Paintings from Deer Isle, Maine

Plein air landscape painting of morning in Stonington, Maine.

Morning in Stonington. 11 x 14 in.,oil on linen (on gatorboard).

These are some of my recent plein air paintings from a trip to Deer Isle, Maine. I was teaching for the Waltham Studios, and they have a blog post on the course.

Plein air painting of a Fourth of July Parade on Deer Isle, ME

4th of July Parade, Deer Isle. 8 x 12 in.,oil on panel.

I always have a great time in Maine. The landscapes are beautiful, the towns are picturesque, the people are friendly, and the food is great. It’s also much cooler in the summers, so working outside is much more pleasant.

Plein air painting of fog lifting on Deer Isle, ME.

Lifting Fog. 11 x 14 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Field painting of houses in Stonington, ME.

Hillside, Stonington. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Plein air landscape painting of a fisherman's house on a grey day in Stonington.

Grey Day, Stonington. 11 x 14 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Landscape painting of Greenhead Road on Deer Isle, ME

Greenhead Road. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Painting of plein air landscape painters near Sand Beach, Deer Isle, ME

Plein Air Painters, Sand Beach. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Plein air painting of an overgrown driveway.

Driveway, Reach. 8 x 12 in., oil on panel.

Plein air painting of the view from Church Street in Stonington, ME

View from Church Street, Stonington. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Plein air painting of lobster boats in Burnt Cove, Deer Isle, ME.

Lobster Boats, Burnt Cove. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Plein air landscape painting of fog on Deer Isle, ME

Fog. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Landscape painting of sunset in Stonington, ME

Sunset, Stonington. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

I spent a few days painting Ames Pond just outside Stonington. The colors and shapes were different from what I’m used to, and the views reminded me of some of my favorite Russian and Nordic painters.

Landscape painting of Ames Pond, Deer Isle, ME

Ames Pond #1. 14 x 11 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Oil painting of Ames Pond, Stonington, Deer Isle, ME.

Ames Pond #2. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Field painting of Ames Pond, Deer Isle, ME

Ames Pond #3. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

Plein air landscape painting of Ames Pond, Stonington, ME.

Ames Pond #4. 8 x 12 in., oil on linen (on gatorboard).

I also did a couple of large plein air landscapes looking out towards the Eggemoggin Reach using my new carbon fiber easel and palette system. The idea was to create lightweight system that could fit into a small suitcase, yet would still be able to handle a big canvas in wind. You can see it in the image below:

Image of a carbon fiber easel and palette system for large plein air landscape paintings.

Carbon fiber system for large plein air work.

So far so good, but there are some kinks that need to be worked out. In high winds I use a system of tent pegs for added stability.

Large plein air painting of the view towards Eggemoggin Reach from Grays Cove on Deer Isle.

Grays Cove looking toward Eggemoggin Reach #1. 36 x 48 in., oil on linen.

Large plein air painting of the view towards Eggemoggin Reach from Grays Cove on Deer Isle.

Grays Cove looking toward Eggemoggin Reach #2. 36 x 48 in., oil on linen.

8 comments

  1. I haven’t been to Deer Isle, but have spent a decent amount of time on Vinalhaven…worth a look if you can. I love the work you have here.

  2. Beautiful, I know Deer Isle ans Stonington very well and haven’t visited for awhile , your beautiful art makes me want to go back.

  3. My personal favorites are View from Church Street, Stonington and Morning in Stonington, both really excellent and modern compositions. They are all really good, but these two especially seem to echo and update themes from the American Scene period in a very contemporary way.

  4. Hi Marc. I really enjoy seeing your work and postings. I like that there is something new all the time on your site. I’m curious about the components of your new carbon fiber system(s) for big and smaller paintings. Above, it looks like you have a horizontal pipe going back to the ball head, and then a vertical portion that attaches top and bottom to the painting. Where did you find the vertical portion, or did you make it yourself? Then you have a separate folding palette mounted to smaller tripod?
    I’ve been using the Open Box M pochade boxes for a while, I open the lid completely so the palette is nearly vertical- this lowers the palette somewhat so it’s not up in my face. I hauled the Open Box M and a heavy tripod all around Greece and recently Mexico. I would definitely like to find something lighter. I’ll be following your quest. I saw your earlier post using FOME parts and vertical carbon fiber rod. Keep up the great work.

  5. I loved… no. I LOVED the results of your efforts at Stonington. The first painting I have a soft spot for as I once was fortunate enough to stay in that very house. I, too, can see the Russian feeling in the Ames Pond pieces. Eggomogin reach – great when their is sunshine… scares me out of my shoes when it if foggy and I am on the water in a boat. Your large paintings are BEYOND wonderful. I am watching everything to do with your new setup. I can’t wait for it to be “ready for prime time.”

  6. Marc this is the first time to see your wonderful work, and will look in anticipation. Your renditions of Ames pond are so very representative, I would certainly have recognized it without the name though I’ve been there only once. I am a Mainer and am very familiar with all that area. Good work indeed.

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