Local artist Joan Vienot attended an artists retreat for 9 plein air painters in Port Clyde, Maine, in mid-August. Plein air painting involves setting up one’s easel on site and painting the atmosphere and setting of the landscape as it is in the moment. In Maine she was challenged by the frequent rising and settling of fog the first several days she was there. Joan found the rocky shoreline to be everything she had hoped for, a feast for the plein air painter’s eyes! Pictured here is her rendition of the Marshall Point Lighthouse at Port Clyde. Halfway through painting this scene, she was startled by the foghorn starting to blow every 10 seconds, never having heard a foghorn before except in the movies. She had painted most of the lighthouse itself, and had completely missed the rather large foghorn inside the railing on the front, proving that you can be looking right at something and not see it! Adding the foghorn was an easy fix.
A selection of Joan’s work can be seen at J.Leon Gallery, 13370 US Highway 98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550. The Gallery is located between Mollega Eye Care and McCaskill Jewelry. J. Leon Gallery is open from 11 AM to 6 PM Tuesday through Saturday, and has a special Sip N’ Stroll viewing from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on the First Friday of each month, offering a glass and a snack while you wander through the beautiful artwork.
