Quaint Cottage, New Brunswick

The next day we returned to NB and stopped along the road by a house that had beautiful flowers all around it. The ocean was down over the bank, making a scenic backdrop for the gardens in the back and side. It was very tastefully landscaped, giving the house a "cottage look". We knocked on the door and explained that we are artists and want to paint her lovely house and flowers. The elderly lady was pleased and invited us in. She led us down long hallway, pausing to introduce us to her family photo gallery, then continued through the main floor of her house. Her husband had died recently. Was she lonely for a bit of company, or was she perhaps just being friendly, as are most Canadians? I even thought she was going to invite us to supper, and she probably would have but we eager to get painting. The daylight was getting away from us so we took photos and left. This one was completed in my studio back home with a pallet knife on panel. Hopefully it reflects the friendliness and warmth that we received at that home. I call it Quaint Cottage; it is 8 X 10. If you are interested in purchasing it, please email me at melanie.farmer@gmail.com. $159 framed in a 2” gold frame (plus shipping and, if in Maine, sales tax). ON HOLD
Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

Grand Manan from Liberty Point, Canada

In August from Lubec, Tammy and I crossed over the border to Campobello Island and drove around for a couple of hours seeing the sights, stopping for a leisurely picnic lunch at East Quoddy Lighthouse. Then we drove to the southern tip of the island to Liberty Point and set up and painted. Tammy has one she has been working on for the past two summer trips, looking back towards West Quoddy Lighthouse. I painted the Frog at Liberty Point with a palette knife and brush combo. Grand Manan Island in the distance. The frog rock looks more like a frog from further off. However I liked the spot I was in, the deep blue of the ocean, the lush greens on the coast, the wind keeping the flies off us. Tomorrow I will post another done in Canada. If you wish to add this 10 x 8 to your art collection, please email me. $169 plus tax. 
Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

West Quoddy Lighthouse, Lubec, Maine

Now you will be able to see some of my work a bit to the south of where we stayed in Whiting. This is the West Quoddy Light House, the easternmost point in the United States. It is in a beautiful State Park with trails all through it. Some of the trails are a bit steep and twisting and turning along the rugged coast. Often you will come to a place where the view is absolutely breathtaking. I love to backpack my paints in there and find a spot and sit and paint.

For this painting of the lighthouse, the distant islands, the well-worn path and the wind-blown trees, it was a glorious day. I was pestered some by those stinging black flies that look like houseflies, swatting them, all the while trying to balance everything on the hot, uneven rocks. After a short time, my neck felt hot from the sun so I painted hastily, however, I still got a bit of a burn. A few hikers pause to watch me work, some stop and chat a bit and then move on.

SOLD!
Tomorrow I will take you across the bay and into Canada and more magnificent views.

Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not copy without permission.

A Painting A Day - Whiting Bay from Cobscook State Park, Maine

As soon as we arrived at the campground and got set up, I had to go down to the water's edge and start painting the evening light. It left a soft light green across the marshy grass and a rosy glow in the sky. It was good to be back and I was so happy to climb down over the steep bank with my pallet and paint box and easel to capture a bit of God's green earth, blue water and warm, pink sky.
Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

A Painting A Day - Sunrise at Whiting Bay, Maine

Here are some paintings from Cobscook Bay, which is near Lubec, Maine. It is a breathtakingly lovely place. There is never a lack of a place to paint. Whether the fog is in or out, it is still so beautiful. For this painting I got up very early and looked out over two islands jutting out in low tide. After I finished the painting, I was able to walk out there. It was actually quite a climb getting to the top of it. This one SOLD the day I got back from Lubec. I'll post another bay painting tomorrow. If you are interested in purchasing a bay painting, please email me. Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

A Painting a Day - Lubec Fireweed

Today is the 13th and I thought it was the 15th, so now I have a gift of two extra days, right? Just to catch up, I'll post some paintings I did at Lubec, Maine in August. It is a very picturesque place. I could live there but it is very far from everywhere and I'd probably get lonesome for my family and friends and the beautiful mountains of Western Maine. The fireweed is lovely in August and I never tire of painting it. These paintings have been SOLD. If you are interested in purchasing fireweed paintings, please email me. I don't sell prints but will paint another similar. However no two will ever be exactly alike.

All of my work is copyrighted.

I can't wait to return to this paradise to wade through the brilliant fireweed and to paint it once again. Tomorrow I'll post some of the bay. Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

A Painting a Day - Mt Katahdin in Winter

Today I cleaned up my studio so I can paint again! Hooray! I love it! So I got busy and did a little painting of Mt. Katahdin in Maine that I have been wanting to do. For some reason, I digressed from my usual pallette knife technique and used my brushes. It is an 8" X 6" on panel. If you are interested in purchasing this little jewel for only $99 or $129 framed in a gold frame, please email me. It would make a fine Christmas gift for that someone special who has climbed that majestic mountain. Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

A Painting a Day - Farmhouse in Winter

This is a little farmhouse near where I live. Every day I drive past it at least twice and I admire it and long to paint it. The tree which arches up around it drew my attention so one day a couple of winters ago, when we had some snow, I decided to paint it. If I pass by it at the right time, I catch the sun coming upon it or setting behind it. In all lights it is charming and I plan to paint it many times.
If you are interested in purchasing this original oil on panel, please email me. melanie.farmer@gmail.com $199 framed in a 2” gold frame (plus shipping and, if in Maine, sales tax).
Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

Kingfield Farm at Sunset

Today it is chilly, just below freezing, so I went to the basement to light a fire in the old Ashley there. It helps to keep the house an even heat. I had to go thru my studio to get the wood. My! what chaos! How did it get so bad so quickly. Even with the mess, it looked good to me and gives me the urge to get back at it again. Especially these cold days when I have to have a fire as that is my only heat in the studio and it becomes warm and cozy. I am inspired to paint scenes that I grew up with only now am seeing them in a new way. I need to get them on canvas.
Here is one I did a month or so ago. It's a lovely little farm in Kingfield, on the outskirts of Sugarloaf, which can be seen in the sunset. Sorry folks, this one has been sold. This was one of my Painting a Day before my haitus. Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

Cobscook Bay State Park

After spending the weekend in Portland with my friend who is recovering from his recent hip replacement, it's good to get home, however, not in time to get any painting done. Right now I am focusing on marketing and that is a very necessary thing too.
Here is one that I did this year while camping at Cobscook Bay State Park, downeast Maine.
Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.

A Painting a Day - Laurie's Lupine

SOLD

This is how I spent my evening, rather than painting, so here is a painting from this summer when the lupines were in bloom. They are colorful and fill whole fields here in Maine. There was a "Lupine Lady" about mid-1900's who spread the seeds wherever she went. She has beautified our state in her own way. Her legacy now blooms on artist's canvases all over the state and graces homes everywhere.

Melanie Farmer paintings are internationally copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission.