Turtle Island in Late Spring

The eastern coast of Long Island is populated by clusters of cedar trees that provide structure and color to the overall deciduous environment in winter and early spring. I've begun painting them and exploring the way they punctuate this landscape that I have loved since my childhood. Pictured here is Turtle Island, the magical isle I would swim out to in summer. I can remember exploring it in my wet bathing suit with bare feet hopping over rocks and shells, always in search of something. The victory of an abandoned bird's nest, or a dried clutch of wildflowers meant swimming back with the treasure held high above the water. They were my most favorite days, and so imagine the joy I had painting this place over 50 years later.
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Secret Gathering

Don't they look so happy together?

I couldn't stop thinking that and I even started humming the Beatles' tune in my head while I was painting these yellow faced beauties. It's been weeks since we've had to practice social distancing and the longing to be together is getting a bit overwhelming. It may be time for a "secret gathering" of my own... some close friends who've been in quarantine and are not at risk. I am still mulling it over while the daffodils dance together in the sun. 

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The little drawing below is the new logo for the publishing platform from which I will be launching my first children's book. So excited! 

Stay Safe and Stay Tuned,

Maryann Lucas

Sagaponack Farm

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This is the same barn as featured in my last post. However, this is it in early morning light. It continues to astound and at times frustrate me at how dramatically a scene changes as the light changes. The warm glow on the old wooden doors and the cast shadows under the eaves are what drew me to this barn in the first place. By the time I had the sketch done and began to paint, however, the sun had moved behind the barn and I had to stop. The warmth and mood were gone. So, the next morning I went back and there was the barn in the light that initially caught my eye. Only now, there was a tractor parked in front as well - oh, the perils of painting a working farm in plein aire!

Cascade of Yellow Roses

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This was painted in plein aire in my front garden. On the first day of painting, I got in a good sketch and a smattering of color and felt pretty good about my start. After all, a 30"x48" canvas is a very big canvas for me. Later that night, the skies burst open in a downpour of torrential rains and in the morning, my beautiful yellow roses looked a mess. They were drooping and in spots their stems were broken. I don't remember what annoyed me more at the time, the battered rose bush or my now defunct painting sketch. I had been thinking about making this painting since the summer before and I was determined not to let a deluge get in my way. I propped up the broken branches with brooms and rakes from the garage and proceeded with the painting. I was now painting heavy clusters of yellow blooms, cascading downwards in a spiral. It was actually quite beautiful... even more beautiful than the original sketch of perky upright roses. In fact, when my art dealer saw the finished piece, she commented that what made this piece special, was that the roses were facing downward. Of course, this was not my original plan - Fate?, Mother Nature?, Dumb Luck? Something? intervened and the plan got better.  Hmmmm... I find that painting, like life, is funny that way.

Long Beach Life Guard

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Forgot to post this one. I painted it way back in July on probably one of the hottest days of the summer. This local life guard kept watch in the shade of an umbrella. Capturing the color and value of the shade on her figure juxtaposed to the bright sun all about her was the main challenge of this plein aire piece.

Sunflowers and Blue Bottle and Pears

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This is a painting I did a few weeks ago, and have been meaning to post. Creating a still life in plein aire and alla prima was a double challenge. I had to work quickly. I had to be precise about what I was seeing. I had to really look at the values. I find this all to be very rewarding because my primary purpose as an artist right now is to stay loose and painterly. Plein aire and alla prima sort of force that to happen. When I work this way, not every painting is a keeper. In fact, some are truly bad. The ones that work out, however, are very satisfying to me.

Sunflowers in Sunlight

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I love setting up a still life in direct sunlight and then, having a go at it. What a challenge! Perfect, however, for keeping me loose and painterly. Sunflowers are key to this plein aire adventure... they don't wilt in the sun and you usually can get a few days of painting out of one bouquet!

Stables at Comfort Farm

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It was another beautiful day at Comfort Farm, in Bridgehampton, New York.  I painted here with my daughter and fellow artist, Edwina Lucas. At one point, we found ourselves surrounded by curious onlookers, with their necks stretched long across the fence to get a better look at what we were doing.  One horse got so close, it almost knocked over Edwina's easel. He then turned his back to us and pushed his rump up against the fence. We really weren't sure how to interpret all this ... could it be he didn't like our paintings? Tough crowd!!

