on while so peaceful. The Lincoln Maritime Center in full swing, an exercise class rocking away on the lawn behind the Victory statue, kayakers, dog walkers, joggers, and bikes.. We are having a beautiful summer.
Thanks for looking.
A few sketches from the deck of the house where we are staying this week. Weather has been varied, as always, and lovely. We've met interesting people, hung out, learned a new card game (!), painted, cooked, and may finish our jigsaw puzzle by end of week.... Van Gogh's irises. In other words, a fabulous time here.
Thanks for looking.
My good friend , Tori (artist Victoria Chesley Brega) invited me to spend a night at her wonderful family camp in Maine before we jumped east to catch the ferry to Monhegan for the week. Her family's Maine home is a lovely testament to family, history; simple living with time to think and to be and to contemplate. It is a place to hunker down. We arrived in the afternoon with the intent of chilling out for a bit, then heading off to the grocery to stock up for the week... but we hunkered and didn't leave until the next morning. The camp on Lake Watchic is soooo peaceful. I sketched this lovely birch tree from Tori's screened porch. The sun filtered through and splashed on it low, then higher, then low again. We watched the surface of the water change in the distance... indication of rain coming our way; which it did. Almost consecutively, one of us said, "Ooh, we're getting misted by the rain", as the two of us jumped up and headed into the house because the "misting" became "drenching". Skies cleared, then repeated the whole process less than 2 hours later. I love New England. 
