Back from the Sonoran Desert

From below normal temperatures to above normal highs and back to below normal temperatures!  That's how our first two weeks in February went for my wife, Gloria and me as we ventured out to the Southwest for some R&R in our old stomping grounds of Phoenix, AZ.  Having lived in Arizona for 12 years before moving to Maine in 2003, Gloria and I decided to take a break from this endless winter and defrost in the 70+ degrees of what is the Southwest winter.  I packed a bag full of plein air painting stuff in hopes of having some painting time and did manage to get some easel time in, although not as much as I'd planned.  An unfortunate lack of sleep due to an unshakable cough kept me from getting out as early and often as I would have liked. Below are the results of some of my time painting. 

These were all started plein air and completed in my studio upon our return. "White Tanks No.1" and "White Tanks No. 2" were both painted in the White Tank Mountain Regional Park which is located about 18 miles west of central Phoenix.  The titles are from the fact that these are the first and second painting I've ever done of the "White Tanks" as they are called for short.  If you're ever in the  Phoenix area I would highly recommend a day trip out there, especially if you enjoy hiking. There are also very nice paved roads if you'd rather just drive around the park.  Plenty of rest rooms and a very nice library/museum just outside of the entrance to the park.  "Telegraph Pass Sentinel" is a painting of an old "friend".  Telegraph Pass is part of South Mountain (background) in Phoenix and this saguaro cactus stands guard at the trail head that hikers can take up to the pass. When we lived in Phoenix we were about 2 miles from this spot and it was a favorite of mine to paint at.  We have a similar painting I did of this scene in 1999.  I found it interesting to see how much my old friend had grown in the 15 years since my first painting of him. The fourth paining "Trail to Camelback" was painted from a spot in Scottsdale, AZ about a half mile east of the Cholla Ridgeline that leads to Camelback Mountain, another popular destination for hikers. These are small works being 6"x8" and 6"x6" but from these and/or my many photos I took, I have plenty of inspiration to create some larger paintings.  Stay tuned.

 I have begun to include prices with the pieces I display on this blog in hopes of encouraging sales.  Please feel free to contact me through my email address if you are interested in owning one or more of my originals or have questions concerning them. Prices shown do not include shipping, sales tax (Maine residents only) or other applicable charges.

White Tanks No. 1

6"x6" NFS

Acrylic

 

White Tanks No. 2

6"x8" $275 (unframed)

Acrylic

 

Telegraph Pass Sentinel
6"x8" $275 (unframed)
Acrylic

Trail to Camelback
6"x8" $275 (unframed)
Acrylic

 

 

Where Is William?

O.K. so I took a little liberty with the title and it should read "Where Is William's (I prefer Bill) Art?".  I recently received an email asking where else, besides Yarmouth Frame Gallery in Yarmouth, ME http://www.yarmouthframeandgallery.com/,  I show my work.  So I thought it would be helpful to anyone else who has the same question to post everywhere my work is.  As of this writing my artwork is currently on display at the Lyceum Gallery in Lewiston, ME http://www.lyceumgallery.com/, the Joy of Art exhibit at the Topsham Library, Topsham, ME, at the Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF)  http://www.boothbayartists.org/   sponsored exhibit at St. Andrews Hospital in Boothbay, ME and at a group show, "Winter Wonderland", sponsored by 5 Rivers Arts Alliance http://5raa.org/, Coastal Orthopedics, 14 Thomas Point Road, Cooks Corner, Brunswick, ME.  There are a number of events coming up in the next few months that I plan to submit to and I'll do my best to keeps readers of this blog updated.  Thanks for following this blog.

 

Winter Retreats

Coastal Orthopedics "Winter Wonderland"



 

 



UPDATE

It has been a while since my last post so here's an update on my art activities.

We had our last Brunswick 2nd Friday ArtWalk in October and the next 5 Rivers Art Alliance 5raa.org/ event I'll be participating in will be the December Arts Downtown and All Around (ADAA) Friday evening thru Sunday December 6,7 &8.  More about that in an upcoming post.

My wife, Gloria, and I took a nice trip to Bar Harbor, Maine back in October, for a belated 44th wedding anniversary celebration.  Unfortunately, due to the federal government shut down, Acadia was closed.  Fortunately Autumn wasn't closed, so we still got in some great leaf-peeping and I got to do one small plein air painting.  It's still a work-in-progress (WIP) but here it is.  We stopped on Rt.3/198 at Upper Hadlock Pond where I painted for a couple of hours. I don't know if that mountain (?) has a name.  Maybe someone knows this area and can tell me.

