Sunday, December 20, 2015

Screw Auger Falls

Screw Auger Falls, Grafton, Maine

Screw Auger Falls is one of Maine's finest waterfalls and many tourists and locals stop there for a picnic lunch or just to take a break from driving or simply to see the magnificence of it for a short time. When I am traveling in Western Maine along Route 26, I frequently like to stop and just spend a few minutes soaking it in.
  I have painted this beautiful waterfalls more times than I can recall. Usually my subject is only the wider falls near the top where one can walk along the smooth worn rocks and cool themselves in the rushing waters.
  This would be a lovely reminder for anyone who has taken a trip there and had an enjoyable time.
  If you are interested in purchasing this framed oil on panel, 9x12, please email me. melanie.farmer@gmail.com.
SOLD - but keep watching for other paintings of this Falls.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

Grand Falls

Grand Falls


  I love Grand Falls! Many summers I would take a ride up there just to bathe myself in it's majesty and beauty. One year a friend led the way up there on snowmobiles.  It was still powerful and lovely in white of ice and snow. Fortunately I had my camera since it was dreadfully cold and not conducive to plein air painting. When I got home, I made this little painting. If you have been there, you know what the feeling of a cold, clear winter day is. If you would like to purchase this framed piece for your wall or a gift for someone who introduced you to the Falls, it is 11x7 oil on panel, for $169, please email me. melanie.farmer@gmail.com

All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

Cascade Brook - Farmington

Cascade Brook - Farmington
  Years ago I hiked in to Cascade Brook in Farmington with several fellow artists. It was a damp day and there had been a heavy rain overnight, so I took my oil paints and brushes and set up near the brook to paint en plein air. I did not finish it that day and the painting was not very pleasing to me. It remained unfinished in my studio and I would take it out from time to time to work on it, but never could do anything that I liked with it. 
  One day when I had been working with my pallet knife, as I often like to do, I set it up on my easel and began to mix and apply the paint with a pallet knife. The original spot and the day returned in my mind and the paint magically flowed from my knife. That was just what it needed!
  If you would like to purchase this 18x22 oil on panel for $599, please email me. melanie.farmer@gmail.com.
  All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

Old Speck and Three Birches

Old Speck and Three Birches

  Mountains rarely change, but the landscape you see in front of them often changes rapidly. Here is "Old Speck", aka Mt. Spec to those who grew up around it. I have seen this fourth highest mountain in Maine in all seasons for many years and am always feasting my eyes on it from every distance and every vantage point I happen across. I often stop and capture it in fleeting light with my camera, afraid that soon the trees will grow up in front of it so it can't be seen. Sometimes I stop and make quick sketches.
  As a child, I hiked it many times with family and friends, and continue to do so as an adult, often alone but sometimes with others. The Eyebrow Loop is more of a challenge than the old Fire Warden's Trail but it has far better views.
  If you would like to purchase this 14x11 framed oil painting, $229 (plus tax in Maine), please contact me via email. melanie.farmer@gmail.com.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

 

Beaver Pond

Beaver Pond Rt 17
  As I was driving south along Route 17 from Height of Land, the soft evening light of a late autumn day was settling over the mountains to the west. At the bottom of a big hill I passed this little pond. There were a few vehicles parked there and some men were fishing along the shore. One had his young son with him and he came over to see what I was doing, parked on the opposite side of the road and sitting under the hatch of my Jeep, as I often do when painting plein air. We chatted a bit and then he went on the the business of fishing. 
  This is a lovely spot and I want to return to see it in the early morning light and in different seasons.
  This framed 14x11 oil painting is $229 (plus tax in Maine). Please contact me by email if you wish to purchase it. melanie.farmer@gmail.com.
 All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 




Saturday, December 19, 2015

 Bald Mountain in Weld is a wonderful little hike for the first one in the spring or any time you feel like a short but robust climb. It has great views along the way of Mt. Blue and Webb Lake. At the top you can see many mountains, lakes and towns near and far. The wild flowers along the trail are lovely in the spring.
 In turn, Bald Mountain can be seen from many places in the surrounding towns and is quite well known. Along the road to Weld and at it's base is a sweet little pond, surrounded by bushes, birches and other trees holding back the soil, making for a nice arrangement for a painting.
  It makes you want to grab your canoe and get paddling.On your wall, you can imagine it all year round.
  If you are interested in purchasing this 16x16 framed oil painting for $399 plus tax in Maine, please email me at melanie.farmer@gmail.com.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist.  

