FRENCHMANS BAY FROM CADILLAC

Last fall it was a gorgeous day and I knew the sunset would be striking on Cadillac so I headed up to the top. This is just a bit before sunset and the fall colors were emerging. Everything was crisp and glowing. This painting is 18 x 4o.

Wreck of the DT Sheridan

We must all have Monhegan on the mind now that the winter is almost over. Here is a painting I have been working on of the wreck on the beach.

Maine Mystery Round-Up!

I recently stumbled across a trio of mystery series, all set in Maine. What could be cozier on a winter's evening than a cup of tea and mystery novel set in one of my favorite states? All three writers are about as different as they could be. Let me start with my favorite of the three:
The Gray Whale Inn series by Karen MacInerney

This enjoyable series is set on Cranberry Island, one of the places on my Maine bucket list. These are definitely "cozies", mysteries that are not into scariness or grisly details (think Miss Marple.) Innkeeper Natalie Barnes juggles guests, cooking, island community life and the occasional murder with great aplomb and verve. While not contenders for the Nobel prize for literature these entertaining books are nonetheless well-written, with good plots, charming characters and great descriptions of life on a small island. There are even terrific looking recipes at the back of each book: I am a fan!

The Home Repair is Homicide books by Sarah Graves are set in Eastport, Maine. I stumbled into this lengthy series at book 11, and had to backtrack a bit, although it was not hard to slip into the series midway. Graves is an excellent writer, with a real talent for noticing local color and writing description. I read about five of these books before my enthusiasm began flagging, due in part to the high body count and a little too much violence. That's a purely personal taste: I can take some scary, but a little brutality goes a long way in my opinion. I will start up again with these books again eventually, and if you have a thicker skin than I do (as is likely) I heartily recommend them! An unique twist is that instead of recipes, home repair tips are included.

Well-known seafaring life writer Linda Greenlaw has turned her hand to fiction, with this fairly recent series of mysteries set way up near the Canadian border. I am a big fan of Greenlaw's nonfiction and was excited to get my hands on Slipknot. However, I am sorry to say I found it disappointing. Greenlaw's clipped straightforward style which works beautifully when she is writing about real life events does not translate well to fiction. She has a hard time with both description and characterisation and also, sequencing. Several times I had to re-read passages to understand what was happening. And the plot, once revealed, was extremely shaky. I forced myself to keep reading to the unsatisfying conclusion of this book, and I have not yet run out and gotten the other one in the series. Which might be miles better...so I have to admit this is a somewhat unfair review from reading just one book. Let me know if you've read them and what you think? I admire Greenlaw's other work very much, so would be happy to have another opinion on her fiction!

An enjoyable note to all three series is that each features a seasoned, strong, sassy woman as the main character! I like this new tide of middle-aged heroines.

NEW MONHEGAN PAINTING OF THE ISLAND INN

I just finished this view that captured me on my trip to Monhegan in 2008. It was the view from Eider Duck where we were staying on our annual painting trip with the Maine Landscape Guild. It was late in the day and the sun was setting illuminating the Island Inn built in 1816. The painting is 24" x 34". Makes me want to be there now!

Alexandra Tyng's Upcoming Show at Dowling Walsh Gallery

I know it's a while until summer, but I wanted to let anyone who reads this blog know that I'll be having a one-person show at the Dowling Walsh Gallery in August (opening August 5th). The title of the show is still a work in progress. At some point close to the opening date, I'll be giving a gallery talk on my work. I'll be posting more specific information in the next couple of months.

The paintings will range from large aerial panoramas to figures in settings. I am focusing on three geographic areas: the Camden/Rockport area, Monhegan, and Mt Desert Island. Stay tuned!

June paintings in August

Noon Islands, 9 x 12 oil on linen mounted to board, 2010 (Somesville, ME)

Okay okay, I am late. But two recent occurrences inspired me to get on with it: a flurry of comments on some of my old Maine paintings on Facebook, and Alex posting her recent Maine paintings both here and on Facebook. Today was overcast but bright, perfect for shooting art, so I finally took the shots and am now posting the pix of my most recent Maine sketches. These are from June when Alex and I went up to Mount Desert Island and stayed with Diana in Somesville (see two posts back) We had a short but highly productive week of plein air painting (four nights/five days?) These are some I did on that trip, and are AS IS. I did no more work on them in the studio. In fact, I can't bear to do any later retouch at all these days...it all happens on site and in the moment or not at all.



Houses by the Sea, 12 x 16, oil on linen mounted to board, 2010 (Stonington, ME)



Porcupine Islands, 12 x 18, oil on linen mounted to board, 2010 (from Cadillac Mountain, Acadia National Park, ME)



Alex Tyng Painting at Beaver Pond, oil on linen, 12 x 9, 2010 (Acadia National Park, ME)
Funny thing is that I also did a painting of Beaver Pond. It was fun to do but it ended as a confused mess. Alex wanted to keep going with her piece for another 20 minutes. I had a palette full of fresh paint and extra canvas so I speed painted this baby, more as a way of passing the time than with any serious intention. Wouldn't you know, this one was the keeper!


Reflecting Pond, oil on canvas, 12 x 16, 2010 (Somesville, ME)
Yes, that's the library in Somesville. It was the last painting of the last day!

Some recent plein air paintings of Maine

Since Nancy Bea posted, I've been on Mount Desert Island for two weeks, and got a few chances to paint with Diana there. So I thought it was time I posted a few of my paintings from my 2010 Maine travels so far.These are from Mt. Desert:
Morning Light on Apel Camp, 14" x 18"
First Glimpse, 14" x 18"
Marsh at Pond's End, 18" x 14"
Wind Gust Over the Ripples, 12" x 18"