Friday, August 29, 2008

The red chair , copyrighted 2006
This is another example of a chair on the porch , If you have a favorite chair to be painted , just email me , this particular painting is owned by an art collector .I usually look for unusual porch designs , I decorate mine ,people are always stopping to take photos of my porch .
I think a porch makes a home very warm and welcome.
this is a large watercolor 22x28
nlcasey@charter.net this painting is sold

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Geranium on the porch, copyrighted 2006 This painting has been sold , but this is good example for someone who would want their famous chair painted, a family heirloom like a grandmother chair or one you use to decorate your porch.
this was 16x28 mated watercolor , email me nlcasey@charter.net

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Farmer's market, copyrighted

The temperature is going down , the days are getting shorter, I think fall is in the air, it is one season I do like! I paint all over New England and this scene was painted a few years ago on the island of Nantucket , the farmer's markets are very popular at this time of year ,everyone is picking their wonderful summer crops.
watercolor 8x10 , email me if you are interested, nlcasey@charter.net



Monday, August 25, 2008

Irish boy,copyrighted 2008

Irish boy,copyrighted 2008 I took a break from painting for a few days and worked on some quilting just to relax, I was quilting some postcards just for fun, but this afternoon I started to feel guilty of not painting and Clancy was sitting next to me in the sun ,when I decided to paint him in watercolor,he was a perfect model!
5x7 watercolor of an Wheaten Terrier Email me if interested, nlcasey@charter.net

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Going Green,copyrighted 2008

Going Green is in!
Here is my abstract watercolor of happy happenings with the colors.
Tired after a big yard clean up , the weeds were all over my gardens ,the grass was way above normal with all the rain we had here , of course nothing like Florida ,I feel sorry for them , it's very hard to clean water damage.
3x5 watercolor

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Red house in Pembroke , copyrighted 2008

My friend Dianne and I painted this house in Pembroke ,Maine .I always like a house that sits on a hill , with the tide coming in , it made a perfect scene!
5x5 oil painting on stretched canvas , $99.00 email me if interested, nlcasey@charter.net

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

The tide is coming in, copyrighted

When you go away from the studio for a couple weeks, the work do pile up and this is what I am doing now , emails ,correspondences, dateline to enter shows and organizing the work and project I worked on location and off course cleaning the house pay attention to the family and animals ,forget the garden , it's too far gone!
This is a large pastel of the bay on the backside of the farm where I was staying for two weeks , being a salt water farm , the tide goes in a goes out twice a day.
The time of the painting, the Tide was coming in ,
pastel painting framed 22x25 . I take commision work. Email nlcasey@charter.net

Monday, August 18, 2008

Cutler cottages, copyrighted

Well I am back home after a wonderful two week retreat , of just painting and exploring the coast of Maine and Canada ,and a superb time with all my art friends that share the retreat experience ,this was our 16 Th year!
this is a familiar scene on the coast of small cottages lining the landscape of the small town of Cutler . 11x14 , matted t0 a 16x20 .
email me if you are interested, nlcasey@charter.net


Thursday, August 14, 2008

Fishing Shacks in Deer Isle ,copyrighted,2008
Well my two weeks are coming to an end ,tomorrow we will take our show down in Lubec , and starting to put all our Art gear back in the car for the long drive home on Saturday, it has been a wonderful two weeks of painting with my very good friends of fifteen years .
This was my #2 painting done in Deer Island , today I worked on some still life at the farm.
watercolor 6x8 email me nlcasey@charter.net

Wednesday, August 13, 2008


Leonardville,DeerIsland NB,copyrighted,2008
A watercolor from our trip yesterday to Deer Isle .NB . Small fishing villages all over the Island ,what a treat !
the weather was not the greatest but we still painted and had a great day!
Watercolor,6x8 email me if interested, nlcasey@charter.net

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Mulholland light in oil, copyrighted 2008

