My tribute to the County I grew up in continues with this piece. A crown jewel of Aroostook County, Haystack Mountain. Growing up in and around Ashland, Maine was made better by this little baby right here. I would typically climb it with my family for my birthday in mid June, but I would demand a return in late July/early August so I could eat the blueberries on top. But then you have to go in the fall too because the oranges and yellows explode all over the mountain and spread out all around you for your viewing pleasure. This painting depicts some of those colors as they start to change. My most notable trip though, one that is forever etched into my mind is the trip I retailer took with my family including my late, beloved Grandmother Queva (or Leona for those who didn't know her nickname). She was a County girl. On this particular hike she was weak from chemotherapy and very near the end, but she climbed the damn Mountain anyway because she didn't want to let me or herself down and she really wanted to climb it one last time. I still remember my cousin Jenny and I looking back, worried as my mom and uncle Jimmy walked with her. She looked tired. She waved us off and shouted for us to keep going, that she would meet me at the top. It was an intense moment where I knew things weren't looking good, but also I was filled with this intense pride at her ability to be there for me and Jenny and to keep fighting.
I have painted this with ink and acrylics on a 5x6.5 inch canvas board with a colorful bubble design throughout the image playing off the black linework to give just a slightly more funky/abstract feel to my usual style. I really enjoy combining my love for nature with my comic book style linework. The piece has a vintage wooden framed treated with a weathered, glossy black finish.
Product code: HAYSTACK retailer Mountain Framed Northern Maine local landmark landscape painting Aroostook County