View from Upper Hadlock Pond (WIP)

 

 

44+ years of smiles and good times

 

Other "news" concerning my world of art is the current show at Lyceum Gallery http://www.lyceumgallery.com/Blog/ in Lewiston, Maine, titled Precious Things. This is a holiday show/sale with pieces not exceeding 5"x5" not including frame size.  If you're looking for a gift of original art to give to a loved one (or even yourself ) this is a great exhibit to check out and get some holiday shopping done.  I have three pieces ($195 each) there myself. A little something for everyone. See below. Please stop by the gallery and tell Tammie Bill sent you.

The Sun Canopy

5x5" Acrylic

White Cat and Antique Car

5x5" Acrylic

Abstraction in Red and Yellow

4x4" Acrylic

SOLD



  

 



 

Waldoboro Paint the Town Paint Out & Auction

One thing I forgot to list on my post about my art activities this month...the plein air paint out and wet paint auction known as Paint the Town 2013 in Waldoboro, ME this Saturday in which I will be a participating painter.  According to the Cafe des Artistes www.cafedesartistes.bangordailynews.com/  "A grand tent will house the public reception and preview starting at 5 p.m., with music by cellist, April Reed-Cox, and hors d’oeuvres and wine served by volunteers from the Waldoboro Public Library. At 6 p.m., Carol Achterhof, of Thomaston Place Auction Galleries, will open the bidding for the fresh art created just hours before by more than forty of the area’s finest artists". I can attest to the fact that this is a great opportunity to get some very fine art at, sometimes, ridiculously low prices.  I think you'll find it well worth the trip and the weather is forecast to be great.  Hope to see you there.  Take care.

 

 

 

 





Sebascodegan Artists Gallery - 2nd Exhibit 2013

I'm pleased to announce that the 2nd exhibit of the 2013 season for the Sebascodegan Artists Gallery is now hung.  Below are a couple (out of 12) of my paintings contributing to the exhibit.  This exhibit will be up until Sept.1.    Our gallery is in a former church that is on a small rise on the right approximately 7.5 miles south of Cook's Corner, Brunswick.

 

Coffee and Donuts

Acrylic

 

View from Boothbay Harbor

Acrylic

Welch Farm

Acrylic

 



My Art in August

Just a quick note to let everyone know that my original acrylic paintings can be seen this month at:

The Brunswick 2nd Friday ArtWalk

 August 9th at 98 Maine St., 2nd floor "ballroom" Popup Artists 5-8pm

 

 

"Country Shadows"

Acrylic

 

 

Sebascodegan Artists Gallery

Rt. 24,  Harpswell - Now thru Labor Day  10am-5pm Daily

 

"Forsythia and Pine"

Acrylic

 

 

 

Aldemere Farm Annual Art Show and Sale

Russell Road, Rockport   Aug.10 Sat.  9am-4pm

 

 

Plein Air LA

Lyceum Gallery

49 Lisbon St., Lewiston Aug. 9th Fri. (Opening Reception 5-7pm)

Thru August

 

Church and Mill

Acrylic

 

 

Kayaks for Rent

Acrylic

 

 



 





 



 





 

 





 

 



 

 





 

 



 

2nd Friday ArtWalk in Brunswick

Just a quick note to let my followers know I'm showing my art at the Brunswick ArtWalk every 2nd Friday now until and including October.  I'm showing at 98 Maine Street, in the second floor "ballroom" with the Pop Up artists from 5-8pm.  Stop by and say "hi".

"Yellow Jeep"

Acrylic

 

"Maine Morning"

Acrylic

 

 

Sebascodegan Artists Gallery Open for the Season!

Wow! It's hard to believe that July is here already.  With it comes the a new season of the Sebascodegan Artists Gallery located at 4 Old Orr's Road, off  Route 24 (also known as Harpswell Island Road) approximately 7.5 miles south of Cook's Corner in Brunswick. If you're heading south, look to the right for the old white church and signs on the hill.  Gallery hours are 10 am to 5pm 7 days a week.  You'll see works from 19 traditional and contemporary Maine artists.
This is the groups' 24th year and they, by choice, limit membership to 20 artists.  I was very please to be juried in last year, so this is my second season showing my work with them.  The current exhibit runs to July 28th and then we will change out the art for the 2nd seasonal exhibit which will end on September 2nd.  So, if you're on your way to Orr's or Bailey Island or Harpswell via Route 24, stop in and check it out.  I think you'll be glad you did.  And if I'm on duty, I'd be happy to talk to you.

