Saturday, July 21, 2013
Dispatch#4
The rest of my time went well. Lots of hiking up and down the dirt roads. Stopped at the gallery and museum, Beers gallery, went up on the hill, the brewery and then to Lucia millers for dinner, which was wonderful. She is a talented sculptor, who's family has had a 'cottage' overlooking ice pond since 1923. Her grandmother was good friends with John singer Sargent (a frequent guest at the Wentworth-Coolidge Historic mansion where I am now a guide!). Her father was an experimental photographer.




A fascinating evening overlooking the pond and ocean at sunset, with the most amazing brownish violets and shades of blue against a blinding mustard yellow sun, purple clouds outlined in the same color. A great day.

Gotta hop a boat!
- Jonathan

Friday, July 19, 2013
Dispatch #3 from Monhegan Island

I awoke at 4:45am today and hit the road to Lobster Cove. I was pretty tired by the time I got there, but it was a good hike nonetheless. I found a comfortable rock overlooking the wreck of the Sheriden and Jamie Wyeth's house. I chose to do a couple Watercolors seeing as though I brought them to the island. As the fog broke, I started in and picked away until the sun was nearly overhead. Then I moved about 20 feet and painted, seaweed covered rocks and surf for some time.



I took the back path up the hill that empties at the Wyeth's and got a ride back with the caretaker, who told me Jamie will be in tonight. There is no guarantee that we will meet, but I'm hoping we cross paths before I leave. I think I will head to the village soon and maybe paint some oils before sundown. I'm sore from sitting, so a stroll may do me some good.

Here's the other piece from yesterday. I attempted an oil, but was mentally worn down. I got up and went to the village for coffee and met up with some water colorist lady's I had met at the Ribert Henri talk a couple nights back. I'm deciding where to paint today where I can avoid the wind, as its an issue today. Meeting with a collector soon, who liked my work , and am hoping for whatever comes of that. Off to Kevin Beers gallery after that to look more closely at his work and then maybe painting on the hill or ice pond, or both... We'll see.

~ Jonathan

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Today was another great day. I awoke to fog, which lifted after a good dose of coffee. A late call last night from shore telling my host of a fallen tree due to storms (which were incredible here), had hit her house, which sent her home today, combined with a sore back. It is quite rugged here, which led to me staying close to home today. I sat in the ditch outside and painted Harry T Bone's house, where I'm staying. I was under shade all day and stayed cool, resting my sore bones from yesterday's trek.

I then walked to town and visited with folks and shot reference for later. From there nearly the whole town showed up for a lecture on Robert Henri, a great inspiration to me, both through his art and writings. I met many people who have encouraged my endeavors, which is pleasant. I have be asked where I show on the island, to which I've answered, 'I've only been here a day and a half', which I find inspiring to paint more and maybe with greater speed. Tomorrow will be a new view and a new set of rules.

Up early to get a jump on the sun.
- Jonathan

Jonathan Bradstreet is a painter and illustrator and a guide for the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion Historic Site. This is Dispatch #2 from his visit this week to Monhegan Island

I've known Jonathan Bradstreet since before he could talk. I have grown up alongside him, watching his perseverance shape his perspective and from that place, I have witnessed the wellspring of raw talent that allows him to effortlessly capture the personality of his subject matter across multiple artistic mediums. Jonathan recently took on a position as a Guide for the NH State Parks Department at the Wentworth-Coolidge Mansion historic site which is also the new location of Drift Gallery. When he told me a few weeks ago that he had been invited by friends of the Wyeth's to stay on Monhegan for a week and paint (a dream come true!), I asked if he wouldn't mind sending me a dispatch of his days, and maybe even a snapshot of what he was working on. So, it is with great pleasure that the first official Drift Gallery blog post belongs to Jonathan.
Enjoy!

- Ali Goodwin, Director & Curator, Drift Contemporary Art Gallery

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

As I think back on day one of my trip to Monhegan, it has been truly wonderful. I walked with my gracious host up the dirt roads of the village, I met many kind folk and learned assorted histories of landmarks and people. A walk through a rocky descending path led to the wreck of the Sheriden, it's rusty orange hull tossed upon the shore. Another path, less worn than the last, led to Jamie Wyeth's house, built by Rockwell Kent. We then visited sculptor Lucia Miller and overlooked Ice Pond and sculpture garden from the porch. I realized how seriously over-prepared I was while lugging my pack and panel box through trails and over rocky ledges. Watercolors are off the table for now, in the plein air aspect of this trip.

I've been too far from a brush for too long and need to hone my skills once more, learning how to see and remember, as well as draw and mix color. I ended my day doing just those things, overlooking Manana, far out on a rock near Dead Man's Cove, named for the man who built the house I'm staying in, found dead there long ago. I did this small painting as a result. I'm eased with the result and feel as though my eyes and brain are becoming reacquainted and sorting out the details.

Internet here on the island is patchy. I'll try and send something new every day weather permitting.

Jonathan Bradstreet

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