#489 • Hunters Full Super Moon

Click here to purchase this painting #489
http://www.claudiadiller.com/blog.htm

 

 

I haven't been reading the NYTs. Gave that up for sanity reasons. I also have not been listening to the major network morning news much either. As a result I have been revisiting the lost art of self discovery - like looking out my window the other night and being jaw dropping surprised by how big the full moon was. Sure enough, my alternative sources of info tell me it's the Hunters Moon but also the third super moon of the year.

 

For those who don't know, the Hunters Moon always follows the Harvest Moon and signaled the start of the hunting season for early civilizations. It reminded them, not that they needed it, that it was time to prepare for winter, though the weather up here the past few days has been a very tricky summer-like.

For me, it's time to get the garlic ready to plant.

Hunters Full Super Moon • 8" x 8" acrylic framed to 12" x 12"• $275

#488 • Roaming the Hills and Valleys

Click here to purchase this painting #488
http://www.claudiadiller.com/blog.htm

I took a day off and rode over to Sunday Rive Ski Resort - hadn't been there in over a decade. Wow - the expansion is amazing. But more amazing were the views that expansion opened up.

There's a lot of debate about ski areas these days - are they good for the environment or not. I come down on the side of good for a variety of reasons. The town I live in - Kingfield, would not be much of anything without Sugarloaf up the road in terms of commerce and employment.

But the biggest plus is that ski areas get people up in to the mountains and valleys. Folks get to see the incredible landscape that we live in. You feel a strong pull to preserve those forests, hills, mountains, stream and lakes.

In the meantime, force myself to do these landscapes. I would never presume to have the talent to capture the beauty out there - I'll leave that to the pros. But here's a sketch of one of those scenes I saw at Sunday River.

Roaming the Hills and Valleys • 8" x 8" acrylice framed to 12" x 12" • $275

#487 • Ancient Autumn Leaf Changing Stories

 

Click here to purchase this painting #487
http://www.claudiadiller.com/blog.htm

The leaves are just beginning to change around here. It would be a very sad time of year for me, but as if to ease the pain of summer's passing, Mother Nature gives us a period of adjustment with a stunning color show out there. It's a real distraction and has become a favorite time of year for me. I forget jump full on in to the drama of it.

I can't imagine what humans thought was going on out there when this happened every year eons ago. What story did they put to it? The science is fascinating, but stories are always more fun. Here are a couple:

https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/autumn-color/

https://www.commonlit.org/en/texts/why-leaves-change-color#

Ancient Autumn Leaf Changing Stories • 8" x 8" acrylic framed to 12" x 12" • $275

#486 • Sailing Away Around the Bays

 

It's been a fun summer sailing around the bays here in Maine. We haven't gone way down east yet, but we will. We've just enjoyed figuring out whether or not we two workaholics have it in us to meander the coast all summer in slow motion. As it turns out, we can but only if we have to come home to mow the lawn and weed the garden. These two chores keeps reality within reach just in case we begin to fall off the big life-altering cliff.

My wish for this Labor Day weekend is that everyone in the world has an opportunity to enjoy a little time even if it's in their head, when there are no deadlines looming, no more have-to-do-work in the pipeline and no more someone lurking over your shoulder demanding better and more.

Be well out there. 

iPad sketch

#485 • Perry Creek Sunset

Sunsets in Perry Creek are not as memorable as other anchorages - it doesn’t have the long view off to the west. But one night I saw this and was surprised. It was quite stunning.

iPad sketch

#484 • Too Magical For Words

It was another foggy morning heading out of Bucks Harbor. No wind, flat calm, silent except for the drone of our engine.

A light breeze began to release its fingers across our bow. And then as if too shy, it would draw them back, afraid to commit it seemed. But very very slowly the fingers gently morphed into hands, arms and eventually completed itself. We quietly raised our main and  popped the jib, afraid we might scare this delicate breeze away. The engine was released and we began our whisper across the silver mirror spread out before us, our dinghy quietly gurgling behind.

There were no other boats about. Fog gradually gave way and the southern horizon lit up against the gray clouds over its head. It was too magical for words, impossible to depict this gift of a few hours of otherworldly beauty and grace.

IPad sketch

#483 • Just Another Foggy Day

 

It was just another foggy day out in the islands. We went ashore and walked by this sweet little summer house while stretching our legs on Vinalhaven.

A quick sketch on my iPad.