"Summer Garden, Monhegan Island", 8x10, oil on panel
Monhegan Island is a special little place about 12 miles off the Maine Coast. You can take the ferry from either Boothbay Harbor or Port Clyde. The homes all look fairly alike with lots of grey weathered clapboard that seems to match the soft bluish light that is such a delight to artists everywhere. The island is such eye candy to artists that Monhegan has been dubbed, "The Artists' Island". In the summer, the island comes alive with color as perennial gardens spring up in profusion with giant sunflowers, foxglove, snap dragons, lupine, island thistle and black-eyed susans in abundance.
Summers are warm and lively on the island and the lunch crowd keeps the Fish House on Fish Beach Road hopping throughout the season as you can see below.
This perky and effusive garden that I painted lies right on the main path leading up the hill at a place called "The Carina".
The Carina is a very versatile establishment selling deli sandwiches, beer and wine, gourmet foods and even hardware!
I've done a lot of paintings of Monhegan Island . You can see some of my favorites
here
and
here.
Many people use golf carts to get around the island. If I ever go back, (and I hope I will), I may consider that option as lugging my paint gear around in the heat was no fun! (Yes, it gets hot, there, too!)
If you look closely at the above photo you can just make out the garden that I painted and the house behind it.
If you ever go to Maine, do not miss the opportunity to spend at least a day on Monhegan. It's truly a magical, unforgettable place!
This painting is available through
Galerie du Soleil in Napels, Florida. Please contact them for purchase info at 239-417-3450.
