On an early July morning and I found myself on a hike up one of the steeper trails of Mt. Battie, to catch the view from one of Maine's most scenic locations. My bald sneakers provided little traction on the rugged terrain, and I found myself scrambling on all fours for most of the climb. But with persistence and a little laughter, my hiking companions and I made it to the top.
As we arrived at the tower, the misty morning fog was just starting to lift, and the serenity of the quiet surroundings was breathtaking. The soft grey sky and water were still and quiet, juxtaposed against a bushel of cheerful yellow wildflowers waving around at my feet as if to say, "Good Morning!".
Below us, we saw the picturesque town of Camden slowly coming to life, as a work truck moved its way down a street, and over on the water, we could see a single sailboat heading out to sea. I couldn't help but wonder, where is that boat going? Vinalhaven? Novia Scotia? France?
After the hike, I returned to to my campsite in Rockport, and made this painting on the picnic table while still in my hiking gear. I used a thinner of damar varnish, linseed oil, and gamsol to create the piece, but it took much longer than anticipated to dry because of the additional oil. I had to get creative to store it in the van, and came up with a makeshift paint-drying chamber in one of the pantry cabinets to ensure that nothing would touch it while it dried.
Check out more from my documentary series and artwork collection titled "Escape to Maine" to see the artwork created on my journey painting Maine en plein air.
