Snowfall Clouds...Monet Winter

Snowfall Clouds
Departing Ocean Drive

along Ocean Drive in Kennebunkport, Maine
on December 18, 2019, painted January 6, 2020
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press
rough 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $300

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Claude Monet's 1895 Norway Winter

Monet painted twenty-nine snow scenes in Norway. Over his lifetime he painted over a hundred winter scenes, more than any other Impressionist.
 

1
Houses in the Snow, Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 1895

Claude Monet's stepson, Jacques Hoschede, married a Norwegian who lived in Oslo, then called Christiania. In February 1885 55-year-old Monet made the long trip by train and ferry to visit them. 

2
Houses in the Snow, Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 32" x 25", 1895

When Monet arrived in Oslo, he spent some time in search of painting subject matter. His stepson took Monet south of Oslo to the artist's colony village of Sandvika (or spelled Sandviken), which is on a fjord, and with a view of Mount Kolsaas. After painting a series of village landscapes, Monet painted three canvases of two distant houses in a landscape blanketed in white snow

3
Houses in the Snow, Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 1895

Monet ended up in a farmhouse nine miles west of Oslo that was occupied by other artists in or near the village of Sandvika.

4
Norwegian Landscape, Sandviken
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 1895

First, Monet painted scenes of the local fjord and the village, painting six of the village. He included the distinctive iron arch bridge. Two years before this trip he'd begun his landscaping project which included a Japanese arch bridge seen in many of his water lily paintings.
 

5 

Sandvika, Norway

 Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 36" x 29" (w x h), 1895
Art Institute of Chicago

He painted a series of paintings of Mount Kolsaas. The view of Mount Kolsaas reminded Monet of Japanese woodblock prints of Mount Fuji. He painted thirteen views of Mount Kolsaas. In Monet style, he painted plein air at different times of the day, thus in different light, and in different weather conditions.
 

6
Sandviken, Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 1895
Private Collection

Sandviken is the village beneath Mount Kolsaas, seen from the village.
Monet wrote, "This country is, undoubtedly, infinitely more beautiful without snow, or at least when there isn't so much of it."
 

7
Mount Kolsaas in Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 1895

The winter of 1895-1896 was quite harsh. Going out in an average daily high of -13°F, Monet painted plein air views of the surrounding area. Using shovels, he cut paths in the snow to reach his painting locations.

8
Mount Kolsaas in Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 1895

In a letter to Gustave Geffroy, his friend, Monet said that conditions were so cold in Norway that his beard froze. He wrote, "I painted part of the day today, while it was snowing continually: you would have laughed to see me entirely white, my beard covered in icy stalactites."
 

9
Mount Kolsaas in Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 39" x 25" (w x h), 1895
Musée Marmottan Monet, Paris

He completed the paintings and his visit in mid-March of 1895.

10
Mount Kolsaas in Norway
Claude Monet (1840-1926) French
Oil on canvas, 1895

Africa Peering Back at...

Africa Peering Back
at Brett, Finn and Teague

based on a photo taken during the Swiss Family McMillan's
2018 African Christmas trip, painted December 22, 2019
10" x 8" (w x l), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
NFS

Holiday Grand Skaters

Holiday Grand Skaters

"We were in the deep woods."
from a photo by Grand Parent Douglas
Perot (Mr. Carol Douglas), in mid-coast Maine
on December 22, 2019, painted December 24, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
NFS

Christmas in Maine,
grandmother Carol the painter
and grand kids, with the photo
by grandfather Doug
in mid-coast Maine

 

Cool Holiday on a Snow Slope

Cool Holiday on a Snow Slope

a Forelle pear (Pyrus communis, Forelle cultivar, Germany)
on a snow covered rock wall in my back yard in Shapleigh, Maine
on December 19, 2019, painted December 22, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $300

Signs of the Times

Signs of the Times

at Monument Square in Portland, Maine
during the Nobody is Above the Law demonstration
on the eve of the US Congressional vote on impeachment
on December 17, 2019, painted December 18, 2019
5" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $150

An Apple Divided

An Apple Divided
can not stand, or can it? On a sunny
day behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on December 7, 2019, painted December 17, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $300

Ambrosia at the Precipice

Now, as an apple,
divided this day, it stood
at the precipice.

 
metaphor noun. a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them. e.g.: 1) an apple as a globe, divided, representing climate change. 2) an apple as a country's population, divided, facing the loss of their principles, in effect, the loss of their democracy.
 
ambrosia noun. 1) a type of apple. 2) the food of the Greek and Roman gods.
 
precipice noun. a hazardous situation.

