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On April Fools day, in celebration of  new eyes, I went with friends to paint at Abol Bridge on the Golden Road outside Baxter State Park.  I call this Newsletter "Painting with Fresh Eyes" because that is what it felt like.  A week ago Tuesday a cataract in my left eye was removed and a new lens implanted.  People who had experienced cataract surgery told me it was wonderful.  They were correct!  Colors exploded into my vision.  As we drove north to the Park puddles of snow melt on the Golden Road shimmered,  reflecting the deep blue and purple sky.   I didn't know how beautiful plain old puddles could be.  The snow and late winter vegetation along the road added its own cloak of color: red, purple, glowing yellow, deep brown celebrating the day, while stately, snow-covered Katahdin... well  she was just amazing standing against the sky!

Words of John Burroughs' from 1886 came to mind. In 1983 I  created a piece of calligraphy with the words.  They got stuck in my mind then and like to pop back out each year when the time is right.  April 1st was the day.  The words guided my quest for a painting composition:


We stopped at the campground near Abol Bridge where Abol Stream flows into the Penobscot.  Snow there is clearly beginning to melt, very slowly.  Walking was challenging... one step on top of the snow and the next knee-deep in it.  Fortunately some areas were packed by previous travelers.  I chose to stop and paint at the confluence of Abol Stream and the Penobscot River.  Truly it felt like winter was coming down past me all day.  With jacket shed, hat discarded, and boots too hot, I felt glimmers of summer.  Color had her day in the roots of the birch clump and the flowing water which I painted, oh, yes, and snow still covered most of the landscape.


Today I am so very thankful for the eye doctor who exchanged my old grey lens for a clear one, for friends who nudge each other to paint and grow as artists, and for the opportunity to celebrate the wonderful environment in which we live.

I am pleased to let you know that two of my paintings were juried into different shows in Maine last week.  If you are in Waterville during the month of April, stop in at the Maine Juried Art Show at the Waterville Library.  My painting, Tucked In, is there as well as paintings from a large number of talented artists from throughout Maine.  Additionally,  the University of Maine Art Department has a juried show of student work at the Lord Hall Gallery on campus.  A mixed media painting which I completed in the fall, Intrusion, is included.  I was pleased to have my work included among the very creative expressions of fellow artists in the show.  Stop in to see what others are doing.