Downeast Maine with its scenic rocky coast, quaint small towns and classic wooden boats is an ideal place for a boater and artist. With the exception of taking a few private watercolor lessons when I took a leave of absence from my real job as an airline pilot in 1996 I have no formal art training. After retiring from the airlines and moving to Maine in 2016 I started taking adult ed and online watercolor classes after a 20 year hiatus from doing any painting. I have been a fairly active painter since, especially in the winter months, taking occasional classes and painting with artist friends. My art has been sold at charity events for the Blue Hill Public Library, the Wilson Museum and at the Farmstead Barn Art Shows in Sullivan.
Other than occasional pen and ink I paint mostly with watercolors. After taking an egg tempera workshop given by a local and accomplished artist, Phil Schirmer, I've been exploring that ancient medium. Boats, seascapes, especially the rocky coast, have been my focus and a reason that we moved to Blue Hill. On occasion I stray into portraits of familiar people and family pets.
Watercolor 300# Arches
Gifted - My artistic sister's coon cat supervising her holiday painting. 8"x9" Watercolor 300# Arches
Inspired by a photo in Sam Devlin's boating catalog. Obviously somewhere in the NW. Watercolor 300# Arches
Silverios rowing in the 2018 Small Reach Regatta, inspired by a Michael Percy photo. Watercolor 300# Arches
Gifted-A 34' tall ship David Wyman is designing for a client. Watercolor 300# Arches
13"x9", Kayakers heading for the gap between Sellers and Hog Islands, from a Michael Percy photo.
Watercolor 300# Arches
Available at the Bucksport Trading Post
14"x11", Clouds rolling in over Little Sheep Island, from another Michael Percy photo.
Watercolor 300# Arches
Gifted - 14"x11",. Allen and Lynn Head rowing on a foggy, calm morning on Moosehead lake
Watercolor 300# Arches
Inspired from the Small Reach Regatta logo drawn by the late Sam Manning. Image was used on the 2023 Blue Hill Maritime Heritage Festival t-shirt. Watercolor 300# Arches
Inspired from a B/W photo taken and printed by my father during a ride on the Moran tugboats in 1959. Watercolor 300# Arches
A Paul Gartside Sjogin III that I built, launched in 2022
Gifted-Susan's then 100 y/o dad with his granddaughter