Pemaquid

Working on a Maine series I knew I had to paint a lighthouse.  I chose Pemaquid Point lighthouse for its utilitarian architecture.  It screams Maine for me.  I also like the two towers to balance the painting with my "fish-eye" perspective.  I also painted from a "crows-eye" view to emphasize the ocean horizon and infiniteness it represents.  I wanted a dark palate to contrast with the light but not night.  This would be a dark summer sunrise.  I offered the light from the windows and shadow through the picket fence  mostly for whimsy.  I like to paint my subjects so they are timeless.  Could be yesterday or 100 years ago.  I also feel than an uninhabited house has no soul so I am thinking a lighthouse keeper is enjoying a hearty breakfast, this being Maine it could be a 4:30AM sunrise, keeping a watchful eye on the sky.  Red in the morning.  This being a rocky crag there is almost no topsoil.  I think they used sheep to keep the grass in check.  I thought about the picket fence while painting.  Why is there a fence?  To keep something out or something in?  I believe it had a purpose and was not for ornamentation.  I further surmised that because there is no topsoil it must have been a huge chore to drill the granite for the fence posts.  Again, must have a purpose.  The tower to the right I am told is the bell tower.