Wonderful first week at Acadia National Park!

I’ve spent most of every day in the past week hiking, birding, climbing on rocks, sketching, and painting. I’ve identified two new birds for my life list– a Merlin and a Red Crossbill. I’ve walked an average of over 16,000 steps per day and I’ve filled about 50 pages in my sketchbook. I’ve watched and attempted to paint sunsets (not too many, because it’s often been cloudy and sometimes drizzly) and one sunrise (this morning at 4:50– the sun rises much earlier here than at home, thanks to latitude and longitude), and I’ve watched and attempted to sketch the otters here twice so far (they were a highlight of my last time here, and I love watching them swim and dive and cavort in the water). I’ve only pulled my computer out of its case a few times and even then have only been online briefly. I’ve spent hours in silence and days with few words spoken aloud, giving me much time to ponder, to pray, to simply be.

And that’s enough words for now, so I’ll just add photos of some of my sketches and some photos  I’ve taken of this amazing place (will wait till I’m home to post my paintings). (These are just quick photos, because I’m not going to take the time to scan and crop them until I’m back home.) I am so very, very thankful to be able to spend time here immersed in nature and art. Thank you so much to the Schoodic Institute and Acadia National Park for giving me this opportunity, and a huge thank you to Stephen for holding down the fort at home and letting me have this time away.

Herring Gull 052617 Little Moose Island 052917 Northern Parula 052617 Otters 053117 Schoodic Point in ink 052917 Sunrise 060317 Yellow rumped & Black throated Green 052717

DSCN8042Light and Shadow Ravens NestDSCN8271DSCN8095

2 Replies to “Wonderful first week at Acadia National Park!”

  1. Hi Melissa,
    was enjoying looking at your sketches! I especially liked the little moose island painting with wet on wet technique on right. nIce feeling of depth. I guess painting in the rain helps with that. Ravens nest looks like an amazing little isolated spot to hangout or paint. You just don’t want to slide off and roll into the ocean! Enjoy your time in Maine!

    • Thank you very much, Alan! I really liked the effect of the rain with texture. It was harder when another day it suddenly started pouring and I had to run for shelter with my sketchbook open because the paint was still wet, but even that one turned out okay.