Mt. Blue Pond

  Mt. Blue Pond is tucked away in the woods a few miles from Route 4 in Avon. A local historian brought it to my attention earlier this year and I just had to go see for myself as I did not recall ever having been there. On the way in I passed a very old cemetery and made a mental note to stop and check it out on the way back.
 When I arrived, there were quite a few people near the shore, enjoying picnicking and fishing. As I chatted with a fellow from Portland, I wondered how someone who lives so far away knows these places, when I, who lives just on the other side of Mt. Blue, does not.  I made my way through the muddy landing to the edge of this small pond, and was amazed to suddenly see Mt. Blue so close to my face! If it did not have the tower, which was rebuild a few years ago, I would not have known it was Mt. Blue. What an absolutely wonderful spot!
  On my way out, I did stop at the cemetery and, as I suspected, found many of my Hunt and Haines ancestors buried there. They have been in my genealogy records for many years, but I just had never gone to see where they were buried. I lingered awhile, took pictures of the stones, imagining what life was like, what the landscape was like, or what the people were like living so long ago in the shadow of the magnificent Mt. Blue in Maine.
  I will be back to visit that area again soon.
  If you are interested in purchasing this framed 20x16 oil painting of Mt. Blue and Mt. Blue Pond, please email me at melanie.farmer@gmail.com. The price is $499 plus tax in Maine.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 


Tumbledown Pond

After a challenging hike up Tumbledown Mountain near Weld, you are treated to a fabulous surprise of a nice little pond near the top of the mountain. At various times I have seen hikers and overnight campers fishing and swimming here, what a joy!
  If you have the time or energy, you may continue on up past the pond and hike to highest point on Tumbledown for a near 360 degree view.
This framed little oil painting is 8x8. When you see it hanging on your wall, it will remind you of the fabulous time you had there . If you are interested in purchasing it, please contact me at melanie.farmer@gmail.com.  Price is $149 plus tax in Maine.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

Little Bigelow (Flagstaff Lake)

  Little Bigelow is a beautiful mountain. I love going camping at Cathedral Pines in Eustis and often see this mountain in many different lights. No matter the time of year or the weather of the moment or the amount of light, it is always spectacular. Very often I see canoes moving along the quiet waters of the Dead River which flows into Flagstaff Lake.
  This oil painting is framed 20x16, $499 plus tax in Maine. If you are interested in purchasing it, please contact melanie.farmer@gmail.com.  
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

Lady in White (Old Speck)

  This is a view I often see when I am driving west to Upton. This particular day the "Lady" was covered with fresh snow and just seemed to be stretched out before me in the cold, crisp air. Since I grew up under the shadow of the other side of her, (known then as Mt. Speck) that is mostly what I painted. This side is just as magnificent and deserves a place on any wall.
  Lady in White is a 10x10 oil on panel. If you are interested in purchasing this framed painting, please email me at melanie.farmer@gmail.com. Price is $199 + tax in Maine.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Spring on the Sandy

Here is a painting from several years back of one of the many beautiful Sandy River views as it meanders along thru Farmington.  I love the soft colors of the spring sky reflecting in the opening water of the Sandy River, the trees warmed by the sun and the deep blue of the distant mountains. This is a watercolor on paper which I traded with a fellow artist for a wood sculpture. This would make a great oil painting. If you are interested in a similar one, (I don't do prints) please email me. melanie.farmer@gmail.com
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 
 


Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Diane

My good friend Diane was my favorite model in years gone by when I was doing portrait studies She would come over to my studio sometimes and sit for me while we visited. She is an attractive woman with great bone structure. Diane always encouraged my painting portraits from life and never complained if it didn't look exactly like her. This is a 11 x 14 watercolor on paper. I also paint portraits in oil.  Not for sale.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 

Friday, March 29, 2013

Crooked Tree at Jim's Head

Here is another painting from that day that was so freezing on Jim's Head and the rest of New England was just dying in the heat and humidity. 

The early sunlight was dancing across the grass beneath the evergreen trees on the point at Jim's Head. I hovered near the trees on the smaller shore rocks, trying to stay in the sun and still get the best view surrounding the funny crooked tree at the point of land. The day was hot and misty beyond the jut of land, making the more distant colors soft and muted. It was a wonderful day to be on the coast of Maine, but then, what day isn't? This painting is gouache on paper, 11 x 3 1/2, with archival double matting. If you are interested in purchasing this painting for only $100, please email me. melanie.farmer@gmail.com.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 
 



Thursday, March 28, 2013

Portraits ~ Janice Scott

   

  Years ago my artist friends used to come over and pose for me. They didn't mind if I finished it or not or even if it didn't look exactly like them, but were happy to spend an afternoon modeling for me. I think they like being asked. Several of us got together quite regularly and painted.
  Here is one of Janice Scott (God rest her soul!) painted in 1993.  She had great facial bone structure and I loved to paint her. She was a fun, colorful lady who had a very interesting life and told great stories about her experiences.  She and her husband sold their house and moved to the Southwest and unfortunately, I never saw her again. This is a 10 X 15 watercolor on paper. Not for sale.

All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist. 



Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Western Head Island

   Linda had scouted out a nice trail around Western Head Preserve in Cutler with a lot of scenic places to paint. We hiked out there one afternoon and near the point, I looked back and saw this island with the rocks warm in the afternoon sun and lovely puffy clouds. An eagle was perched in one of the pine trees. I set up on a rock with my watercolors to paint. Linda went on down below a bit looking more out to sea. Both of us were pestered unmercifully with those black 'stingy' flies. We covered our bare legs and arms with our packs and everything we could fashion into a cover. 
   I painted quickly and moved on down the trail and it was no relief. We soon left the area. 
   If you are interested in purchasing this 11x6 watercolor on paper with double archival mats and backing for $100,  please email me. melanie.farmer@gmail.com.
All Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted and may not be reproduced by any means without written permission from the artist.