Lobster Boat And Fish Shacks

 I'm looking through all my sketch books and using them as the starting point for paintings...  trying out some new approaches to handling oil paint.  I'm in this place where I like sketches more than "finished" paintings... will this lead to "looser" paintings ? Which of course require more thought...We will see where this goes...

Looking west across the cove in Cape Porpoise you can see a street with these old fish shacks. I parked my car on the edge of the clam flats, sat down on the rocks, opened my sketch book and did a bunch of quick sketches. 

6x8  Cool Gray marker & watercolor on Aquarelle 90 lb 

Schoodic Point Granite

  Oils were the first thing I took outdoors when I headed out to paint.  I've painted with acrylics, pastels, colored pencils, watercolor pencils...and just about anything else that crosses my path. 

One thing I discovered was that after understanding the properties/limits of the behavior of a medium it isn't difficult to work with it.  

With watercolor I find I can get it to look like something if I don't get in my own way, don't ever try to correct anything, think a bit before I put that color down, commit to it, do it and just leave it be.  If I don't like it -I just do another one .  Its only a piece of paper.  

Hey, I know what I'm talking about I've sculpted marble and granite, that's another story...

Schoodic Point , 8x8 watercolor on Rives BFK

Big Wave, Ogunquit

This is the time of the year is when we often get a good amount of storms.  I am delighted by them, place myself on the edge of the granite bluffs and get to work sketching and painting!  I'm in my element.  Would you believe long before I painted in plein air I would choose storms as the perfect time to go for a walk?  Once when my sister and I were walking in a blizzard on York Beach (in runs in the family) a car slowed down to stare at us in disbelief... we were covered head to toe in white flakes !  It was great to go  home to hot tea!    

And who helps me with my storm/surf watch?  Why its those guys in those dry suits....

who are out there just like I am....BIG WAVE WATCHERS...

MARGINAL WAY, 8X10 OIL ON PANEL 

I Remember Summer and...a 1934 Burgundy Ford

It was in part shade, part sun ...

A quiet corner of the big event...

What a personality! And I could park myself in the deep shade where it was a bit cooler... 

....to sketch and paint this little beauty...imagine on a day like today, almost winter... I was looking for a cool spot !  Nice thought isn't it ?! 

Friendship Skiff

This small boat in the crowded harbor at Friendship looked like a good thing to anchor the view.  It was getting dark so I had to move fast.

FRESH PAINT, FRESH AIR ~ POSTCARDS FROM MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE 

WINTER HARMONY~ Opening Receptions DEC 2nd & DEC 10th

Dear Everyone,

You are all invited to the opening reception of “Winter Harmony” a collection of new plein air paintings by Mary Byrom of woods, water, marsh and sky from selected locations in Maine & New Hampshire.

The public is invited to meet the artist and view this intimate collection of new paintings depicting quiet, natural settings along the seacoast and in the White Mountains. 

One of the new paintings on display entitled “Heading Home” was a finalist in the November 2010 Southwest Art Emerging Artist competition. 

The show is at A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words Gallery, 65 Water St. Exeter, NH LINK

Opening Reception Thursday, December 2, 2010 

5pm ~8 pm

On December 10th,  5pm ~8 pm the gallery will host a special holiday reception. 

DATE: Opening Reception Thursday, December 2, 2010 

TIME: 5pm ~8 pm 

DATE: Holiday Reception Friday, December 10, 2010 

TIME: 5pm ~8 pm 

LOCATION: A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words Gallery  LINK

ADDRESS: 65 Water St. Exeter, NH 

I’d love to see you.

Best Wishes,

Mary

Loaded with Traps

The fishermen are hauling their traps out or putting them in according to season. Now as winter is heading our way I see more of this activity. This boat was ready to lay the traps out. 

Cape Porpoise 8x10 watercolor, Rives BFK 

PLEIN AIR IN MAINE, VERMONT &  NEW HAMPSHIRE 

Music, Summer & Cars

When I go out to paint I never know what I am going to run into.  The weather sometimes can be predictable but everything else is up to the universe...

As artist in residence at the Parsons Semminary Museum's "Par Sem Day" I had a perfect summer day, big crowds, and many cars to paint...

What a situation !  Had to make my way through hundreds of perfect models and just pick one to start with.  I went for the early 1900's class and settled in the deep shade with a blue grass band serenading me. Excellent spot! 

I usually paint standing up at my easel.  In this crowded throng I found it easier to be sitting.  I was lower than eye level.  Everyone got quiet as they got near me...    

...or didn't even notice me...which was totally fine with me, I could concentrate without interruptions. I was doing these fast.    

I only had a few hours. So I hustled and averaged 1- 1.5  hours per sketch. 

