The Pull of the Brush

I didn't go to Monhegan with preconceived notions of what I would paint. I suspected I'd stay with what I'll loosely call abstract expressionism but I was open to the possibility that I might want to paint representationally. The only thing I knew for sure was that I'd paint with watercolors.

Once on the island, though, I was surprised by how strongly I felt the following: I didn't feel called at all to paint recognizable scenes. I didn't want to paint Monhegan, I wanted to be at Monhegan and paint.

Early Morning Undulations of Trail and Cove
4.5x6"; watercolor and ink on watercolor paper
abstract
2018

Ironically, I arrived home to find in the mail the delightful gift of a representational, entirely recognizable scene of some Camp Takodah buildings, painted evocatively and to great effect, with watercolors, by my camp friend Jane!