 

 

"Front Yard Flowers"

Acrylic

 



Good News!

I am very pleased to report that I received an email from Lisa Fourré at Cape Elizabeth Land Trust telling me that I have been juried into the group of artists who will be painting at this year's Paint for Preservation one day paint out and auction.  This year's event will be held on Sunday, July 14. This will be my 3rd time participating in this event and, although somewhat of a challenge to do your best work in a short few hours, is a very rewarding day of painting. There is an admission fee to the late day auction, but the public is welcome to visit the many sites the artists will be painting at and watch the art being created. Stay tuned for more info as the day approaches.
 

My painting in progress at the 2011 Paint for Preservation

Maine Open Juried Art Show - MOJAS 2013

I'm very pleased to report that two of my paintings were juried into this year's Maine Open Juried Art Show (MOJAS) in Waterville, Maine and one of them "Coke, Ice and Pumpkin Pie" was awarded 2nd Place in the Acrylics category.  As the title states, this is an annual competition with this year being the 23rd. My participation goes back to 2005.  The Waterville Area Art Society (WAAS) www.waasmaine.org and Waterville Main Street www.watervillemainstreet.org are co-presenters of the event and do a great job putting it all together.  This year there were, according to the exhibition brochure, 87 artists registered from 51 towns, with a total of 162 paintings entered.  The judges chose 140 original paintings for exhibition and awarded 30 prizes totaling $3,300.  The show runs through April 19th at the Waterville Public Library in downtown Waterville. Please stop by and enjoy if you're in the neighborhood.

Coke, Ice and Pumpkin Pie

10x10 Acrylic

 

 











"Resilient Spring" Group Show

It is my pleasure and honor to be included in the present group exhibition at the wonderful  Yarmouth Frame and Gallery, 720 Route One, www.yarmouthframeandgallery.com/. "Resilient Spring" features artists Sukie Curtis, Elizabeth Newman, Chris Nielsen, Anne Macleod and myself from March through the end of May.  I think you'll see a very pleasing mix of  subjects, media and styles in this exhibit.  Below are several of my pieces in the show.   Hope you can stop by sometime and see the show and visit with Beth and Lee.

Forsythia Across the Road

12x12 Acrylic

 

Autumn Country Road

16"x20"  Acrylic

 

Yellow Vee Dub

6"x8"  Acrylic



My Painting Demo

This coming Saturday afternoon, Feb. 23 from 2-3:30, I will be giving a demonstration on  painting in acrylics, my primary medium.  It will be held at the Centre St Arts Gallery, LLC, 11 Centre Street, Bath, ME There is a $10 fee for participants.
207 442-0300 www.centrestartsgallery.blogspot.com/.

Front Yard Flowers

10x8" Acrylic

Group Show at Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery

Just wanted to get this out that the Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery (720 Route 1, Yarmouth, Me. 04096 207-846-7777) is having a reception (yep, it's still on, blizzard or not) this Saturday 4-7pm  for a group show in which I have several pieces of art, both paintings and sculptures.  "From the Heart" features 25 year round artists of the gallery and goes to Feb. 28.  In keeping with the theme and upcoming Valentine's Day, here are a couple of my sculptures I refer to as my Shrines of the Heart.

Painted Heart

Blue and Orange Hearts

CFD- tragedy and triumph

I think I've come down with a serious case of CFD...Cabin Fever Disease!  I love painting plein air, but when the temps get below 40 degrees outside my acrylic paints start to act funny.  Funny, like in getting thick and gooey. Great for impasto work, but not for my style of painting.  So my solution has always been to spend the winter in my studio, which in the past has worked pretty good.  However this year has been different.  I still want to paint outside. So, I'm trying out "plein l'automobile" painting (excuse my French).  That's right...painting from my car. But instead of acrylics, I'm switching to watercolors. I may try small acrylic paintings if this works out with the w/c.

 

Here are a few examples of what I've done so far from the driver's seat and a shot of my set up.  I cut an old rubber backed door mat to put over my lap to protect my clothes and the seats of  our car.  The last shot is of my "painting buddy" Rusty, who is only interested in anything that involves FOOD. Otherwise his attitude is "wake me when you've got something tasty for me". Anyone out there have any success with this kind of painting setup? 

