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This painting is one of 7 paintings/studies which were created over a 2 1/2 day period on Swans Island, Maine at the time of the Summer Solstice.  The idea was to look, to see and to paint without over thinking.  Each painting, except the last, was completed in a 2 hour period.   They are studies to use in future paintings.  With grateful thanks to the Harringtons of Swans Island who hosted us for 3 nights and to Arrah Vanier and Greg Cyr for arranging for the Plein Air Connect group to stay on the Island, we arrived at the Island eager to paint and to see what we could do on an 'intensive' painting day.  The first half day was warm-up:  two small studies to begin to see the area, the colors, and to feel the excitement of being on the Island.  Saturday. June 21,  we started at 4:30 AM on the east side of the island, looking towards Mt Desert and Acadia Park.  Throughout that day we painted sun rise, a morning painting at Mill Park, an afternoon painting at the Island Quarry, and a west facing sunset painting.  It was great fun but took an enormous amount of focus, energy and stamina to make it to sunset.  I wonder what it would be like to try the same thing on December 21, the winter solstice!  To see each of the Swans Island Solstice Paintings in the order they were created, click here.  The first six were created in a day and a half.  The last was completed at a more slowly  on our last day on the island.