2017 Art Calendars- Get Yours Soon!

2017 Art Calendars

The year is inching itself towards a close and with the holidays and year's end upon us, many of us are looking for fun 2017 Art Calendars.

I have created two kinds of calendars again this year, featuring my watercolor paintings. Both are available through my webshop.

One is of East Coast Lighthouses

that I painted for my spring solo show at Sunbury Shores. All the lighthouses I have seen in person, either by land and walking up to it or by water from a boat. Living on the Atlantic Coast, it is a special treat to see those graceful beacons frequently, however, little-to-no funding and eroding seashores make for declining numbers. Great effort is being put forth by local interest groups to rescue their beloved lighthouses.

It was a great honour to work together with the group to rescue Cape Bear Lighthouse on PEI. Joan, is my contact with them. She gave me glimpses of just how many hours and ideas are needed to make restoration and relocation possible. If you'd like to support the Cape Bear Lighthouse restoration, please check out their website here or visit it on your next PEI trip. (And maybe you will even pick up a souvenir featuring my lighthouse image!). The original painting is available through the Cape Bear Museum and a portion of the proceeds will benefit its restoration!

Cape Bear Lighthouse

original watercolor painting, framed to 27x35in approx

$1500, available through Cape Bear Museum

Vintage Camper Calendar

My other calendar has been very popular last year as well and so I am offering my Vintage Camper Calendar again this year. It features the 12 favorite camper portraits created as part of my September 'Camper-a-Day' project. I have been busy shipping orders out already as soon as I listed them in my online shop.

The 2017 Art Calendars are printed on quality card stock and with its size of 8.5x11in, they fit even nicely in most vintage campers! Space is always at a premium in those little campies, so it was important for me that the calendar would not be too large, but has enough space to write in daily notes.

More News

I am finalizing a special sale of small, original artworks at special prices. The paintings will be available via my website. And if you are a newsletter subscriber, you'll get 'first dips' with a 24 hour head-start before the sale is officially live online. If you haven't yet, but would like to sign up,  on my website www.simoneritterart.com .

I am working on a series of miniature acrylic camper paintings, 3x4in. Those paintings are so small- and so cute! They will be part of the 'original works sale' coming up... just waiting for the frames- and the metal leaf to dry;-)

working on metal leaving mini paintings vintage campers

Anyhow,

that's just a bit of an update from my studio. I wish you a relaxing weekend and I will share new items with you in the coming days. Many gift ideas for glamping enthusiasts and seaside lovers coming your way.

Southwest Head Lighthouse

Southwest Head Lighthouse- Grand Manan, NB

orig. watercolor, 5x7in approx.

see it in person at Sunbury Shores Arts Center May 6-20, 2016

This little painting is based on my visit at the Grand Manan Island. I have blogged about it before, you can read about it here.

The cliffs are super steep and the foghorn is mega loud- it almost took me off my feet when I stepped out off my car! The region is quite foggy by nature, so be aware and enjoy it for the moody scenery- of course on a clear day enjoy the view (and if you're lucky enough you apparently can spot two other lighthouses in the distance!)

There are beautiful beaches close by, so pack a picnic and enjoy the day.

My time for the Show at Sunbury Shores is coming fast,                                                                  so I'll be heading out to paint hopefully tomorrow early for a couple of days on Campobello Island. I have packed my 'Little Wings Campie' already, just have to finish a few last details (like an extra heater as we are still around freezing point at night) and load the art supplies (which actually might fill that little one to the brim, ha ha). I'm so excited as a local couple have invited me to boon dock with my trailer at their home. They run a successful Campobello Island Tour Company and are advocates in camping adventure travel. You can read more about Peter and his wife Beatrix on their busy blog by clicking here. I'm looking forward to meeting them in person as Peter and I had nice chats so far on facebook- it feels like meeting a friend for the first time- crazy, ey?

More lighthouses to come- and I'll keep you posted once I return!

Thanks for stopping by, and see you soon again!             Simone

Swallowtail Lighthouse

Swallowtail Lighthouse, Grand Manan, NB

orig. watercolour, 5x13in approx.

see it at my show at Sunbury Shores Art from May 6-20, 2016

Here, another regional favourite, Swallowtail Lighthouse on Grand Manan Island.

