Day 314 "Quiet Harbor" 6 x 9 ink, marker, pencils

We are home from Mohegan Island, but still feeling the quiet and peace of mind.  It is hot and sticky here at home.  I long for the breeze and cool of Monhegan's climate.  So, here is a drawing of the harbor at dusk one quiet evening.  The boat in the foreground is from an Outward Bound type of outing, and sleeps a surprising number of people, sardine-style, under a tarp within its hull.  The harbor is lovely in the evening as the sun sets below Manana, and dark descends.  
This is my three hundred fourteenth daily drawing.  Thank you for your continued interest.  

"Harbor Watch" 9 x 5 mixed

I am enjoying exploring old photos for my daily drawings.  I captured this image of one of Monhegan's cottages along the harbor, with an unknown gentleman looking out at Manana and the harbor beneath him.  His silhouette intrigued me.  I added only a hint of color to the buoys in the foreground to move the eye around, but otherwise, all color is in or through the building.  
This is my seventy-eighth daily drawing.  Your feedback lets me know you are enjoying this exploration.  Believe me, I am having a wonderful time exploring.  Thank you.

"Harbor Evening" 6 x 9 mixed

There is a special, quiet time by Monhegan's harbor as the sun sinks below Manana.  Birds start settling down, people drift back to their houses, and the dark begins to descend quickly.  It's a lovely time of day, and as I climb back up to the house we rent, the last glimpse of light disappears and the sky glows.  Ahhhh.  
This is my fiftieth daily drawing.  Thank you for looking.

Monhegan Sketchbook - MISCA art Auction today

There was an art auction on the island today to benefit MISCA, the Monhegan Island Sustainable Community Association. Follow the link to read about this worthwhile organization which works to make island living accessible to those who want to make a year round life here. 

 I attended the auction last year as well.  It is interesting, funny, and people are generous in their support.  Both years, the auctioneer has reminded the audience that this is NOT an auction in which to look for bargains, rather an auction during which we should aim to spend as much as we can afford.  Both last year and this year I bought donated ferry tickets for our round trip to the island.  I did a little bit of drawing during the auction, but tried not to make any sudden moves as the auctioneer had a hair trigger and I might have been toting home something I did not intend to buy.

Happy to support MISCA and happy to have next year's ferry trips taken care of.

 

 

"Forklift" pen & ink with watercolor 10 x 9

At 2pm, weather permitting, the Balmy Days ferry from Boothbay Harbor  offers a half hour circumnavigation-of-the-island tour, then stops to exchange tour passengers for those returning to the mainland.  I take the tour several times each week we are here.  It's a nice mid-afternoon sojourn, visually sumptuous every single time.  After the tour, I may hang around the dock area enjoying the hubbub of people returning from day's hikes to catch their ferries back to Boothbay Harbor or Port Clyde.  
Yesterday I parked myself on a rock behind a small forklift.  I loved the way it framed the people, and beautiful Manana, the small island across the harbor. And, I like the contrast of the natural beauty here, those traveling for the day to enjoy it, and the small workhorse waiting for some heavy deliveries from the mainland.  I sketched the scene and added in a touch of watercolor for the shadows. There is a nice contrast between the greens and blues (which you can't see yet) in the sky and on Manana against the industrial orange of the small Toyota forklift.  I can see a large painting here and will begin to work it up.

Monhegan Sketchbook - Thinking Summer in Winter 9 x 12

Looking at my Monhegan sketchbooks today and added some watercolor pencil to part of this page.  The sun is out here in February, and starting to feel strong.  I'm reminiscing about my favorite island in the sun. 
Watercolor pencils are interesting because you can layer them, wet them, add dry on top, mix complements, add depth, and explore.    
Thinking of summer in the bright of winter.
Thanks for looking.

