Maine Mutt Mansion

Lazy Afternoon

Original oil painting 18x24"

by Susan Roux

Why would 5 artists chose to lock themselves up in a strange house in the middle of winter for a week?

I know it sounds a bit crazy, but coming from me, you're really not surprised. Right?

It's official. All the money is in and the week is paid for. In less than a month we'll be hard at work on our Artist's Retreat! Yay! People often wonder what we do in Maine all winter long. Usually we come up with wild ideas to keep ourselves entertained. It gives us something to look forward to. Yes there are winter sports, but as the years go by, I find myself doing less and less of that. My cross-country skis are blocked in a corner, collecting dust...

Our plan is simple. Bring paint supplies, wine and lots of canvas. We want to work without the interruptions of day to day life. (Enough W's in that sentence?) The group is pretty diverse. Our subject matter, level of ability, mediums and painting process span a wide range. One thing that connects us is laughter. ...well of course art. I think it will be a stimulating, productive week.

So here it is. Our home away from home. Look at all the windows to bring light to our easels!

Did you happen to notice it's on the ocean? It's tucked in a cove in Freeport. There's a famous osprey nest at the state park and it's in our view directly across the water.

The bedrooms look spacious with glorious windows and balconies everywhere.

Of course we may need to shovel them off before we can step out on them... Maybe if the weather is mild (yeah right!) we'll bring our easels out and paint in plein air. Or perhaps plein cold!

At night we'll curl up in front of the wall size fireplace sipping red wine and charging our batteries for the next days round of painting. Not such a crazy idea after all, don't you think?

How do you get through the long winter months?

Roof Windows

My studio has roof windows. What an awesome way to have light pouring into your work space! I was surprised how different the light was coming from above as opposed to vertical windows. Even when its raining, there's ample light to work from. They're quite amazing.

I really like my roof windows.

A multiple-day snow storm finally ended yesterday. We got about a foot of the heavy white stuff. Though beautiful and inspiring, it plays havoc with my "light from above". My studio doesn't become totally dark. Light still filters in through all that snow. But painting with natural light becomes impossible. So out I go to clear the snow...

Luckily my roof comes down low...

At the beginning of the season, it isn't a hard job to tackle. Some years the level of the snow is over the roof's edge and it becomes a different story. But no matter how difficult the snow removal job is I always go let my precious light in.

I can't quite reach the top ones, but get my wood stove cranking and the rest will slide off.

Today the light will be perfect for painting!

So if you find yourself with snow on your rooftop or cobwebs in your attic, don't let it block out your light. Always remember light from above is always the best light, so don't be afraid to let it in...

(Photographs by Michael McAllister)

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