I have written about my visits to Grand Manan in an earlier lighthouse-post where I featured the Long Eddy Light. You can read about it here.

This is the most iconic island lighthouse and the ferry runs right by it as it approaches the harbour behind its outcrop.

Below you can read more info from the  www.lighthousefriends.com website

Anyone who has ever traveled to Grand Manan has been welcomed to the island by the Swallowtail Lighthouse, which overlooks the entrance to North Head Harbour, but few today know the amazing history of this beacon or appreciate the hardships endured by its dedicated keepers.

Tragic Strikes:

The 1,009-ton three-masted Lord Ashburton, which had been built near St. Andrews, was en route from Toulon, France to Saint John when it foundered on the northern shore of Grand Manan during a gale at 1 a.m. on January 19, 1857. A member of the crew, James Lawson, climbed the rocky headland, now named Ashburton Head, near where the ship grounded, and stumbled a mile to Long Eddy, where he collapsed in a hay barn. His body was discovered later that morning, and a search launched that resulted in seven other members of the crew of twenty-nine being saved, though they were badly frozen. A memorial to the twenty-one seamen aboard the Lord Ashburton who drowned at Grand Manan can be seen in the cemetery at the Anglican Church in North Head. James Lawson, a Dane, had both his feet partially amputated, and after spending over five years recuperating at the marine hospital in Saint John, he returned to Grand Manan, married an islander, and worked as a shoemaker.

The Ashburton disaster punctuated the need for a navigational aid on the northern end of Grand Manan. The government authorized that steps be taken “to ascertain the propriety of establishing a Light House on the Northern Head of Grand Manan” and to pursue the construction of such a structure if advisable.

Plans and specifications for the proposed lighthouse were drawn up in 1859, and arranged to purchase up to four acres, at a cost of $25 per acre, from James Small, the owner of the property.

After the lantern was successfully installed atop the octagonal tower, the lighthouse had its inaugural lighting on July 7, 1860. The wooden tower stands forty-five feet high and is perched 103 feet above the water, giving it a focal plane of 148 feet. A bridge to connect the point on which the lighthouse stood to the headland was constructed in 1861.

Swallowtail with outbuildings in 1958 Photograph courtesy Canadian Coast Guard

Swallowtail Lighthouse was in first-rate order when the Saxby Gale struck on October 4, 1869. The hurricane, accompanied by an unusually high tide, created a two-metre surge that caused significant damage in the Bay of Fundy. The keeper’s dwelling was so shaken by the storm that two chains were strung over the roof and secured to the rock on each side to keep it in position. The foundation of the lighthouse was significantly damaged, necessitating the construction of a substantial stone wall, resting upon the underlying solid rock, beneath the tower. Keeper Jonathan Kent retired in 1873 and was replaced by his son, John W. Kent, who initially earned an annual salary of $400.

Keeper Kent regularly received praise in the annual reports of the Department of Marine. The following example is from 1877: “Everything at this Station is in first class condition, and Mr. Kent takes great pride in keeping this Station, and its appurtenances in good order. He is a man of good taste, and this Station is visited by great numbers of strangers and excursionists who come to the Island during the summer season. Mr. Kent had given the lighthouse a coat of paint, which had lightened it up and greatly improved its appearance. Altogether, this Station may be considered the model station of the Department.”

Tragedy struck Swallowtail Lighthouse in August of 1936 when Elodie Foster was tending the light while her husband was away at Southwest Head Lighthouse. Elodie accidentally overfilled the light’s alcohol burner, and when she attempted to ignite the fuel, her clothes caught on fire. She managed to make it down the tower’s stairs and outside the lighthouse where she soon received help from her son Leonard and two daughters. Leonard raced up the tower and managed to extinguish the flames in the lantern room before the fire spread to the tower. Sadly, Elodie passed away the next day from her burns.

After filming the horror film Hemoglobin at the lighthouse in 1996, the movie producers paid to have the keeper's dwelling restored. Soon thereafter, the dwelling opened as the Swallowtail Inn, a bed and breakfast run by islanders Catherine Neves and her sister Crystal Cook. After operating for nearly a decade, the inn was shuttered in 2004, and the dwelling now sits vacant.