 

Please feel free to send any tips or comments. 

Joy of Art

Wetlands Gold

 

The annual art exhibit, The Joy of Art, put on by the Friends of theTopsham Library will be kicked off this Saturday at the reception from 1-3pm at the library on Foreside Road.  As a participating artist, I plan to attend .

300 Piece Group Show in Yarmouth, Maine

"Coke, Ice and Pumpkin Pie"

Acrylic  10x10"

 

Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery and Artisans Collective is hosting a group show featuring 300 works of art at the Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery location. I'm please to say that several of my pieces will be in included.  Hope to see you at the reception.

 

"Small Works Holiday Show"

720 Route 1, Yarmouth, Me, 04096 207-846-7777

Saturday, December 8th, 4 to 7

Opening Reception

Show runs through January.

 



 

Plein Air Exhibit-Boothbay Harbor

The Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF) is hosting a show by the Plein Air Painters of Maine (PAPME) both of which I hold membership in and am happy to say I have 3 paintings in this non-juried show. You can see this exhibit of 118 plein air works by 42 painters until November 17th at 1 Townsend Avenue Boothbay Harbor, ME 04538 (207) 633-2703. Below is one of my works in the show.

Cove Road

Acrylic 8x8" $450

Precious Things

My wife, Gloria, and I attended and had a wonderful time at the opening reception at the Lyceum Gallery in Lewiston, ME Friday night for the newest group show titled "Precious Things". I think it's another outstanding show that curator and owner Tammie Grieshaber has amassed. Kudos to Ray Michaud, also, for his efforts in hanging it. I'm pleased to say that 4 of my small format acrylic paintings were selected for the show. If any of you get a chance to make it to the exhibit, I assure you, you won't be disappointed by the quality and variety of works on display. Details can be had at http://www.lyceumgallery.com/. Below are a couple of my paintings in the show.

Neighbors

 

End of ME 123

Wicked Busy...

"Cozy Shack" 

Acrylic  8x10"

It's been a little (?) while since I posted anything new so I thought I should let my reader know what I've been up to recently.  Actually, someone asked me that exact question recently when they said, "Hi Bill.  What are you up to these days?" and I replied, "Oh, about five feet nine inches." I know... old joke. Bad joke.  Old, bad joke.  Well, at least now if you've read this far, I've got your attention. 

This has been a very busy year for me so far.  I am happy to say that my art work is now in five galleries in Maine from Yarmouth to Friendship. 

First of all I am still with the Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF) Art Gallery http://www.boothbayartists.org/.  Each month of the season I have two diffferent paintings at BRAF.

I'm also very pleased that the Yarmouth Frame Shop and Gallery http://www.yarmouthframeshopandgallery.com/ has taken me on board as a gallery artists and has a bunch of my paintings and some of my sculpture at their fine gallery on Route One in Yarmouth. 

Also, I am proud to announce that, in the Spring, I was juried into a local artists cooperative of 20 artists called the Sebascodegan Artists in Harpswell http://www.sebascodeganartists.com/.  The gallery is located in the old former Gunpoint Church on Route 24 heading towards Orr's Island. We are now into our second and final show of the season which will last until September 2, 2012.

And the last, but not least, a new gallery that has recently taken me on as a guest artist, is Kat Logan's Maine Coast Artist Gallery http://www.mainecoastartist.com/ located in Friendship, ME.  The grand opening is scheduled for Friday, August 10th from 4-8 pm.  I'm sad to say I won't be able to attend it due to a prior commitment to the 2nd Friday ArtWalk in Brunswick.  I'll be set up there with other "Pop Up Artists" at 98 Maine Street upstairs on August 10th from 5 to 8pm. Stop by if you  can make it.

"Autumn Afternoon"

Acrylic 8x10"

A Tweak Here and a Tweak There...

I've been playing with the "look" of this blog.  Basically, I've come to feel that the overall design was a bit too much, so I've applied the principle of design that you can't go wrong with...K I S S.  That's right-Keep It Simple Sunshine.  My main goal in the redesign is to create a more reader friendly blog that will appear more unified with better readability.  I will appreciate any feedback as to whether or not it's working for you.  Please leave a comment or email me. Thanks much.  If you've sent me a comment in the past and haven't seen it, I apologize as it may be something I've screwed up.