HarwichPort Eatery

I painted a favorite eating place. I love George's pizza and subs. When we have our art show I slip out to George's for a grinder which is a submarine sandwich back home. They do a big business and will even deliver pizza to the beach. I painted from across the street and talked to a lot of people while doing it. It was early, around 8:30AM but plenty of people out on a beautiful morning. The usual topics: how long does it take to paint that, do you sell your paintings, how long have you been painting, etc. I can paint and talk and enjoy it. Occasionally, I meet a fellow artist and that is always interesting.

Run Into Town

On vacation, yet, everyone out running in the morning. This is the approach to Harwich Port. The traffic builds during the day as people make their way to the beaches or breakfast. The summer is winding down but there is still a lot of activity in town. Used my iPad to take a photo and then copied from it to paint the picture. No need for prints.

Great Pizza

My favorite pizza comes from George's.  It is located on Main St, HarwichPort.  I tried painting several things on this 8X11 canvas board and each time jessoed over the painting.  I did not sand down the bumps that came from pallet knife applications of paint.  I gave up on my early paintings and painted this scene from memory and previous paintings.  My ventures into acrylic are becoming less frustrating and this is an advantage; you can use the same canvas over and over.  I think this has a total of 4 paintings.

Blue Car

More indoor painting as our temperature stays cold.  Just thinking about summer and Cape Cod warms me up.  This scene is a complete head shot as I remember Main Street in Harwich Port on Cape Cod.  There always seem to be people cruising up and down between the Kite Shop and George's Pizza.  I have done paintings of both these places many times.  This painting was done with a lot of thought about color.  Wherever possible, I put in complementary colors to create conflict.  I purposely put in many figures to enliven the scene.  My light source is 3/4 Right and I imagined the cast shadows.  All in all, it was an afternoon of fun.

Vive la Harwich Port

This is the scene entering the Cape Cod town of Harwich Port on Rt. 28.  The steeple of the Pilgrim Church dominates the skyline.  There is plenty of traffic during the summer.  The power lines are atop tall poles and seem to string their way through all the streets. 
I painted this in the morning today.  I had it in mind during our session of Art in the Park yesterday and I awoke dreaming about the painting.  This happens and I usually head out and try doing a painting of the scene.

A Great Place to Stop

What an attraction for shoppers.  This is Dr. Gravity's who has updated and expanded his original kite shop.  He puts lots of things on the front side walk so you are sure to notice or the kids are sure to pull you over for a closer look.  It must be a nightmare to close up because all of these items must be put away, especially, if a sudden rain squall comes up.
I've done this painting many times.  I'm fascinated with all the colors.  I first painted the scene when visiting back in the 70's.  I was at a party the other night and there was one of my paintings of the old original Kite Shop on the wall.  Wow.  There are a lot of them out there.

HarwichPort Main Street

The rain ended this morning and bright sunshine brought many out.  Harwich is a popular town for visitors on Cape Cod.  A painting of this strip of Main Street is iconic.  It has two very important shops; for adults there is George's Pizza and for kids there is Dr. Gravity's Kite Shop.  George makes a delicious Greek Pizza and is always busy.  This is late morning and he already has customers.  The sun was nearly overhead and cast downward shadows.  The color of a cast shadow is a slightly complementary color to the surface it falls on.  So, the cast shadow that crosses white is blue and the cast shadow falling on red is a greenish red.

Had a lot of people stop and chat. I am amazed at how many paint watercolor.  I suppose painters find their way to the Cape to enjoy that special light and quaintness for painting.

My Beach

My beach is just down the road from my cottage.  It is a friendly place with lots of kids and families.  I exaggerated the umbrella in the foreground to create the focal point.  I was tempted to put more figures into the painting but didn't want the 'where's Waldo' look.  I will do it again and try that approach.  On any weekend day there are many umbrellas, kids and swimmers.  I am not a beach guy, but do go there with my sketch pad and gather material.  I sketch in the cast shadow of a big beach umbrella.

The Busy Corner of Harwich Port

Painting on the Main St of Harwich Port, MA is informative.  This pizza joint is a very busy place in the afternoon.  A little further down the street is The Kite Shop.  I have painted this building many times.  Harwich Port is bustling with summer vacationers.  Everyone stops for something at this section of Main Street.  This was a very quick sketch because the Port was getting ready for the Wednesday 'Music in the Port' which turns out hundreds of families and kids and almost completely blocks the street, which is Route 28.  There are 5 different bands playing and moving around.  Lots of temporary food stands appear and plenty of ice cream is served.  It just doesn't get any better.

Wychmere Boats

Yesterday was a beautiful day for painting. I was on the commercial dock in Harwich Port painting this scene and had plenty of company. A lot of people make the wrong turn and want directions. The boats are tied to each other and the largest was a wooden yawl with great lines. When I was in college I used to sail a 34ft yawl along the New England coast. I knew very little about navigation but was ok as long as I could see the shore and read my maps. There were some surprises with fog. Cape Cod is pretty safe for sailing with little experience because it is all sand bars. Maine is a different story. Our yawl was also wooden but always in great shape. Lots of stories from those days.

Main Street, Harwich Port, Cape Cod

Main Street is busy with shoppers heading to Dr. Gravity's Kite Shop. A colorful spot that is the destination of every kid under 10 years. The sidewalk is filled with wonderful things and there are many flags on the building. Parents should be warned of the risk walking their young ones. It is a must stop.
While painting from across the street, I was visited by locals, became a part of a movie by a crew filming a wedding day, and was critiqued by a lovely lady who did lots of painting but now just enjoys. We had a very lively discussion about plein air art. She was interested in my dappled lighting.
It was a beautiful Cape Cod day.

Main Street Harwichport, MA

This was a quick sketch while sitting indoors during the rain. I have painted the Kite Shop many times on location, so I know it quite well. The distortion is whimsy to an otherwise well known set of buildings here. Only the figures are standing upright.

I am in the countdown for days remaining on Cape Cod. The weather is getting cold. I am almost through my list of things to do before leaving. Not a bucketlist, but house closing.

Up From the Beach

With the summer winding down and my grandchildren headed home, I can now ponder what their absence means. No more early mornings at the beach and no walks over the dunes. Every experience was new and 'the best' according to Theo, the spokesman. He is such a cool dude in his sunglasses, which he rarely removed.

I painted this picture while in the park selling my art. I love the effect of the sand. We are headed up to Wychmere from the beach.