Antiques Show in Camden, Maine

We were at the annual antiques show in Camden, Maine, as we have been for most of the past 25 years. A nice small show, the selection and appearance this year was even better than usual, but the weather did not cooperate, at least on Saturday. The tail end of the heat wave kept attendance and enthusiasm in check; Sunday the weather was the kind of breezy summer day we expect in coastal Maine, so that helped a bit.

The show is sponsored by the Camden-Rockport Historical Society, and is managed by Goosefare promotions (http://www.goosefareantiques.com).

Antique Cars at the Codman Estate

Historic New England held an antique car show at the Codman house and grounds in Lincoln, Mass (http://www.historicnewengland.org/historic-properties/homes/codman-estate/codman-estate ).
Lovely weather, but hot. If I was more mechanically inclined (or if I won the lottery) I would want some of these, but the maintenance would be a big issue for me. I love the era when Detroit was sculpting the sheet metal - unlike today when all the cars are almost the same except for the name plates).

One of my top picks was this Packard I posed with. At least I wore a hat when in the presence of this grande dame.

Applying Compo Ornament

Many frames, particularly Victorian ones, used applied composition (compo) ornament. This particular frame suffered from some fairly minor losses, but apparently losses at the top edge made it easier for someone to simply strip off the remaining ornament and paint it "gold". As you can imagine, not a satisfactory solution.

As part of my last compo ornament order, I received this very elaborate, high-relief border. These show the frame as found, with repairs and application process for the ornament, which is steamed to make it pliable and release the glue so that it will adhere.

Once completely dry and hard, it will be gessoed and gilded.

Painting in the Cemetery

Some of the members of the Artist Guild of Shrewsbury (http://www.artistguildshrewsbury.com) try to meet for some plein air painting. On this hot Monday morning, three of us wound up in the old cemetery in the town center.
I did a couple of quick watercolor sketches, and took lots of photos.

House Painting Again

You have to keep up with the paint work on an old house. Spent this weekend rebuilding a rotted threshold, and starting the season's exterior paint work. We try to do about 25% each year. Ah yes; summer in Maine.

Dog Painting

Finally finished this painting of Lilly and Savannah; now need to make a frame (of course, it would have made sense to start the frame earlier, but then I would have never finished the painting).

Oval Frame

It has been a week of solid rain here, and while it is letting me get some indoor things done, it is making photography difficult, as I like at least some natural light.

Here is a project I am finishing up; I'll post the final pictures when I can take them and have them look good.

I bought this oval snow scene last year; the painting was charming, and the frame was the original, although it had suffered some minor losses, and had a coat of "gold" paint (now turned brown with age). You can already see the difference with just the paint stripped and some new gilding applied.

The inner bands and top were water gilded; I was able to put clay over the original gesso. The rest will be oil gilded, and final toning will accentuate the composition ornament and the more reflective water gilt surfaces.