This is a painting of the Bass Harbor Lighthouse on Mount Desert Island, Maine. I thought I should do some practicing of Maine landscapes since we’ll be there later this summer and I plan to paint up there. We were there a few years ago so I dug out some of my old photographs. Sorry to go on and on about this trip but I’m SO excited to go to Maine and get out of the heat and paint outdoors.
I had never painted rocks before. I think the important thing is to keep the shadow and the light side of the rocks separate. Then after that it’s just a matter of how much detail went in. I tried to put just enough to show they were rocks. And the lighthouse was just pure fun. I remember visiting this lighthouse, it’s the only lighthouse on Mount Desert Island and there is a path down to the rocks.
I found a quote in my little book “Hawthorne on Painting” that speaks to light and shadows. The book is a collection of critiques he made on students’ paintings, here is he speaking to a student who painted a white house with willow trees: “I want you to see things from the realization that your drawing does not need to be a house. The view that you must take is that this is a piece of God’s outdoors, that this is shadow and this is light. You ought to tremble before it, and not sit down like a magician and try to make windows.” Very powerful words!
This is 8″x10″ oil on canvas.
Beautiful painting, Joan! There’s a lot going on there, but the focal point is clearly the lighthouse, nice! I love the quote too.
Hard to believe that this was the first time you’ve painted rocks!! I always find them very difficult but you have done a great job, here!!! Way to go!
My goodness! this is a good work. I wish I could live at such a place.
Your a really awesome artist. Love your work.