11x14”. Oil on Canvas. 2013

North Haven is an island, about five miles square, off the coast of Maine. In the years before air conditioning, wealthy New Yorkers bought properties on such Maine islands, enabling them and their families to enjoy the summer in comfort. One such wealthy New Yorker was Frank Benson, one of the best of the American impressionists. In the early part of the 20th century he built a home and studio on the island. Tom Dunlay, a modern American impressionist painter, has held several workshops on Benson’s property. The woman you see painting was, like me, a Dunlay student.

If the shape of the trees seems odd, chalk it up to the ghastly winters. All of the flora and fauna of North Haven seems like it’s still in a state of shock from the horrific winter cold, even though this picture was painted in early September. Then as now, that’s when the upscale residents head back south, leaving a small group of year round residents to make out the best they can.

Not even fresh lobster at five bucks a pound could keep me in North Haven past September.