Monday, July 21, 2008

Yarmouth Island watercolors

My first sketch after arriving on Yarmouth Island. As I  bushwhacked my way along the trail, I got eaten alive by mosquitos, stabbed in the brain by a branch and I skinned my knee trying to duck under a blow down. Scraped, scratched and sweaty, I finally arrived on the other side of the island at place called South Rocks. I sat on a sort of flat rock with my paints perched on a sort of flat rock with the sketch book and Sophie in my lap...crazy!
Twelve of us "Island Women" had evening cocktails on 'The Mountain" the first evening of my arrival. Though sunny, warm and humid, I was clothed in long sleeves and long pants so I could paint. This vista looks Down East towards Small Point, Maine. Of course, these blood thirsty island mosquitos managed to torment me enough to make this a bit messy.
The next day Sophie and I hiked along the water from "The Mushroom" , a 100 year old cabin where I stayed, to the dock. We stopped and while I painted Sophie was able to keep cool by lying in the wet seaweed as the tide receded.

23 comments:

andrea joseph's sketchblog said...

Wow, Jennifer. These are al absolutely stunning.

Margaret Ann said...

Great sketches...Wonderful cool greens...and best of all I love the energy in these...including the splotches!!! :)

Bill said...

Great sketch technique, pen and ink and color variety. In these and others on your blog, you show your considerable maturity in brush handling and watercolor ways and means.
Recalls the Maine coast for me. I was there several years back for a Timothy J. Clark workshop. I spend a week before the workshop, traveling, photo-ing and sketching from the Nubble Light up to Camden harbor.

Donna Mulholland said...

Oh these are just so lovely ... and to think you did them suffering from blood loss and with a concussion (ie "mosquitos" and "stabbed in the brain".)

Ann said...

These are all lovely! It sounds like you had quite an adventure!

Linda T said...

These are terrific. Your telling of the hardships--mosquitos and brain-stabbing branches--made me smile.

Deb said...

Your sketches are absolutely beautiful! And I'm so jealous of your trip!!!
We were on Mount Desert Island last month and managed to get eaten along the way. But oh so worth it!

Genine said...

these are so great, love the feeling in them!
here's hoping to an itch free recovery. :)

Margaret McCarthy Hunt said...

beautiful sketches...or should i say watercolors...dont you hate mosquitoes...they carry us off here too...always a side effect of plein aire...itching for days afterwards

Dana S. Whitney said...

Beautiful. I'm sure any/all would sell well as cards in Ogunquit.

Mindy said...

I really like your work. You have a style that really appeals to me! And the stories that you tell with your work makes me smile.

kazumiwannabe said...

Beautiful sketches, it seems like a great place (minus the mosquitoes).

Anonymous said...

Stabbed in the brain??? How's that going to affect your art! (Sorry, I hope you're OK.)

Sarah M said...

Beautiful sketches. I love Maine, but I've only been there in autumn so didn't have to deal with the mosquitoes.

Sandy said...

Lovely views of the wild Maine coast, we camped on the shores of Small Point for years, Sounds like you suffered greatly for your art - we thank you!

BARBARA WEEKS said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
BARBARA WEEKS said...

Your watercolors are lovely. They have a wonderfully fresh and spontaneous feel. i can't wait until the next installment!

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

These are wonderful! Sounds like you had a wonderful time! Marva

Anonymous said...

Goregous! These sketchs make me homesick.

Dorothy said...

Saw your post on EDM and I couldn't resist peeking at your blog. Your work is magical and enchanting. (Plus the fact that I adore Maine makes it even more enjoyable). I'm a newbie on EDM and have yet to figure out where to get the challenge info. Anyway, your work is terrific!!! So glad I saw your post!

Jennifer Lawson said...

Thank you all for your wonderful comments on my Yarmouth Island landscapes. It is truly a magical place. I wish I had the fortitude to paint more, but the mosquitos and greenheads would drive me back to the screened in porch for a cool recovery and a scratch or two.

Lydia Velarde said...

Your sketch paintings are beautiful!

Sharon said...

I REALLY like these loose watercolor sketches, Jennifer. They're just lovely!