This will be the last lighthouse I am posting , I am done with this project, it was fun !
Today my friend and I went to Deer Island in NB , we took the ferry from Campobello , we toured the Island under a mist than rain , we managed to sketch two paintings from the car.
We stopped at a cute shop called the "Happy shop" with antiques and books , a must see if you visit the Island. than back to the ferry to Eastport and made the loop back to tide Mill. a long day it was ,but a fun day.
oil on canvas 6x12 Email me if interested, nlcasey@charter.net

Monday, August 11, 2008

Campobello, Head Harbor lighthouse,copyrighted 2008

Voila! another version of the lighthouse where I have been painting for two days .This light is located on the famous Campobello Island where President Franklin D. Roosevelt had his retreat.
on the bay of Fundy.
this is an oil on canvas 6 x12 $150.00 email me if you are interested nlcasey@charter.net

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Fog morning at Head Harbor light.copyrighted 2008
My friends and I have just finished two days of painting lighthouses on Campobello Island, we ended the two day challenge with a small art show,very nice week end and met lots of nice people and artists.
This painting is a watercolor ,sold

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Mulholland lighthouse,NB ,copyrighted 2008
The challenge is on today! of all the lighthouses in Maine and Canada, I painted this one yesterday in watercolor ,this lighthouse is on the Canadian side over looking the town of Lubec in US. more to come tomorrow......

The blue rocker,copyrighted 2008

Having a wonderful time at the retreat, painting plein air during the day, and small interior when I get back , the weather has been good compare to southern New England .
we also went blueberry picking in the wild fields of Maine .
5x5 oil on canvas

Thursday, August 07, 2008

The quilt farm,copyrighted 2008

The other window in my room with a beautiful antique quilt,the farm has a view from every window,a perfect place for our retreat.
Email nlcasey@charter.net

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Room with a view, copyrighted 2008

This is the view from my room at the farm, every window has a view of the water, being a salt water farm ,the tide goes in and out all day long, a very impressive natural wonder, I have painted the landscape all around the farm many times ,but in the next few days I will do the interiors.
this is an oil on board 5x5 ,email me if you are interested .nlcasey@charter.net

Monday, August 04, 2008

Sketch after the storm

I arrived at the farm in Saturday,meeting all my good friends, the weather has not been the greatest a lot of fog and storms . we just diplayed a show at the library of our work of previous years . We are hopeful the sun will come our way and have a succesful two weeks of painting ,only a sketch last night! stay tuned for our beautiful landscapes .
watercolor, 5x7

Friday, August 01, 2008

The Tide Mill farm artists retreat , copyrighted
22x28 watercolor , sold
Artist retreat