1922 Tan Ford, 6x12 watercolor on Rives BFK.

FRESH PAINT FRESH AIR ~ Postcards from Maine & New Hampshire  CLICK HERE

Self Portrait on the Mac

While on the phone with the dark computer monitor in front of me I sketched what I could see of my reflection ...

I grabbed some colored pencils from a jar near the window. 

I'm always running from the studio to the house so I just leave my hat on when I come indoors.

5x7 ink & colored pencil, 60 lb paper

More painting in the great big outdoors.  LINK:  FRESH PAINT FRESH AIR

1962 Black Ford Galaxy Convertible

I was invited to be the artist in residence at Par Sem Day.  Parsonsfield Seminary is a museum in Parsonsfield, ME that hosts a huge annual antique car show every August.  When I first sat down to sketch a car it was an interesting experience. 

I thought of it as a still life en plein air and a sort of portrait in plein air... 

There were so any people around. I just sat down and started sketching. Before long they were stopping and looking at what I was doing. 

Seriously, I had 4 marks made and a crowd gathered!  

Someone told the owners of the car and they ran over.  Not much to look at with 4 marks!  

I did manage to finish it. 

1962 Black Ford Galaxy Ford  8x16 Pencil & Watercolor on Rives BFK

SELECTED SKETCHES & PAINTINGS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE LINK

FRESH PAINT, FRESH AIR ~ POSTCARDS FROM MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE LINK

Curious Speckled Chickens

Sanctuary Arts in Eliot, ME is an art school where I teach. It has a very sweet flock of resident chickens.  They are happy and actively run in and our of their roost and around the yard near the foundry.  They clearly love their home and the sculpture garden! Cultured chickens! Does this influence the flavor of their eggs? 

8x16, watercolor on Rives BFK  

Selected Sketches & Watercolors are available for sale LINK

Fresh Paint, Fresh Air, Postcards from Maine & New Hampshire LINK

Prints will be available on line soon.

Lobster Boat in Cape Porpoise, ME

I have sketch books I travel around with.  When I'm setting up to paint  I first  do a bunch of sketches.  This helps me make a decision on what subject & design to paint. I parked my car in a tiny pull-off on the way to the harbor where the clam diggers and kayakers park. 

The view across from me to the west was the deep water channel where the lobster boats are moored. Its a great place to see sunsets on the water. This sketch was late in the day. 6x8  Gray marker &  watercolor on Fabriano aquarelle.

Salmon Falls River

The Salmon Falls River runs through South Berwick, ME flowing into the Pistacataqua River that empties into the sea between Portsmouth, NH and Kittery, ME.  Its tidal over 15 miles inland.  I did this watercolor in my sketch book at Hamilton House on a quiet warm morning when the tide was half way out. 8x16, Rives BFK 

Canterbury Shaker Village

Up in New Hampshire not far from my house is a very nice old Shaker Village.

Its up on top of a hill and has this big empty sky feeling.  The buildings are well worn and practical. 

On the north edge of the village the fields open up, the wind blows and the weather moves in fast.

Here's a watercolor I did of the small building that stuck out all by itself. 

8x16 on Rives BFK.

A Herd Of Chickens

Sanctuary Arts in Eliot, Maine has a charming herd of chickens with a rooster or two. They come right up to you when you are sketching them and want to know what you are doing. They hope you just might have some food for them... This sketch was made while they were running all around me !  I painted their colors in afterwards.  

8x12 Watercolor on Rives BFK

In response to a question I was just asked...  Please note all the sketches are for sale. Originals are $125 - $ 225 each (unframed).  Prints will be available soon....For information please go to My Website.

Thanks everyone for visiting !

Lobster Boats

When I 'm in the harbor in the summer there are often a ton of boats around.  Last spring I decided to just do some portraits of them and try to do a "color thing" not a "view thing" with the painting. So I set some rules for myself on what colors I was featuring and how much I could use... really interesting what happens.  I think this type of exercise makes me stretch my thinking...

Here's one from that series of portraits... Late Morning LIght, 8x10 oil on canvas panel

Field Sketches at Salmon Falls

Ended up in Rollinsford after a drive over back roads.

I set up behind the mill near the falls. It was quiet there.

The base of Salmon Falls.

I'm warming up on my first sketch.

8x10, oil on panel

I liked painting the waterfall so much I did a larger more detailed one immediately (18x20).  Had to work really fast. It started to rain. Needed my umbrella to finish it.

Doing it Fast

Tatnic Farm, coastal Maine  Sun, clouds, rain.  Painting fast! 

Shadows of big clouds... 

Watching those strokes...

14x18 oil on  panel