Category: Inspiration

This past September I had the chance to get some work done featuring some of the fringe weather and waves conditions from Post-Tropical Storm Hermine. The surf and cloud bands only lasted a couple days around the 5th, but I got lucky and hit a couple great viewing spots for the waves. There was a mix of fog, clouds, and sun. Below is a collection of pictures with comments on location to enjoy. At the end I put a video that might play in your browser, but I would recommend saving it to your local machine for viewing with VLC or similar.

This and the next 10 or so pictures are from Schoodic Point, Maine. This park is part of Acadia, but is East of Mt. Desert Island. It takes just over an hour to drive from Bar Harbor to Schoodic Point.

Parking lot was almost full – still plenty of room on the point.

This gif is the last of the Schoodic Point, Maine set.

Thunder Hole. The lower viewing area was closed for good reason, but oddly the thunder sound from the larger hurricane waves was no better than standard waves at the correct tide position.

Just down from Thunderhole off the Acadia Park Loop.

Bar Harbor didn’t get the big waves, but I guess this is why its a Harbor. Loved the emerald green water here.

Wonderland. This is a park area near the Bass Harbor Lighthouse. If you take that road (102a) east its only a couple minutes away. The hiking part takes about 15 minutes, but features a very diverse range of Maine scenery. Someday I’ll do a post on just Wonderland.

Seawall. Very aptly named area south of Southwest Harbor. Fog here was fantastic – it was staying just off the ground around the rocks and water. When its clear you can see Great Cranberry Island to the East.

Above is the video. Click and save as or view in browser.

Back in 2002 I made my first professional trip to Maine to paint. It was only for two weeks, but I made daily trips to places between Mt. Desert Island, Camden, Castine, Stonington, Ellsworth, Bluehill, and Brooksville. I stayed at the Oakland House Resort which served as my base and would later serve as my studio.

One of the first places I found tremendous inspiration from was the small fishing town of Stonington which is located on the southern edge of Deer Island in Hancock County, Maine. I won’t go into history or demographics, but from an artist the community and its houses, boats, docks, buildings, and granite abound with creative possibilities. Below are some photos and paintings that I’ve taken and made since 2002 of Stonington and other places on Deer Isle.

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Looking South towards Isle Au Haut from upper Stonington area.



The Stonecutter Statue, by William Muir,



Maine Street at Atlantic Ave. G Watson Gallery is there.



Good Fellows Hall. I’ve always wanted to venture in.



3d Anaglyph view of above picture. The light green house next to the water there has appeared in a number of my paintings.



The next time I’m in Stonington I plan on doing some type of composition with the red house. They always have the flowers and landscaping so nice.



West Stonington – it doesn’t really have a town center, but has quite a bit of inspiration. The working docks, lobster traps, fishing buildings, and boats are wonderful. There is a chocolate Lab that patrols the docks there too.



In order to get to Stonington one will pass some fine clamming areas at the Deer Isle causeway. Stay and enjoy if the tides are on the low side.



North facing side of Causeway



Sunset from Little Deer Island. You drive over this small island on rt15 on your way to Stonington.



My future wife enjoying the causeway beach.



Foggy Stonington Harbor with lobster boats.



Western Stonington Dock with Maine things ripe for painting.



Ames Pond has a fine water lily collection. Its east of the city off Indian Point Road. Also look for newts, turtles, heron, frogs (pictured), and beaver.



More Ames pond



West Stonington Dock things. I watched several hundred lobsters get sorted here.

Public Landing in downtown Stonington.



Near the souvenir and post card shop downtown Stonington.



Lobster Festival.



I think this is the community building, but its located at the top of town on a slab of Maine.



Mid 2000s painting of the blue bench there next to a lawyers office.



Very stylized painting of a home on Highland Ave.



Experimental painting from mid 2000s featuring the green house at night.



My favorite green house at high tide.



Don’t forget to check out all of the side streets for the best gems. There was a goat hanging out next to wear this was painted. He didn’t eat any paint.



Overlooking the Harbor and Main Street.



Granite Rocks West Stonington Beach/Park.



Community building again nearing sunset.



Winter Stonington. This is one of very few winter scenes I’ve done of the area, but one day I’ll get more done.



Same house summer.



One of the easiest things to find inspiration with is Maine architecture.

Thanks for reading. I’ll add more inspiration sets from other parts of Maine. Monhegan, Isle Au Haut, Acadia, Schoodic Point, Flye Point, Brooklin, and Blue hill to name a few. All of the paintings here are in private collections and not available.