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Friday, July 8, 2011

Bristol Swing Bridge, 8x10, Oil

NFS
This was my favorite painting done on location in Maine last week.  It is in South Bristol, I believe, and it is at the location of a tiny Swing Bridge (the whole piece of road spins around like a top to let the boats go by), and in a couple of years from now it will be a drawbridge, as all the Swing Bridges in Maine are slated for replacement.   If you know who Connie Hays is, I think she painted in this area, too.  I was very disciplined about using my new viewfinder with grid lines - as there was so much I wanted to include, plus the wind-y road and the house on the hillside.... it made it so much easier!  

I enhanced the colors on the houses and road, because... well, because I wanted to.  I, at this point in Maine, started feeling freer.  It has continued and expanded since I've come home.  When I show you the first painting I did in my studio when I got back I'm sure each and every one of you will say "Wait.... WHO is this person who painted this???"  And I'm having a walloping good time doing it, that's what I'll say!

22 comments:

  1. Oh my gosh..the house up on the hill is the house one of David's colleagues owns. That is the house we stayed in. I must see this painting!
    Beautiful work with light Kelley and my, it looks just like it did when we stayed there for a week many years ago. We slept in the upper from bedroom with the window closest to the road...how funny the yard was with the ledge in it.
    I love this painting too.
    Have my big day today.

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  2. Wow Kelley! That looks like a Connie hays painting! Gorgeous. There must be something in the water up there. Just great! Love the colors...especially the sky!

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  3. certainly some the best stuff you've done !
    I love that you are "Making stuff up"

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  4. Love all these Maine paintings, Kelley. I recognize many places. especially Christmas Cove. We go to Maine a lot.

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  5. This is my favorite too! These just keep getting better and better,each one topping the last. I adore all the colors and light. Love the whole composition and the brushwork is amazing. A swing bridge- who knew- never heard of one and just love the idea of it. Super charming and wonderful painting.

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  6. OH MY!!!!! This is fabulous. It's a cross between Hopper and our favorite famous food painter who also painted those cool multi-perpectives of LA. (brain is slow this am) WOW. Can't wait to see more. Go Kelly!!

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  7. Kelley, The colors on these houses are wonderful! The enhancement worked! I look forward to more!

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  8. My favorite, too, of the ones I've seen! I am so impressed with this painting-it's fabulous!
    I have the book, The Borrowed Views of Connie Hayes and I love her paintings. Love this even more. Glad you are having a good time painting.

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  9. Lovely one, Kelley. They are replacing the swing bridge where the Songo River Queen (an old paddlewheel boat) goes through to the Songo Locks. It is an awesome 2-1/2 hr. ride that won't be around after this summer. If you ever get back up this way you should try to get a ride on the Songo River Queen before she can only go around Long Lake. Real working locks are awesome to go through.

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  10. Yes..LOVE this one.I don't know how you got all of this on such a small canvas...really nice

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  11. Kelley, Awesome. You made great decision on what to put in and what to leave out and what colors to enhance. It has such a happy vibe to it. I love the cliffhanger you ended your post with, can't wait to see what your painting now.

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  12. Kelly, this painting is awesome. I love everything about it. So glad you captured this scene. Several years ago, I painted the last barge bridge in NC. I have not been back there since but hear it has been replaced.

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  13. I can see why this is your favorite! So nice Kelley! Glad your trip left you on a high note!! ;)

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  14. So intricate in both subject and angles. Beautiful light.
    Slam bangin'!

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  15. Fabulous- viewfinder with grid lines?? gotta get me one of those!

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  16. You are amazing and versatile as seen in this recent painting... The colors are creamy and of a different palette than I have seen from you before.

    I love seeing you stretch in new directions with a fresh outlook... how do you do it?!

    Bises,
    Genie

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  17. Wonderful landscapes! Must have been an awesome trip! Hopefully I'll get to Maine one day!

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  18. This is spectacular piece, Kelley. The bottom third has Diebenkorn written all over it.

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  19. This is really great! You've packed so much detail into this little painting, but it isn't "busy" at all! Lovely colors in the buildings, and I love that red truck!

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  20. This is AMAZING and BRILLIANT!!!! Dare I say, it reminds me of one of my all time favorite artists, Wayne Thiebaud. Nice job!!

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  21. Hi kelly,

    Love the character of this paintings. It's full of movement and has a great story!

    all the best

    Roisin

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  22. excellent Kelley!!! I love it! I had never heard of "swing bridges" I am not a native New Englander. I hope I will see one before they are all replaced.

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