Peaks Island Summer Residency 2018

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On July 21st, 2018 my husband and I boarded the Casco Bay Ferry https://www.cascobaylines.com in Portland for the brief ride to Peaks Island. Our car was loaded for a week’s stay at The Stone House – Marilyn Faison Residency courtesy of Illustration Institute.http://www.illustrationinstitute.org

Happy Trails!

Our drive along Sea Shore Road had wonderful vistas!

We stopped to check for sea glass. Brian found lots of pieces in colors of blue, green, and brown.

The scenery on Peaks is so peaceful. Seaweed, rocks, and glass are plentiful!

We visited the 5th Maine Museum https://www.fifthmainemuseum.org/ before our arrival at the Stone House.

During the post- Civil War years the building dedicated itself to providing a peaceful spot for recovering War Veterans.

I wanted to see where my Illustration Institute Workshop would be held so we took time to check out the history inside and out!

The grounds outside provided the perfect place to relax and finish my lunchtime coffee.

Arriving at the Stone House we were greeted by lovely floral bouquet’s. I immediately set up my art space.

Colorful visuals are always prominent on Peaks. I delighted in experimenting with my new set of watercolor pencils.

The week was full of lively conversations, delicious dinners with Jamie Hogan, http://www.jamiehogan.com

her family, and new friends from Illustration Institute.

Later in the week Jamie and I presented our Nature Craft Workshop at the 5th Maine.

A banner day with many creative people!

Our Nature Artifacts table was overflowing with goodies and our books looked lovely, too!

Artists in Residence!

A bountiful crop of talented people!

More art!

A rewarding and fun day for everyone!

Thanks, Illustration Institute for a week of fun, creativity, and adventure! My creative well has been replenished!

Making Tracks on Top of MT. A

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On January 20th, 2018 I joined the staff of the MT. A conservation http://www.agamenticus.org and The Center for Wildlife http://www.thecenterforwildlife.org for a morning of fresh cold air, books, family fun, and animal ambassadors.

The Summit House is filled with lovely handpainted murals.

And, another mural!

While setting up my book table I glanced up to spy this glorious paper owl soaring through the rafters.

With my book table ready I joined Katy by the fireplace to hear her introduce several animal ambassadors from The Center for Wildlife.

Skeeter the squirrel and Henry the Porcupine were favorite animal ambassadors!

Sarah Bunker Kern, Education Director at The Center for Wildlife, has a special relationship with Henry!

A great morning was had by everyone who attended this unique event. As I packed up my table and took one more look around I spied this lovely painted rock; brilliant colors for a cold winter white day!

A Road Trip Full of B’s

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On October 7 & 8 my family and I took off on a road trip. We quickly realized it would be a trip full of B’s! Boothbay, Books, Brian’s Birthday, a Band, Brown’s Wharf, and Boats! Our first stop was the Railway Village in Boothbay Harbor.

https://railwayvillage.org

A beautiful bumper crop of harvest flowers!

Maine Authors Publishing http://maineauthorspublishing.com/ had authors signing and selling books on the lawn of the village.

Setting up the table and ready to sign with Kelly Brooks Bay, author of The Rainbow Pants and Jan Gilley, author of Light on Jib Island. 

We were entertained all afternoon by a local Boothbay Band. Books + Bands=A Bonanza of good fun!

Birthday’s are meant to be celebrated with a grand-daughter and black raspberry ice cream. Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

No visit to Boothbay Harbor’s Railway Village would be complete without a ride on the narrow gauge railroad cars. Brian, Kris, & Eric were beaming in anticipation. Natalie was still warming up to the idea!

The busy day culminated in our arrival at Brown’s Wharf.  This jolly fisherman greeted us in the parking lot. Natalie thought this ‘yellow boy with Santa boots’ was quite amazing!

The perfect ending to a banner day; hotel deck views of boats in Boothbay. Bravo!

The Many Colors of First Friday Art Walk

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Portland’s First Friday Art Walk greeted 3 Maine Women Authors on September 1st; Tammy Cloutier – Painted Dog Pursuit, Michelle W. Patch – The Boston Terrier Who Thought He Was a Loon, and me with my book – A Porcupine’s Promenade. Thanks to our publisher, Maine Authors Publishing, http://www.maineauthorspublishing.com we set up our tables on a bright sunny COOL & WINDY afternoon underneath the bright orange overhang of the Maine College of Art (MECCA) – http://www.meca.edu


Our tables were bright and cheery! We even had a painted dog keeping company with a porcupine!

All 3 of us were bundled up in fleece, jeans, scarves, and plenty of smiles! Tammy is a great photographer!

Michelle Patch’s display of her book; “The Boston Terrier Who Thought He Was a Loon” captured the interest of one avid reader while her mother happily smiled for the camera. This was Tammy’s FIRST Book event so it was only fitting that she opted to join in for FIRST Friday Art Walk!

As the afternoon passed I couldn’t help but notice the colorful displays of artistry on architecture…….

Pink city buses, vivid yellow pants, blue & black plaid shirts, and neon colored street signs….

MECA students were everywhere setting up their wares. Monochromatic water color paintings with striped shirts presented an inviting display.

Visitors passing by eagerly tried out screen printing while I was captivated by the unique hair colors.

Taking a quick walk to check out other vendors I happened to see this woman on stilts! The blustery day sent her green skirt flapping! While her colorful floral sunhat took a ride in the breeze minutes after I snapped this photo.

As the sun began to set I took a glance around before packing up my book table and noticed  the distinctive red, white, and blue of our American flag. Being part of First Friday Art Walk was fun, invigorating, and colorful!

Peaks Season

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It all began with a newspaper article in the Portland Press Herald; Experience a Faison Artist Residency as part of Illustration Institute – The Stone House – Peaks Island, Maine. A one week+ stay in a stone house – an inspirational space for authors and artists.

I asked myself, “Really? Live on an island? for a week? Should I? Could I?”

Yes, I told myself. I could.”

My home away from home for one week; The Stone House. www.illustrationinstitute.org/

This wonderful unique house came complete with many well lit spaces in which to create, write, think, and reflect.

My creative inspiration was unleashed and came from many Island sources; blooming architecture, pastel floral vases, sunflower sheds, and a new found rodent friend named Chester!

Seven days of contemplation, consideration, and musings culminated in a Perfect Peaks Pop-Up Book Sale with Peaks Island resident, illustrator, & good friend, Jamie Hogan.http://www.jamiehogan.com

Boy oh Boy this Porcupine sure gets around!

All too quickly it was back home to enjoy the waning days of summer. Farewell, Peaks!