Painting and Birding 'round the Long Island Sound

This August, I had the rare privilege of being the "Artist-in-Residence" at the Bingham Cottages, Hog Island, Maine.  Hog Island is owned and preserved by the National Audubon Society, who has operated a nature education camp there for the last 80 years.  The Bingham Cottages were the summer residences of the prior owners of the island, recently restored, and this was the first year that artists were invited to stay there for a period of isolation and inspiration.

And inspiring it was!  The coast of Maine is a magical place, craggy rocks edged by fir and pine, with Eider and Guillemot swimming between small islands that march away toward the horizon. The human impact is still dominated by lobster boats and fishermen working a hardscrabble existence barely changed from that of their forebears.  

"Fog Rising on the Muscongus Sound" 8" x 12", 2016 Sean Murtha

The Bingham Cottages, where I stayed, were likewise lost in time- there was no running water, no wifi, and very limited electricity (provided by a small solar panel), keeping the distractions of modern life to a minimum.  I woke with the sun, and spent most of the daylight painting and drawing.  A typical day began with a plein-air oil painting done on the coast steps away from the cottage, then another one after breakfast, somewhere else on the island.

"The Old Mooring Bolt" 8" x 10", 2016 Sean Murtha

"Firs and Fern", 8" x 10", 2016 Sean Murtha

 The middle of the day was spent with scope and pad sketching birds- mainly Common Eider and Guillemots, who frequented the narrow Muscongus Sound on the West side of the island and rested on the rocks exposed there at low tide.

Eider and Guillemot studies from the Hog island Sketchbook

 Other common birds included Bald eagle, Osprey, and Common Loon, and there were also Harbor Seals and Mink along with the ever-present Red Squirrels.

Eider, Loon, and Mink studies from the Hog island Sketchbook

But it was not total isolation.  As I mentioned, Audubon runs a summer camp on the island, which was situated just over a half-mile from the cottages (even closer by kayak!) and where I retired to each evening for a hot meal as well as showers.  Food for breakfast and lunch was also provided by the camp, who filled a cooler for me every other day.  I could also socialize with the campers and staff and attend the evening activities- which included a fair share of folk music.  Thankfully I was forewarned and brought instruments along!  One of my fondest moments was providing fiddle music for a family contra-dance- a real workout that I long to do again- but next time with some proper warm ups!

Here I am (on guitar) flanked by the family-week Directors of both weeks I was

there- Ron Smith on the fiddle and Craig Newberger on the Hammered Dulcimer. 

Thanks to Sherrie York for the photo!

The camp also provided the opportunity to take a boat out to East Egg Rock, where Puffins breed under the management of "Project Puffin", an ambitious  Audubon program that helped return these charismatic birds to the Gulf of Maine.  Though late in the season, Puffins were still there in decent numbers, and I had better looks at them than I ever had before.

Puffin studies from the Hog Island Sketchbook, assisted by photos taken

immediately beforehand

"Looking Back" 8" x 10", 2016 Sean Murtha

In my "regular" life, I must squeeze opportunities to observe nature and to paint between the pressing concerns of daily life, so the chance to spend an extended period of time surrounded by nature and with no other responsibilities than to absorb it and capture it on paper and panel provided an astonishing period of growth for me as an artist.  The unspoiled environment of Hog Island, cared for and loved by so many kindred souls, both the camp staff and the campers, was a great comfort as well, bolstering my faith in what connecting with nature can achieve.  I encourage all of my artistic friends, whether they be visual artists, writers, or musicians, to look into the Bingham Cottage Artist-in-Residence program... it's too wonderful to keep it all to myself!