Mark Island Lighthouse and Opening Pic's

About Mark Island Lighthouse:

Today's lighthouse is Mark Island Lighthouse, or sometimes called Winter Harbor Light, which we saw taking a lighthouse boat tour starting from Bar Harbor, Maine. This lighthouse is under private ownership now and has a history of being home to writers since its de-commission.  Unfortunately, the log books which record much of a lighthouse's history have been lost since the 80's and it is still hoped to have them returned (even a reward is offered!).

From January 1, 1857 to August 1933 Mark Island Lighthouse was manned and its location about a mile away from shore made it a good spot for the keepers, so close to shore.

Here is a funny little story from the lighthousefriends.org website:

"The last keeper of Winter Harbor Lighthouse was Captain Lester “Cap” Leighton. His grandson, Chan Noyes was christened on the way to the island. When Chan was one year old his mother stepped out of the station’s boat at the island, slipped, and “dunked” them both in the water. “That was my christening,” Chan said.

Although Leighton lived in nearby Prospect Harbor until 1970 (when he passed away at the age of 94), he never returned to Mark Island again after leaving in 1933."

There are ghosts in and around the lighthouse; you can read up more at the lighthouse friends' website by clicking here.

Show Opening

My solo show at Sunbury Shores Art Center has come and go (read more here) and I'm still catching up on getting my house up and ready along with the various tasks around the inn such as planting planters of summer flowers for 5 full days, getting one of our guest rooms, gutted, remodelled and finished... The kids are still home-schooling full tilt. Never a dull moment!

I wanted to have a little 'installation' for my opening and as I had worked on figure drawings this winter and spring, I did include some of them in the show as well as my time line was quite tight and I wanted to showcase only 2016 artwork that had not been shown previously (which I did manage except 3 pieces which were not from this year, but fit the show nicely). So, to tie over over from lighthouses to figure drawings, my friend Natasha offered to be the model for this 'installation'.

'Inspiration- human and man-made' was the name of the show. For the installation I wanted a wooden lighthouse-garden-sculpture as the 'man-made' lighthouse part and Natasha, body painted in blues and greens as the 'human' part bridging the two themes. Spears Fishing and Charters' co-owner Ally graciously lent me her business' lighthouse and of course Natasha was symbolizing the ocean, the nature to embrace the lighthouse.

So many people came out, thank you each and everyone! You made this a very special day for me! Thank you, thank you!

I will continue to feature the paintings from the show and soon will head out to a special little paint-away;-)- stay tuned!!

Art Exhibit Opens Today

This evening at 5pm, my art exhibit will open at Sunbury Shores Arts Center in St. Andrews.

I call it Inspiration- human and man-made as featured paintings will be my watercolour lighthouse series and figure sketches in charcoal and pastel. All of the figure sketches and most of the watercolours were painted in 2016, I surely had a busy spring painting this year!

I am excited to see them all hung soon, actually, I will help to hang the art exhibit bright and early.  If you read this in time and live close-by, I'd be thrilled if you would stop by for a look, a nibbly and to say hello.

When I received the call for an invitation to have a solo exhibit in the newly renovated Center, and be sole featured artist at the front gallery space, I was floored! What a great honour! As the offered slot was already in early May, it only left me less than 3 months to create a full show. This is pretty insane. Thank goodness I always love a good challenge.

My dear Markus said, he'd back me up with schooling the kids, so I made a studio in one of our inn's guest suites and basically locked myself in (coming out for a quick lunch and a run to the loo).

What some might not know is that my 'studio' really is what used to be a windowless walk in closet behind our bedroom. It is good storage for all my supplies, has a nice big drafting table to fold and package my greeting cards and other products; plus on the opposite side it has a stainless steel work surface with good lighting to paint bigger oils and acylics. But it is not properly insulated and quite small, so not really an inspiring place to hang out for longer in winter and early spring. I have to say I really enjoyed our suite #101 with its big windows and a balcony to stretch and take in fresh air during breaks. Here is a photo I took after a good cleaning session in my studio-letto this winter.

IN any case, if you can, please do stop by tonight at 5pm at Sunbury Shores or check out the show until May 19th during opening hours.

Have a wonderful weekend, and see you soon!                             Simone

Solo Show, a New Series and Egg Rock Light

East Coast Lighthouse #1:

Egg Rock Light (Mount Desert Island, Maine)

orig. watercolour, 21x29 in. approx.

