I just spent three weeks in Scotland, England, Iceland and New York. That included hiking the Cotswold Way, inadvertently insinuating myself into my friends’ real estate transactions and helping my six-year-old grandson plant a garden. Lovely fun, and yes, I’m tired.
In preparation, I’d bought myself this absolutely lovely watercolor tablet. I got just one painting done. That was after our first day hiking, when we’d ‘only’ done ten miles. After that, the hiking got strenuous. All I could think about in the evenings was a beer and a bed.
This is par for the course, by the way; I bring painting supplies but wear myself out during the day and never get anything done.
I managed to leave my hiking boots in Edinburgh before we started out. I hiked the first half of the first day in sandals, and then stopped to buy new hiking shoes in Broadway, Worchestershire. My friend Martha says we should all budget an annual amount for an “idiot tax” to cover this kind of mishap. That made the expenditure much less painful, and I figure I still have £850 left of my self-imposed £1000 idiot tax. (Everything is more expensive in Europe.) Also, I didn’t get blisters from either the sandals or the new boots, so I consider it a win.
A quick note on classes before we get into it
My upcoming session of evening Zoom classes is selling fast; Painting water is already sold out. Claim your spot in Painting clouds or From field sketch to final studio work before they sell out too.
My gallery is opening, more or less, this Saturday
My other miscalculation was scheduling my gallery’s season opening for this Saturday. “I thought you were crazy,” Laura told me when I realized how tight I’d cut it. As I type this, the only things in my gallery right now are my boat and patio furniture.
Let’s call it a ‘soft opening,’ by which I mean I’ll be there from noon to four tomorrow, and there may or may not be paintings on the walls.* If you stop, I’ll buy you a glass of plonk or seltzer; I left all the beer in Britain.
That’s Richards Hill Gallery, 394 Commercial Street, Rockport. My summer hours are noon-five, Tuesday to Sunday. Email me if you need more information.
The Trekkers auction is far more important
Trekkers is a non-profit youth mentoring organization based in Rockland, ME. It helps adolescents build social, emotional, and intellectual resilience using adventure-based education and community service. Kids work with mentors from seventh grade until they graduate high school. Considering the stresses young kids endure in the modern world, this seems pretty valuable to me.
That’s why I and many of my friends are happy to donate to 360 Degrees of Support, Trekkers Art Auction 2026. There is work by Colin Page, Susan Lewis Baines, Björn Runquist, Mary Ann Heinzen, Alison Hill and many more fine artists.
The online auction is open now, with in-person viewing opportunities at Pascal Hall, 86 Pascal Avenue in Rockport, May 26–28, from 2-4:30 PM. The event will culminate with a closing reception and final bidding at Pascal Hall on May 28, from 4:30-7 PM. Be there or be square!
*After several hours of serious work today, I’m pretty sure there won’t be paintings on the walls.
Registration is now open for workshops in 2026! Reserve your spot:
- Advanced Plein Air Painting | Rockport, ME, July 13-17, 2026
- Sea & Sky | Acadia National Park, ME, August 2–7, 2026
- Find your Authentic Voice in Plein Air | Berkshires, MA, August 10-14, 2026
- New! Color Clinic 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 3-4, 2026
- New! Composition Week 2026 | Rockport, ME, October 5-9, 2026
Can’t commit to a full workshop? Work online at your own pace:
I cannot wait for classes to begin! I love the camaraderie and insight of my fellow painters, and Carol!
I cannot wait for classes to begin! I love the camaraderie and insight of my fellow painters, and Carol!
Thank you, Linda! I feel exactly the same way.
Thank you, Linda! I feel exactly the same way.