Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Windmills and Contrails

Second Island, Windmills, Dark Clouds, oil on panel, 10" x 10"

Sand Beach, a favorite spot for residents and visitors to Deer Isle, is where we go to see the sunset. The distinctive profile of the leaning tree on Weir Island is easily recognizable in paintings, photographs and prints by dozens, if not hundreds, of artists. Sadly, the tree fell down last winter, changing the profile of this popular ‘motif’.


Windmills & Contrails, Second Island, oil on panel, 10" x 10"

This summer a new landmark appeared on the horizon: the three windmills on Vinalhaven. Painters have the option of editing man-made objects out of their landscape paintings, or celebrating them, as they often do with lighthouses or bridges. I haven’t really formed an opinion of the windmills yet.


Windmills & Contrails I, oil on panel, 5" x 5"

I haven’t decided if I like seeing them there or not, but there they are. They tower hundreds of feet above Vinalhaven, but are low on our horizon, inches from where the sun sets in winter. Bathed in orange, their red lights pulse on and off as it gets dark.


Windmills & Contrails II, oil on panel, 5" x 5"

Often the windmills are surrounded by brightly-lit contrails or lines of purple clouds. In the snow and fog they fade in and out or disappear altogether.


Second Island from Sand Beach, oil on panel, 10" x 8"

On Weir island a new tree is beginning to lean towards the water.


Weir Island, Sunset, oil on panel, 7" x 5"

3 comments:

Philip Koch said...

Rebecca,

I really like that first painting, Second Island, Windmills, Dark Clouds. Wonderful subtle color scheme you have going there.

Rebecca said...

Hey, thanks.
-Rebecca

fishgirl said...

these are wonderful! love the tea series too.