On display May 6-20, Sunbury Shores Arts, St. Andrews, NB, Canada

I haven't posted here in a while, but have been busy 'behind the scenes'. Here is what's been going on:

After my camper-a-day challenge this January, our family took a little vacation to soak up some sun in Mexico (first time ever and it was just a wonderful break). On the third day there, I got a phone call from our local Art Center confirming my spot for a one-woman-show beginning of May... Needless to say, I've been going full-tilt on getting myself set-up and organized!!

My dear hubby has agreed to be the teacher for our kids to free me to paint. I have moved my studio out into one of our guest rooms to have peace and quiet without distractions. It has worked out well so far and I'm making head way.

The next few weeks I'll keep you posted on paintings I'm working on that will be at my exhibit

'Coastal Inspirations- Man Made and Human'

from May 6-20, 2016.

Vernissage Reception is Friday, May 6, 2016 at 6pm

Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Center, St. Andrews, NB, Canada

Over the winter, I have also put in hours sketching -I will tell you all about it at later posts. It surely has been a busy, art filled winter this year- yey, makes my heart sing!

About today's painting: During trip to Bar Harbor, Maine for our 10th Anniversary we took a 'lighthouse boat tour' and I was clicking away with the camera. This Lighthouse was one of the featured one of that day. Egg Rock Light was constructed 1875, marking the entrance to Frenchman Bay, near Winter Harbor. It is important for the increased seasonal ferry traffic and it stands 40 feet tall. I like the dominant play of light and shade in this painting. I kept the shadows a cold, redish-purple to balance all the blues in sky and water.

With this, I wish you a great start into this week, all the best and 'stay in touch'! Thank you for your interest!

Simone

Fundy Artists Show

the last four days 8 local artists presented their works at the annual 'Fundy Artists' Show and Sale at the Fairmont Algonquin Casino. and i was invited again to take part in it...
the number of visitors was steady and sales were good.
my fellow artists that took part this year were: Pat Staples, the organizer; Paula Cooper-Bertke, Barbara Neilson, Bertha Day, Morag Walsh, Carolyn Cherry and Rand Marsters.
it was lots of fun catching up with the other artists and talking to the visitors.
i am looking forward to next year!

my display- mein Display

Die vergangenen 4 Tage 8 einheimische Kuenstler presentierten ihre Werke in der jaehrlichen Ausstellung: Fundy Artists im Fairmont Algonquin Casino. Auch ich wurde wieder eingeladen mitzumachen....
the Besucherzahlen waren stetig und viele Bilder fanden neue Besitzer;-)
meine Mitaussteller dieses Jahr waren: Pat Staples, die Organisatorin des Events; Paula Cooper-Bertke, Barbara Neilson, Morag Walsh, Bertha Day, Rand Marsters und Carolyn Cherry.
Es war toll mit den Anderen Kuenstlern und den Besuchern zu plaudern.
Ich freu mich schon auf's naechste Jahr!

end of show

with the last days of my present exhibition coming up after the weekend,
i'd like to thank Sara Sparks from the Gillmor's Coach House Gallery in
St. George for her collaboration. thank you!
it was a wonderful experience to have this solo-show and see so many
people stop by to view it- thank you all! i am thrilled and also humbled by
the support shown...
from the 20 paintings on display, 12 have sold so far, which i feel very honoured
about.
today i am posting a photo i took of Sara in her gallery- during my exhibit-
new painting posts coming soon... just finishing up last details.
please visit me at my upcoming show at the

Fairmont Algonquin Casino
'Fundy Artists'
July 29-August1st, 2009
9am-9pm daily

nachdem nun meine Solo Show sich ihrem Ende neigt, moechte ich Sara Sparks, der Galleriebesitzering ganz herzlich fuer die Zusammenarbeit danken. Vielen Dank!
Fuer mich war diese Einzel-ausstellung ein tolles Erlebnis- mit so vielen Besuchern
und Freunden, die sie besucht haben- vielen Dank euch allen!
Heute stelle ich ein Foto ein von Sara, das ich waerend meiner Show gemacht habe.
Neue fertiggestellte bilder kommen bald, bin noch an den letzten pinselstrichen...
naechstes Wochenende sind ich und meine Bilder zu sehen bei den 'Fundy Artists',
falls ihr Zeit habt, wuerd mich freuen euch alle zu sehen!