Tag Archives: Fantastical painting

Paintings from Cuttyhunk Island, MA

September brings me to my  annual artists retreat on Cuttyhunk Island, MA. I left from New Bedford, MA on the Cuttyhunk Ferry which also brings all supplies to the islanders.  The harbor is home to a host of fishing boats.

Leaving New Bedford Harbor

I was so ready to leave the day to day life behind and begin my artistic journey. Sometimes there is nothing more enjoyable than the company of women, and when you have 16 women artists together, the conversation, sharing, painting and partying is the best!

Cuttyhunk is one of the Elizabeth Islands off the coast of Massachusetts. With 82 annual residents, no cars, no TV and poor cell service, this is the perfect place to unplug and get in the zone.  I often make this pilgrimage with artist Kelley MacDonald who taught a plein air course this year.

We arrived to our hosts Teri Bordenave and Ellie von Wellsheim filling us in on the weeks agenda. Teri and Ellie are the caretakers of the Avalon Inn and artists in their own right. Ellie was recently named Schenectady Business and Professional Women’s Club Woman of the Year. She has worked tirelessly on many humanitarian projects and one is the MoonCatcher Project which provides reusable menstrual pads for girls in developing countries so that they can continue their schooling.

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They are fantastic cooks and fed us amazing meals leaving us free to paint, swim or walk this beautiful island. The kitchen of the Avalon Inn is incredibly charming.
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This year I was in an adjoining house aptly named “Household”.
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This sweet alcove was off Kelley’s room.

Views from the porch were gorgeous. We were directly above the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Grover Cleveland and William Taft stayed there as well as the railroad baron Jay Gould. The fishing club was once a home away from home to many wealthy businessmen. One can now rent a room and get a breakfast here.

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house

Cuttyhunk Fishing Club  ©  Sold

Cuttyhunk Fishing Club Acrylic on 300 # paper 11" x 8.5" $ 200

Cuttyhunk Fishing Club  ©    Acrylic on 300 # paper      11″ x 8.5″ $ 200

Nashawena Island is in the background of this painting. It is home to a herd of more than 200 Scottish highland cows and 2 caretakers living on the island. Our hosts gathered clams for our first evenings meal off the shore of Nashawena.

We also had the pleasure of painting off the porch of Sara Lehner’s house. She was one of the artists at the retreat who is also a seasonal islander.

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I was delighted to be painting the many angles of this house overlooking the harbor and far off New Bedford.

 View from Bayberry Hill Acrylic on 300# paper 11" x 8.5" $200

View from Bayberry Hill  ©     Acrylic on 300# paper        11″ x 8.5″ $200

I did enjoy getting to the beach which had been re-shaped with increased sand that had been pushed up by Hurricane Hermine shortly before we arrived.

Church's Beach and Copicut Neck

Church’s Beach and Copicut Neck

I had some delightful swims here with fellow artist Andrea Salvaggio. I also painted a few views of David Thurston’s house on Copicut Neck. I met David at our open house the last night of the retreat. He had some remarkable stories to tell about his family and their time on the island. This is a much painted image by artists visiting Cuttyhunk.

Thurston House © 9" x 4.5" Watercolor $100 Copicut Neck Cuttyhunk Island, MA

Thurston House © 9″ x 4.5″   Watercolor $100  Copicut Neck,  Cuttyhunk Island

 

Thurston House View #2 © Watercolor 9" x 7" $150 Cuttyhunk Island, MA

Thurston House View #2 © Watercolor 9″ x 7″    $100  Cuttyhunk Island, MA

And of course I couldn’t help but finish a few paintings in my fantastical creatures style. Both of these reference the impending birth of our first grandchild.

Story Time © 12" x 9" Ink and Watercolor $400 framed or $300 unframed

Story Time © 12″ x 9″ Ink and Watercolor $400 framed in a maple frame or  $300 unframed

gotcha-better-color-susan-medyn-2016

Gotcha! © 12″ x 9″ Ink and Watercolor $400 framed in a maple frame or $300 unframed

And now to leave with one of the many reasons spending a week on Cuttyhunk is like living a dream.

Cuttyhunk Sunset

If you are interested in one of these paintings please contact me at susanmedyn(@) cox.net. I always love to share my work with you!

 

 

 

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Who Designed Your Clothes?

WHO DEISGNED YOUR CLOTHES?, 12"x9" Ink and Watercolor, $400 framed.

WHO DESIGNED YOUR CLOTHES?, 12″x9″ Ink and Watercolor, $400 framed.

I don’t watch commercial television very often but last night I was watching a movie on Oxygen and felt assaulted by the number of commercials for spring clothing. I don’t know if there was a time that I ever remember enjoying these commercials but I was struck by the influence they must play if you are watched a lot of TV. Enough of that.

I prefer the lovely clothes these creatures are wearing.

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Greetings and Giclee give away!

Greetings

I was working on adding depth to my painting by adding landscape in a different way than I normally do. I think these two cool cats are just getting to know one another. I hope they strike up a lovely friendship as I have with so many artists in this area. It has been wonderful to connect with other painters and photographers and sculptors. My life is fuller getting to know so many wonderful and creative people whether through blogging or through meeting them as I get to know more artists in the area.

This is an 8″ by 10″ Ink and Watercolor that is painted on aqua board. This painting is not yet varnished as I am visiting my sister in Asheville, North Carolina….oh and yes we have snow today. Something I hoped to get away from. But the mountains are beautiful and the art is great to see. Asheville has a really thriving artist community. I love it!

This painting is for sale for $600.00 and is framed in a maple shadow box.

And  remember if you haven’t signed up for my blog I am giving away a print to one of the last 20 people who sign up. Only 4 more  people to go so please consider signing up for may blog.

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Filed under Art, New Work