Nature

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Art, lighthouses, watercolor

I was asked to paint a lighthouse, as a Christmas gift for someone. I didn’t know where the photo given to me, was taken, but I had a feeling this scene takes place somewhere in Maine. Shown below is the rough sketch I started with.

Lighthouse Sketch

Turns out, this is the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, and it is indeed located in Maine (Acadia National Park). Below are progress photos of the painting.

Sky painted and the rest being worked on
Most of the painting completed. Final details needed.

The recipient of the painting grew up in Maine and this painting had a lot of symbolic meaning for him. I am happy that he liked it. The final stage of the painting is shown below!

Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse (18”x24” Watercolor)

Please visit Always Wandering Art on Etsy for more paintings.

Autumn Appreciation

Art, Life Balance, watercolor
Autumn Woodland 14”x20”

After an unexpected allergic reaction from a bald-faced hornet sting, I feel fortunate to experience another autumn season. As woodland creatures prepare for the winter by caching food and planning for shelter, I start to wonder if the old wives’ tales told to predict winter will prove true this time. If so, we might be in for a good one. And, by good I mean power outages and lots of shoveling. 

But now, the calm before the storm. A near autumn-peak woodland. Deciduous trees will soon lay down their leaves to reveal naked branches, as they curve and twist this way and that way. The decaying leaves will soon provide nourishment to the naked figures, and an insulated vessel for overwintering insects. The systems at work, even during what appears to be dormancy, are complex and wonderful.

Woodland Thicket with Bloodroot – Watercolor Sketch

Art, native plants, Outdoor Adventure, watercolor

Around the same time last year in late March / early April we went for a walk in a woodland near the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. We were on the lookout for spring ephemeral wildflowers, as this is their time of year to shine, and then shortly after, bid us Adieu until next spring. One of my favorite spring ephemerals is Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis). A single leaf and flower emerge from under the leaf litter. The leaf, if injured, bleeds a red-orange juice, hence the name (bloodroot).

Woodland Thicket Watercolor Sketch

We came upon an old tree, upon which beautiful green moss sprawled. The forest floor had been blanketed with bloodroot flowers, but they were just coming up and the flowers were half closed. As we returned to this same spot on our way back, the flowers were on full display. It was the largest population of bloodroot I’ve ever seen and what a show!

Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

A Walk on the Liberty Loop

Art, Outdoor Adventure, watercolor
Liberty Loop – Watercolor 14”x20”

What’s in the painting?

Not far from our house, is the Liberty Loop path! Located in Pine Island, NY, it is our go-to place for a walk. It is also part of the Appalachian Trail, but completely flat terrain. A hit with walkers (zombies included), this area is also popular among bird watchers and bird photographers, as it is a wildlife refuge with abundant waterfowl habitat. I hope to one day see the Northern Pintail Duck, which can be found here.

Wild Bergamot with Skipper Painting

Art, Gardening, native plants, watercolor

Usually sometime in January, I start dreaming of native wildflowers and the many pollinators that visit them. One of my favorite native herbaceous plants is Monarda fistolusa aka Wild Bergamot or Bee Balm. This plant is in the mint family and smells similar to the bergamot used in earl gray tea. In this painting, a skipper butterfly is having a nectar/pollen snack on Wild Bergamot. Not sure what type of skipper it is, but my guess is – Zabulon Skipper.

Stage 1.5
Final
Video of painting process