Monhegan Sketchbook "Christmas Cove"

Every year when I visit Monhegan, I spend some time down on the southern end of the island sitting on the rocks, surrounded by the sound of waves, wind, birds.  There is a peace and solitude to the spot I visit every year.  I went later in the day than usual, sat with my sketchbook and handed myself over to the rhythm.  
On the way back up the hill I built a cairn with a pair of island friends in mind.  I pray they can find their way back.

Monhegan Sketchbook - August 4, 2016 "Views from the Deck"

Another glorious week up here on Monhegan Island; highlights include seeing the Aurora Borealis two nights in a row above the tree line looking north; a wonderful breeze every day so although it's warm in the sun, there is respite in the shade everywhere; a week with great friends filled with good conversation, good food, new card games, and the usual sensory joy.  Here are some sketches of the various views from the deck of the house where we stay.  Yesterday, I sketched to the sounds of trumpet practice filtering up from the village below.  

This has been a week of mixed feelings; relaxation, joy, wonder, and thankfulness contrasted with news that local friends of ours are facing a mighty struggle.  Concentrate your energies and prayers on a positive outcome for them during this time of transition, and excuse my intentional and necessary vagueness.  
Thank you for looking.  Thank you for your thoughts for our friends.

Monhegan Sketchbook July 2015

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.

"Swim Beach, Monhegan" watercolor 6 x 9

Sitting above Monhegan's "Swim Beach" yesterday.  It's more like a "Dare-yourself-to-jump-in-and-bear-it-for-as-long-as-you-can Beach" for those of us who aren't used to the Atlantic's frosty temps.. but there's lots of activity, kayaking, digging, painting, chatting, splashing about.  This great little family showed up on the beach yesterday; with two single-digit aged children in small kayaks, and mom, dad, and a pre-schooler in a small rowboat. The children had great, creative energy, and the parents obviously were giving them the room to explore and to approach everything with confidence and curiosity.  The older children were building a dam to block a tidal stream that was flowing down across the sand.   I hung out and observed for awhile, and did a few sketches.  Here's my take on Girls Just Wanna Paint's  June theme of "bathing beauties" with the children from this family sitting in front of a few other beach visitors.

Thanks for looking... more Monhegan images to follow.

"Waiting" 5 x 3 watercolor and ink

Continuing to reminisce about and anticipate summer days during our very cold new year. Every day, the dock on Monhegan Island undulates with the comings and goings of residents, summer renters, and day trippers.  It is a lovely spot to sit, sketch, and people watch while the energy shifts.    This couple looked like weary day-trippers, ready for the ferry back to Boothbay Harbor after a day hiking and exploring.  

We've arranged our dates for next summer!

Thanks for looking.

Monhegan Sketchbook July 31 - Long and Short views and Fred Astaire

Here are a few more sketches from my book this week.  We've had some interesting weather, crystal clear days, some big fog pressing against the screens trying to find its way in, more fog that hangs in the harbor only while the sky above and beyond is blue.  As always, it's a joy to be here.  The tall sketch is the long view from the house we call ours for the week.  We can see out beyond Manana to the mainland 12 miles away (many days, but not this one).  Then I have the view over our friends Arline and Moe's house.  We had dinner with them last night.  What a hoot! They are fascinating, and have that way of making their guests feel fascinating, too.  And, they are huge Fred Astaire fans, a passion we share.

Then I have a short view of Bill Cameron's memorial spot over looking the harbor from Horn Hill, and a couple of hikers awaiting the ferry back to Booth Bay Harbor.  I love people watching on the island, and with a sketchbook in hand, you can ostensibly don your invisibility cloak (thank you, Harry Potter, and Happy Birthday today), and just watch and record.  What a blast!

In honor of Arline and Moe, here's a link to Fred Astaire's "Drum Crazy" from the movie Easter Parade.  If you have never seen it, it's 4 minutes of sheer joy.  If you have seen it, it's 4 minutes of sheer joy relived.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTiEJqZMW7E

Thanks for looking, and as always, I love your comments.