famous artists that painted on Monhegan and Isle of Shoals

Many famous painters have painted on the ME islands. Unfortunately Monhegan is now like grand central station. Summertime the island is crowded with artists and tourist. It is dramatic and quaint.

 The painting above by Jamie Wyeth, I saw at the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland a couple years ago. It absolutely blew me away. I actually felt energy in my body. The water is charged with energy, It is moving, spontanous, free. The paint technique is so lose and yet real and alive. The mood just penetrated me. It is one of my favorite paintings.  I believe one has to see the real painting to feel the connection of the artist.

Below are someof my favorite painters that painted on Monhegan.

Jamie Wyeth

Rockwell Kent

Rockwell Kent  I saw a show of his paintings at the Portland Museum

George Bellows

Edward Hopper

Paul Strisik is a painter from Rockport when I lived there years ago

George Bellows

Don Stone is an artist that also lived in Rockport when I lived there. He painted in watercolor in the early years

Don Stone

Don Stone   He died 2015 at 85 years old

Friderick Waugh painted on Monhegan

Frederick Waugh  one of the great surf painters
painting surf in one of the most differcult subjects to paint.

Celia Tharter staeted an artist colony on the Isle of Shoals back in the 1880ies. Many artists, musicians went there. She had beautiful flower gardens and planted many poppies. I wish I could see the island  as it was then. There are many small islands but now tourists go to Star Island where the big hotel is.

Sam Sargent

Childe Hassam born in Dorchester MA

Childe Hassam

Childe Hassam

Maine Excursions

On my next to  last day in MA before  going back to Eugene Christina , Doug and myself took a trip to Isle ofshoals.

Right by the dock is a small beach, mostly seaweed and rocks. I took a little swim and the water was not freezing cold.

 This is my 3rd trip tp Mongegan. The last trip The digital camera was a new invention, at least I did not own one, so that was a few years ago. Doug and I took a day trip. There is electricity on the island now in most places, more buildings, but it remains about the same. We walked through the village and hiked some of the cliff side. Many artists have painted scenes of Mongegan. It has everything. dramatic rock formations, cliffs  and quaint homes and fishing structures.

watercolor painted from trip years ago

watercolor

I love the design of these skiffs

watercolor painted from past trip

outside activities

On warm days I ride my bike to the river. There is a little beach where people go to get into the water.  The ducks and geese also like it there because people feed them. As you can see they are quite tame and swim among the people. It is fun to be with them in the water as I float around and they are only a couple of feet from me.
 Last Sunday downtown, streets near where I live were closed to cars.There were activities to watch and many people were walking and riding their bikes. The dancers did a zombie dance that was great. I enjoy seeing so many people of all ages, and races. I like the outfits they wear. There are a lot of street people, they sleep along the river, and on benches.Many have a pet dog, a bike and their belongings in knapsacks and plastic bags. It makes me sad to see them.

bike path along the river

first they go one way

and then they go the other

zombie dance

trees and flowers on the sidewalks