A retreat is a way for an Artist to reflect on the creative life away from the duties of everyday life that holds one down.
For the last fifteen years a group of artists in Maine go to the Artists retreat to replenish their soul and creativity.
They start their journey Down East on a 200 to 400 miles drive depending where they come from, some come from the western Mountains of Maine and some come from southern New England and a few flying from other parts of the country. They all meet at a beautiful salt water farm on the Cobscook Bay called “The Tide Mill Farm “ These artists driving up the coast on the remote Route One, arrive late afternoon, the first one wait patiently for the others as they arrive one by one all jumping for joy as they see each other. They have not seen each other since last year and they are very much exited. They want to catch up with all the news and their art, they also want to absorb the beauty of the place they have come to love , they get a sense of belonging there, after all the years,
The owners run to greet them like they were family; they quickly bring their bags and art supplies to their room. The plan is to go in town and have a light supper at a local fish place, something they have done from the early days of coming to this area, they even request the same large round table, while having their supper plans will be made for what they are going to do for the week, and celebrate a successful week
The next morning plans are in motion to find new subjects, maybe a new theme for the year or sometime revisit an old subject or take a different spin on it or style but whatever it is the next week will be, paint and paint like there is no tomorrow and always think about painting!
Actually they even forget about their family life back home and totally engulf themselves in a creative mood for the rest of their stay. They actually come from different walks of life, different states and countries but all have the same interest and speak one language, ART.
Plein Air painting is something so refreshing and free, it’s exactly what it is, no instructions, like a workshop or a commission for someone, just free to paint whatever you want, what comes from your soul, you and the canvas on the easel, in the middle of this natural beauty of the area.
This particular group paints the coast of Maine and the famous Campobello Island where President Franklin D. Roosevelt had his private retreat.
Some of the artists paint together, two or three of them, at the same spot and some like to paint in total solitude. When they leave in the morning they are totally prepared for the day with a lunch, water sun lotion, bug spay, rain gear and plenty of material to work with because they will spend the entire day in nature. Nature it is! Beautiful fields of wild flowers to coastal rocks cascading into the ocean. Lighthouses and small fishing villages bustling with lobster boats and fisherman, ready to talk about their catch of the day! In general they are very friendly and enjoy talking to visiting artists who paints their beautiful Washington County.
The day usually goes by very fast, one or two paintings might be created, but not totally finished, mostly alla prima, it will need retouching back at the farm!
Each artist is exited to return to meet the others and anxious to show what they have done , maybe for a critique or surprise them with a great painting and possibly tell them about a new spot they have found, sorts of a game between each other, like a fisherman who comes back to show his catch. Also what elements they have experienced, too much sun, fog, bugs or even chased by an animal. By then they are exhausted, all they want to do is put their feet up and relax on the porch, maybe with a glass of wine, enjoy the view of the Coobscook bay in front of them with the tide going in and out, chit chat with the others and enjoy the dinner that is about to come. Two of the artists have kitchen duties for that night, everyone takes turn!
Supper is eaten at a large table family style, the food is always delicious. The plein air in French means “Fresh air “of the day surely gives you a great appetite. The experience of the day will be the subject of conversations while enjoying our dinner. Until a beautiful sunset will be seen out of the large dinning room window, and in a flash everyone will be looking for their camera to capture that moment of the beauty of the night, this ritual might go on every night if the weather is good!
Cleaning up time and out for a walk at dusk on this 1800acres property surrounded by salt water. Along the walking trails more potential scenes are discussed for painting, the farms animals are grazing in the fields come to greet us, like you are back? Some of the same animals have been there for years some we have witnessed their birth. Many of the animals have been models for some of the animalist artists. When I say the farm, it’s actually a beautiful early 1800 Victorian farm house, solely dedicated for retreats for artists and writers and family reunions beautifully decorated in a simple country style,a real organic farm of the 9th generation to reside on the premises in modern houses we stay in the original house of the Tide Mill Farm.
While we return from our mile or so walk ,knowing coffee and desert will be on the table .and we will start another session of painting , some will retouch the paintings they were working during the day ,others will work on a still life after scavenging throughout the house for some unusual treasures , they re is always one artist ready for the tasks, who is good at putting things together in a creative and pleasing way for a still life.
Silence will set in this beautiful room, and the artists will continue to paint until very late at night, some will retreat earlier than others, depending on who is an early riser. By the end of the day this group of artists will have put in 10 to 12 hours solely painting, now that is a lot of work at times, but they are so relaxed and excited they won’t think about it. The week will go very fast, some will stay for two weeks, but by the time they are ready to go home they will have a wonderful body of work with them.
Many paintings will go on to special shows, galleries, outdoor shows, win ribbons and others will go in a closet , but at least the artists will have painted whatever their heart desires.
All their work will be originals and looking to go home with a collector who is going to appreciate the love, work and dedication from these professional artists who have renewed their creative juice and enjoy this week of détente with others just like them and created beautiful art. .
They look for collectors who appreciate these true artists who live to paint and paint to live. I am proud to be one of them, and look for the experience every year.


Nita Leger Casey ,copyrighted 2008
Fine art artist