In March of 2008, the village council announced that the keeper's dwelling would be sold as upkeep was proving to be too expensive. Repairs had cost the community $80,000 in recent years. A well-publicized meeting was held on April 4th to come up with ideas to save the dwelling and resulted in the creation of the Swallowtail Keepers Society whose mission is to rejuvenate Swallowtail Lighthouse and make it a symbol of civic pride for the island. The village council, a bit surprised by the islanders' feelings on the matter, rescinded the motion to sell the keeper's dwelling during their April 7th meeting.

During 2013, the society received over $200,000 from various sources, including the provincial and federal government, to improve the footbridge, construct a boardwalk, produce marketing materials, and cover administration costs. (info: Lighthousefriends.com)

Wood Island Lighthouse - PEI

Wood Island Lighthouse- PEI

orig. watercolour 21x29in approx.

on display at my upcoming show May 6-20, 2016

A couple of years ago we went to visit Prince Edward Island. We had a great time and the kids enjoyed the full time attention from us parents without the distraction of phone calls or other business. It really was a good time and they still talk about those three days. We vistited end of October and most of the tourists were gone, so we discovered a quiet PEI.

Kids and Dad flying a kite in PEI while Mama                   is painting the lighthouse

Here is Wood Island Lighthouse, which was one of the very last open attractions and I remember the woman on the entrance was so welcoming and friendly. Friendly volunteers and staff make for a memorable visit and with PEI I can attest to this. We had brought kites and the kids and Markus flew them while I perched down on my little painting chair, doing a small plein air painting of this light house.

Wood Islands plein air sketch, 5x7in approx.                                    NFS

If you come to the East Coast, PEI is for most people a must. Its red sand beaches, warm waters and water parks, along with Anne of Green Gables shows draw crowds every summer. Lots of festivals and special events with music and food are scheduled every year.

The rolling hills landscape is quite different than New Brunswick and Nova Scotia and make for a unique flair. Go, check it out if you haven't had a chance to do so yet- or if you have, please share your story below, I'd love to hear your insider tip PEI!

Easter is coming, the holy Triduum days are here, I'm wishing you a blessed Easter time! Thanks for stopping by!                                                                                                       Simone

Long Eddy Lighthouse

'Long Eddy Lighthouse', Grand Manan, NB

orig. watercolour 5x7in approx

On Display May 6-20, Sunbury Shores, St. Andrews, Canada

'Inspirations- Man Made and Human'

Today's Lighthouse is the Long Eddy Lighthouse on Grand Manan.

If you love nature and still pretty undiscovered coastline, visiting this island is for you!

Located in the Bay of Fundy, a 1.5 hour ferry ride from the main land, Grand Manan Island is still dominated by the fishing industry. You see lots of wharfs, fishing huts, windy roads, fishermen working, rustic clapboard houses, undisturbed nature and wild coast lines.

View from our cottage, the moon rising

Grand Harbour Light (Ross Island LIght) has since collapsed, so sad..

You can see many working wharfs

Some days are foggy but warm, making for moody scenery

long, undiscovered beaches

in the distance you can see the fog rolling in-and-out 

I have enjoyed painting the scenery during every visit I made- smelling the salt air, listening to the fog horns in the distance, buoys with bells that warn of shallow waters, purple wildflowers swaying in the breeze and the simple pleasure of staying right by the water in a small, rustic cottage, roasting marsh mallows in a fire right by the beach- what could be more calming and beautiful to the heart!? Plein air artists have enjoyed the wild romantic setting and come year after year to soak in, create and capture its beauty on canvas to share with the world.

My dad and kids enjoying fire by the beach

The summers are short here on the Canadian East Coast, and even shorter on the Islands around it. But man, do they put on a show! If you get a chance, take time to discover them! Bring your camper or rent a cottage (and with the US dollar so strong, Americans really get a steal of a deal this year travelling to Canada).

I've included some photos of my trips to the island to whet your appetite;-) thanks for stopping by!

