bonheur: Maine

Showing posts with label Maine. Show all posts

Maine Paintables

There was a lot to paint in Maine and I should have painted it, but mostly I didn't.

Unlike this gal oil painting en pleine aire down by the wharf

I should have painted the lavender drying on the bench...

Or two chairs set out ringside by the pond waiting for frogs to sing...

Or lovely reflections in a Camden pond...

A Victorian big house nestled in the woods - too perfect to paint.

Or Just Henry apple pies..

Apple sauce in the making, waiting to be painted.

Or these blackened heirloom tomatoes..

Or darling Jackie sneaking into my room for a pet...

Instead I mostly painted in the bathroom/studio I set up.

Watercolors to come tomorrow I hope...

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Play Misty For Me

Friday in Rockland, Maine starts off misty and atmospheric and I couldn't be more delighted. Blobs + blur. Yay.

David's misty painting viewpoint. He says it will burn off and it does...

The morning demo begins.

A work in progress

I decide to paint another misty view, listening to David's words in the background

But my efforts are too spotty

Nevermind. I shall paint Chateau du Petit Thouars and make it misty a la Paul Rickert + a touch of Turner!

Et voila

At afternoon crit David likes my paint dispursal but suggests perhaps I'd like to paint some Rockland chateaux?

Hmmm...

A nice Blurb book workshop student, Tina Raver put together - you can view it here.

No, I have no plans to try a Maine Whoopee Pie, even if it does look a tad like a French Tropezienne...

And here's GRACIE, Jackie's better half - the tail never stops wagging.

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Mornings in Paris, ME

PBers I'm in Maine not Paris, but these gorgeous macarons are at Mornings in Paris in Portland

Mornings roasts their own delicious coffee along with having little bags that look just like a French newsprint for your mac.

Isabelle Julien is the owner and very French. Born in Montpellier in case you're wondering...

Why doesn't New York have a cafe like this?

Isabelle sent us to J's Oyster Bar on the wharf for the real deal.

If it's briney atmosphere you're after you came to the right place.

I got a bucket of steamers natch - fresh and sandy the way I like em.

I stayed overnight at Sketchbook Wandering, a francophile in the deep end. SW says you must surround yourself with French words where ever you look.

Including the French Conditional on the refrigerator door. Fortunately no French words were hidden under my pillow...mon dieu

Next morning Bear was raring to paint outdoors. I wish I could say the same, ahem

David does his demo - a brilliant thumbnail capturing Bear's viewpoint to a T.

Mixing greens in watercolor can bust your chops if you're not careful

Your painting is on the palette first.

I was not so lucky. My blobs fell short IMHO

I'd rather be painting macarons - something I know best.

My landlord, Jackie at the B and B. I'll show you his better half, Gracie tomorrow.

Bon Friday!

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Bergdorfs Lobster Roll

Just because it's winter doesn't mean you can't hanker for a Maine lobster roll.

Bergdorfs' Holiday windows even show a crab roll-to-be.

une plateau de crustaces svp.

Does a fish roll exist?

Oh to be off swimming in nice warm caribbean waters.

Does her bodice look inspired by Alexander McQueens mussel corset?

Oh to just shake your lobster snowglobe.

And have Luke's Lobster truck show up in front of Bergdorfs.

Bergdorfs' blue lobster drove me down to Luke's storefront on 93 E. 7th street Saturday at 1:05 the joint was empty.

Naturally when my friend arrived 10 minutes later, the joint was jammed.

Natch we both got the lobster roll special for $17.

Everything comes from Maine including Miss Vickies chips and the ME soda pop. The roll has NO mayo only big hunks of very fresh Maine lobster and a bit of seasoned butter on a perfectly toasted bun.