Little Cranberry Island, ME) Painting for Henry Isaacs and Ashley Bryan is a way of life. Neither artist misses a day of making art, of responding to the environment in which they live. These two have been friends and neighbors for years on Little Cranberry Island in Down East Maine.

Painting on an Island: Exploring Plein Air 2011 will have two sessions:
Session 1: Thursday afternoon, September 1 through Sunday afternoon, September 4, 2011
Session 2: Monday afternoon, September 5 through Thursday afternoon, September 8, 2011

Veteran and beginner painters find new ways of working and responding to the unique setting of the Cranberry Islands and the village of Islesford, Maine. They will find Ashley’s and Henry’s presentation of “visual thinking” both familiar and accessible. Painters who attended in 2009 and 2010 agreed that Ashley and Henry go way beyond teaching art as they quickly create a community of artists in their three-day workshops.

Certainly demonstrations are presented, and projects suggested. However, it may be that it's the discussions and quiet conversations that occur between teachers and participants, as well as artist-to-artist that are the most valuable. Past participants have referred to these sessions as “mini art residencies.” Each individual's strengths are celebrated and struggles are worked through and shared.