“My first trip to Owls Head Light was on a pleasant spring day that held no agenda other than exploring the Midcoast. My husband and I arrived in the parking lot then slowly started to walk up the dirt road, taking in the first view of the Atlantic Ocean from a small clearing overlooking a rocky beach below. Rounding the bend further up the hill, I spied the lighthouse for the first time, sitting atop a craggy outcropping surrounded by pine trees. We passed by the light keeper’s house and ascended the long flight of stairs, reaching Maine’s smallest lighthouse at the top. From there we stood and took in the beautiful panoramic scene spanning from Rockland Harbor out to Vinalhaven in the distance while enjoying the warm sunshine and salt air.”
Owls Head Lighthouse was built in 1825, for $2707.79 on seventeen-and-a-half acres of pine-covered headland, on the south side entrance to Rockland Harbor. Even though the conical, rubble stone tower was quite short, only fifteen feet tall, its light could be seen for sixteen miles due to its elevated location atop the rocky headland (information from lighthousefriends.com).
I thought it would be fun to record and share my process on this piece. I started with the rocks, then the walkway, the lighthouse, the sky, and finally added the vegetation. Here's a quick snapshot of my progression:
Prints are now available in my online shop.