Painting as a spectator sport

A squall rolled through Camden last night and people put their sails up to dry. I begged the owner of this gaff-rigged boat to not go out until I was done painting. He was a kind man; he acquiesced... and then bought the painting.

Painting as a spectator sport—who knew such a thing was even possible? It’s 9 PM and I’m just getting in for the evening, so instead of words, I’m giving you a photo essay.

Would you find this crowd disconcerting? Nah, not me either. But the harbormaster doing a countdown to the first brush stroke over the loudspeaker... that was a mite disconcerting. If he'd fired a starter gun, I'd have fallen in the harbor.

Howard Gallagher from Camden Falls Gallery auctioning off the quick-draw paintings. I can't say enough good things about the gallery's professional-yet-relaxed management of this event.

Because I'd used up my 8X10 frame in the morning, I had to paint 6X8 for the quick-draw. That's really small for me, and I was a little concerned it was going nowhere. But the Bowsprit of the Nathaniel Bowditch turned out just fine for such a wee painting, and the buyer seemed thrilled.

There's a Build-a-Boat competition going on during the festival. If I weren't painting, I'd be very tempted to compete.

(This was Day Six of Camden Plein Air, Camden Falls Gallery’s annual paint-out and wet paint auction. From Monday, August 26 through Monday, September 2 participating artists from around New England and the mid-Atlantic region are painting picturesque Camden Harbor and the surrounding area. New work produced during this event will be displayed in the Camden Falls Gallery throughout the week, and a Wet Paint Auction will be held on Saturday, September 7 to benefit four local non-profit organizations.)

By evening it was misty and cool. The rain held out exactly long enough to finish the live auction.

Join me in October, 2013 at Lakewatch Manor—which is selling out fast—or let me know if you’re interested in painting with me in 2014. Click here for more information on my Maine workshops!