Daily Painting Practice in Camden, Maine -Boats sail away? Nobody told me.

The art gods were playing with me. 

Did you ever go out painting just knowing that something special might happen today?  You know that feeling that comes over you as you get that first glimpse of a new area to paint. Something exciting is in the (plein) air. You tell yourself "This is going to be a good day! I think I may paint a winner!"

 Well, for me, that's how this day, in Camden Maine, started out... however, the art gods had other plans.

The previous week, Camden held it's week long plein air paint-out. I unfortunately did not know about it in time to register.  I did my own thing and showed up to paint the harbor as part of the Plein Air Painters of Maine (Northern Chapter) the day after everyone went home. 

 

On the docks in Camden Maine

Things looked promising. An overcast day meant consistent light, which is good news when painting detailed subjects like boats in a harbor.

I had just blocked in the composition when the the day took a turn. (Cue the dramatic music and the sound track of the art gods chuckling in the background)

Raise the sails

Ah, drying the sails I thought. That actually might work. I can go with  that change.

A while later they were back down. No big deal... I was ready to go  for the details...But then the most extraordinary thing happened to the boat...

Where's the **#X! boat?

IT SIMPLY DISAPPEARED!!!

As far as I could go

No problem, it was still a beautiful day. I know, I'll go paint the waterfalls that feed into the harbor. We had an abundance of rain the previous week so here's what I expected them to look like.

Camden Waterfalls

Here's what I found.

Waterfalls - minus the water

They diverted the water!

My day was ( pardon the pun), a complete washout. I gave it one more shot down at the harbor.  I went out on the docks and did one last color study, then called it a day. 

There was nothing plain about this plein air day.