Proud Host Bill in the Middle

Proud Host Bill in the Middle

at Annie Burnett Hidell's Studio Open House
in Cape Porpoise, Kennebunkport, Maine
on December 14, 2019, painted December 15, 2019
7" x 5" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $15o

Photo-Essay - Art Open House
December 14, 2019, 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Annie Burnett Hidell's Studio
153 Maine Street
Cape Porpoise, ME 04014

 
 

Cat Bates, Jewelry
Kila Bates, Pottery
Kate Cheney Chappell, Monoprints
Anne Burnett Hidell, Paintings
Bill Huston, Furniture
Janet, Ledoux, Paintings
Daphne Pulsifer, Sculpture

1
Art surround.

2
I spy another Bruce, right, left Hara.

 3
I spy Janet.
 

4
Annie the host's three buttons buzzing around.

5
All while one relaxed.

6
I spy the relaxed sculptor Daphne.

7
The patron's flow.

8
All inside the festive artist's studio at Annie and Bill's home.

Snow Stuck Opal Apple Study 2

Snow Stuck Opal Apple
Study 2

on a sunny day behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on December 4, 2019, painted December 12, 2019
7" x 5" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $150

Snow Stuck Opal Apple Study 1

Snow Stuck Opal Apple
Study 1

on a sunny day behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on December 4, 2019, painted December 12, 2019
7" x 5" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $200

Back Fields December Study

Back Fields December Study

on a sunny day behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
painted December 10, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper framed, $300

Looking Ahead Study 1

Looking Ahead Study 1

at our Art Group of Rebekah painted December 6, 2019
5" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $150

Clementine's Ear Muffs...

Clementine's Ear Muffs
in a Snow Life *

* snow life - noun. a painting setup similar to a still life, but on snow. e.g.: "I'm outside painting a snow life."
 
A clementine atop fresh snow
after the season's first snowfall, 9",
behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on December 4, 2019, painted December 6, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $300

Opal Apple . . . Snow Life . . .

Opal Apple and
Clementine Snow Life *

* snow life - noun. a painting setup similar to a still life, but on snow. eg: "I'm painting a snow life."

An Opal apple and a clementine atop a snow hill
after the season's first snowfall, 9", over the natural rock wall
of the cemetery behind my home in Shapleigh, Maine
on December 4, 2019, painted December 4, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $300

One, Two, Three, Leaves, Studies

One, Two, Three,
Leaves, Study 4

of the back fields and woods behind my home
on November 1, 2019, painted November 29, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence on 140 lb. Arches cold press
grand fine 100% cotton watercolor paper
framed, $300

The Preliminary Studies

 

One, Two, Three, Leaves, Study 1
of the back fields and woods behind my home
on November 1, 2019, painted November 27, 2019
10" x 11" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light
fastness and permanence, and #3 graphite on
144 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough
100% cotton extra white watercolor paper, NFS
 

One, Two, Three, Leaves, Study 2
of the back fields and woods behind my home
on November 1, 2019, painted November 28, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
on 140 lb. Arches cold press grand fine 100% cotton
watercolor paper framed, NFS

One, Two, Three, Leaves, Study 3
of the back fields and woods behind my home
on November 1, 2019, painted November 28, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence on 140 lb. Arches cold press
rough 100% cotton watercolor paper, NFS

One, Two, Three, Leaves, Study 4
of the back fields and woods behind my home
on November 1, 2019, painted November 29, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and
Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence on 140 lb. Arches cold press
grand fine 100% cotton watercolor paper
framed, $300

Leaves Last Leave

Leaves Last Leave

in the back fields behind my home
on November 1, 2019, painted November 12 and 15, 2019
14" x 11" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light
fastness and permanence, and #3 graphite on
144 lbs. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough
100% cotton extra white
watercolor paper
framed, $150

Light Standing Presence

Light Standing Presence

at our Kennebunk Art Group with model Rachel
painted November 8, 2019
5" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $150

A Hold on Blue

A Hold on Blue

at our Kennebunk Art Group with model Rachel
painted November 8, 2019
7" x 5" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and #3 graphite on 140 lb.
Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $150

As She Stands

As She Stands

Olivia painted at our last
Kennebunkport Art Group October 4, 2019
5" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for
light fastness and permanence, and #3 pencil on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough
100% cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $150

Thoughtful Pause

Thoughtful Pause

painted at our Kennebunk Art Group October 4, 2019
5" x 7" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $150

Relaxing in Color

Relaxing in Color

The model relaxing while standing out at our Kennebunkport Drawing Group painted October 25, 2019, 7" x 5" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam, and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on 140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press fine 100% cotton extra white watercolor paper, framed.
$150

Two Tugs, No Tugging

Two Tugs, No Tugging

at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania boatyard docks
painted from the dry dock near Urban Outfitters
painted plein air on October 18, 2019
10" x 8" (w x h), Daniel Smith, Schmincke Horadam,
and Winsor & Newton watercolors, selected for light fastness
and permanence, and Uniball waterproof fade proof ink on
140 lb. Fabriano Artistico cold press rough 100%
cotton extra white watercolor paper
framed, $300

Our Maine Gang of Five in PA
at the Brandywine Plein
Air Festival 2019

On our Free Friday Carol (foreground),
Bobbi (middle distance),
Ed (background), and I painted
at the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
boatyard by the mothballed U.S.S.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy aircraft carrier,
while Sara visited family.

Carol Douglas' website HERE and blog HERE
Bobbi Heath's website HERE
Ed Buonvecchio's web site HERE
Sara Gray's website HERE

 Some photos of us during the week
taken by the Plein Air Brandywine
Festival 2019 photographers:


Sara Gray painting


Ed Buonvecchio painting


Bobbi Heath turning in her daily art


Ed Buonvecchio, (me) Bruce McMillan,
and Carol Douglas during the cool
windy Nocturne


I'm having a pleasant chat during
opening night, over 700 new paintings,
Sara Gray on the right.