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

East Coast Lighthouse

East Coast Lighthouse

orig. watercolour, 6x4in approx.

more info and purchase: click here

Today no camper again... the day was packed to say the least: cleaned all the kids rooms, ironed 3 loads of laundry (still at it), and discovered a leak in the kitchen, which I'm mopping water up all afternoon/evening. I hope we have a plumber willing to come tomorrow, Sunday!

Hence, I'm happy to have one spare painting to share, which I painted a few days ago at Green's Point Light. The kids played at the beach, so I took the opportune moment to capture this beautiful lighthouse. It houses a small museum which is run by locals interested in keeping their lighthouse open for visitors. When heading for Deer Island, it is just a small detour, so do stop by for a visit if you can. Recommend highly;-)

I'm wishing you a relaxing Sunday and thank you for stopping by!                                               Simone

Heute auch kein Wohnwagenbild... der Tag war vollgepackt und das ist noch eine Untertreibung: alle Kinderzimmer auf/ausgeraeumt, 3 Koerbe Waesche bebuegelt (noch dabei) und heut Nachmittag ein Wasserleck entdeckt das von meiner Kuechendecke tropft, so immer am moppen und aufwischen und Handtuecher wechseln.

So bin ich froh, dieses Bild heute vorstellen zu koennen, das ich vor ein paar Tagen gemalt habe als ich mit den Kindern beim Green's Point Lighthouse war. Waehrend die Kinder am Strand spielten nutzte ich die Gelegenheit um dieses kleine Aquarell zu malen. Der Leuchtturm ist ein kleines Museum, von der hiesigen Interessengemeinschaft organisiert,  die Besucher willkommen heisst und die Geschichte des Leuchtturmes erzaehlt. Wenn ihr nach Deer Island uebersetzt, ist es nur ein kleiner Umweg auf dem Weg zur Faehre, so ich rate immer die Gelegenheit zu nutzen und auf einen Besuch vorbeizuschauen.

Schoenen Sonntag euch allen und danke fuer's vorbeischauen!                                Simone

A short trip to Grand Manan Island

Grand Manan fishing boats, watercolour 14x22in approx. $400 framed

a few days ago, I packed up the kidlets and my dad and we headed to Grand Manan Island.
Grand Manan is in the Bay of Fundy, about 1.5 hours on the ferry from Black's Harbour; mostly fishing and some tourism provide income, it is not 'discovered', so many quiet spots still, many working wharfs, lots of untouched scenery.
The weather was great, and we were lucky that Seaside Haven Cottages just happened to have a couple nights vacancy. So we headed out, leaving Markus home 'minding the Inn', I wished he could have come along... but we met two couples that had stayed at Europa Inn a few days before!
Here are the paintings I came up with...
Thank you for stopping by;-)

Swallowtail from Pette's Cove, watercolour 14x22in approx.

vor ein paar Tagen, packte ich meine Kids und meinen Papa ins Auto und wir besuchten die Insel Grand Manan. Grand Manan liegt in der Fundy Bucht, ca 1.5 Stunden mit der Fähre von Black's Harbor. Die Infrastruktur ist Fischfang und Tourismus, jedoch würde ich die Insel noch als Geheimtip bezeichnen, viele ruhige Plätzchen, viele private Anlegestellen der Fischer; etwas traurig schauen einige Häuser aus, da viele Junge Arbeiter 'gen Westen ziehen, da der Fischfang nicht mehr genug Einkommen bringt (die Meere sind leer)...
Das Wetter war toll, und wir hatten Glück dass die Seaside Haven Cottages gerade 2 Nächte frei hatten! So brachen wir auf und liessen Markus zuhaus' beim Geschäft (Hochsaison im Europa Inn), schade dass er nicht dabei war... doch zur Überraschung trafen wir 2 Pärchen, die erst ein paar Tage zuvor im Europa übernachtet und gegessen hatten! Dies sind die Bilder die ich auf Grand Manan gemalt habe...
Danke fuers vorbeischauen;-)

 old smoke houses on Seal Cove, watercolour, 

 Clam diggers near Ross Island Light, watercolour

 Little Wharf on Ingall's Head, watercolour