Many will know the work of Martin Johnson Heade, who was born in Lumberville, Pennsylvania, in 1819, and died in St. Augustine, Florida, in 1904.
Although he also is known for paintings of hummingbirds and orchids, Heade's renown is primarily based upon his paintings of salt marshes. These marshes, along the Eastern seaboard of the United States, are filled during successive tides by salt water. Traditionally they were harvested for their hay which was made up into ricks, and balanced on piles throughout the marsh. It was these haystacks, diminishing toward the horizon, that became a principal motif for Heade.
But he particularly seems to have been drawn to the marshes in Rowley, Newbury, and Newburyport, on Boston's North Shore.
Tomorrow being Wednesday, it's time for a weekly plein air painting jaunt for me and a couple of painter friends. This week we are heading out just a few miles from home, to the Newbury marshes. In particular, the site is the road approaching Kent's Island, the one-time residence of author John P. Marquand. There is a winding marsh stream, and even a haystack replica, photographed this evening by my wife.
Below are a few more Heades, from the local area, to give you the flavor. It will certainly be a challenge tomorrow!
A photograph of the marsh, taken this evening.
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Looks like a great day for painting outdoors, Donald. I may just take one of my kids out and do the same in Rye across from the Harbor. There's a certain little footbridge across the marsh....
ReplyDeleteYesterday and the previous Wednesday provided sun filled skies for our French plein-air group and we took full advantage painting in a wonderful hamlet called 'La Gouffe'at the foot of Neuvicq le Chateau. A good place to paint, especially as a local resident just purchased two of my paintings! I deliver the second one this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteI like hearing of 'sun-filled skies'-----first, as a fact, and second as a metaphor for your two sales. Bravo! Yesterday was glorious in the marsh, save for one amazing gust of wind which upset two out of three. But, after our Mary Poppins event, we all settled in. Contrary to what seems the prevailing trend toward really small plein air paintings, we were sporting two 18x24" canvases and another 20x22" panel. From a distance we must have combined to appear as would a brigantine, hull down, under full sail.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good day out. Can we have a peek at any of the windblown results? My day got even better ...delivered the second sale and went away with another commision.
ReplyDeleteWell, now...ain't that something. Here we are, your American cousins, burning ourselves to crisps and simultaneously working our fingers to the bone, while you glide from triumph to triumph. Bravo, Bruce!
DeleteAs for posting a painting from Wednesday, perhaps .....
Bruce...there's a not-very-good snapshot of one of last Wednesday's two 18x24" (ca. 45x60 cm) plein air starts posted on Facebook:
Deletewww.facebook.com/DonaldJurneystudio
Looks like we'll be in my studio tomorrow (11th), practicing our craft----clouds likely to be incontinent over the marsh.
Donald,
ReplyDeleteI would like to add the first sun burn of the year to the outdoor painting diary...note to self to add sunscreen to plein air kit. A small flaw in an otherwise excellent painting trip...
Hey Bruce, your landscape sounds romantic when you mention things like, "A wonderful hamlet called 'La Gouffe'at the foot of Neuvicq le Chateau"...perhaps a French countryside painting trip should be in order for us one of these days.
Hey, everybody! Painting in France----Todd's treating!
DeleteI've found that a glass of Bordeaux makes a nice watercolour wash.
ReplyDeleteSave the Haut-Brion (or, a la Pepys, "the O'Brien") for yourself. Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgeuil gives a similar tint, at a fraction of the price.
ReplyDelete