Barns on a Clear Day

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This day was particularly clear and gorgeous. The colors of the grass and sky were so bright it was as if they were iridescent. By the time I finished the painting, my eyes were exhausted ... but satisfied!

Comfort Farm

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This big old barn is the crown jewel of Comfort Farm, in Bridgehampton, NY. The barn is massive and an architectural masterpiece. I felt so much peace while painting it; surrounded by the sounds of corn stalks blowing in the breeze and flocks of birds whirling in the air. It was tremendous. I was accompanied on this painting excursion by the very talented Ben Fenske -  a dream come true! I love him and his work. Check it out, here - Grenning Gallery. That's me with Ben below. Some days are simply unforgettable. This was one.

Noyac Marina

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Here is another from my plein aire landscape workshop with artist Ben Fenske. It happens to be of the marina where I met my husband back in the day when we were kids. Sweet memories, and if I say so myself, a sweet little painting!

Lattice Roses

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This is a little painting I did last week in preparation for the plein aire workshop I am taking this week with artist Ben Fenske. Ironically, this painting was not really helpful at all. What I am learning this week about my landscape painting, is that I tend to miss the "big picture," by focusing on a "detail" in the scene. (I not only stop to smell the roses, but I get too close and paint them, too.)  It has been difficult for me to paint with a wide range of vision. I am working on it, and will post more paintings from the workshop in the next few days.

Wainscott Trees

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I am taking a plein aire landscape class with artist Ben Fenske through Sag Harbor Fine Arts Center. Here's today's effort. It was a very hazy day, and I was looking into the sun. So, as Ben pointed out in his demo before we got started, I could expect the sky to be the lightest value in my painting and the vertical planes (the trees) to be in shadow. It was incredibly helpful to be armed with this information before heading out into the field to try and "see" it/ "find" it for myself.

Little Bit of Lilacs

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I have begun a series of 8"x8" studies of all that spring has to offer. My aim is to capture each bloom as I see them and feel them. So I will be painting not so much from a botanical perspective, as from the absolute pleasure I feel when I touch, smell and drown my sensibilities in each flower. I do so wish that blogspot had a "scratch and sniff" widget!!

View towards Pumpkin Farm

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I went back to the pumpkin farm. The combination of the barn in the far distance, the dash of bright orange mid-range and the opening in the rustic fence make for a winning composition. Not to mention, the spot is so peaceful, located at the end of a long road just near the bay. On this day, flocks of geese flew overhead all afternoon in their typical V-formation, while swans floated out on the bay. I will definitely be going back... soon.

Farm in December

I am falling in love with painting outside, especially in winter. It is so quiet. I am finding that it's best to be out painting by 10 o'clock in the morning. That gives me steady light until around 2:30. During that span, the light changes, but subtly. Once 3 o'clock hits, the sun starts to take an ever-quickening nose dive into night. I now understand that old cowboy line,"move it along, we're burnin' daylight!"

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Farm in Late Fall

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About an hour into this painting, I got a visit from one of the farm's residents. A very spunky Jack Russell Terrier raced out to see what I was doing and he was not too thrilled! He barked and barked and barked and barked. For a little guy, he made quite a big commotion and it went on for what seemed like forever.  I was actually thinking I might have to pack it in when fortunately, he was called back into the farmhouse.

Red Farmhouse

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I was back outside with my easel this week. When driving around the back roads of Bridgehampton scanning for a scene to paint, I spied this old red farmhouse. Alongside it was an open field, glowing bright green in the morning sun. The juxtaposition of these complimentary colors drew me in and sealed the deal. It was a glorious painting session, complete with an occasional "cock-a-doodle-do," from the resident rooster!

Delicate Trio

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These are my favorite little roses, so sweet and delicate and deliciously fragrant. There are still quite a few on the bushes outside, so I can enjoy painting them for a bit longer. Hooray.

Circle Beach September

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I set out just after lunch to this quiet little beach near my house. I really expected not to be interrupted while I painted there, it being September and all. Most people leave at summer's end. Boy was I wrong, the interruptions were simply unbelievable! The first one came just a few minutes after I started painting.

You can see them there... two baby deer... spots and all, splashing and running all over the place.  Not long after that, a couple of trumpet swans flew above my head with their whooshing sounds and flapping wings. And as if that wasn't enough...

then their whole entire family dropped by. It is a wonder I got a thing done!