In Wildness Lies the Preservation of the World

Commemorating the retirement of Jensen Bissell,

Director of Baxter State Park

On left, Aaron Megquier, Director of Friends of Baxter State Park, with Jensen Bissell on right

I'm so pleased that my painting "Katahdin Sentinel" was presented to Jensen at his retirement party.

Many people in Maine and elsewhere know that Baxter State Park is not a "state park" in the typical sense of that description. But for my friends around the world who read my emails, I love to say that in reality, it is a 200,000+ acre wilderness park.

Our iconic mountain, Katahdin lies within the park. It is a glorious place, designated to be "wilderness forever".

Henry David Thoreau said, "In wildness lies the preservation of the world."

A comment about my paintings that I treasure:

"Our family climbed the summit of Katahdin together. It was beautiful and spiritual and I will never forget the experience. I searched many sites for Katahdin prints/paintings and your "Glory" captured the awe and beauty of that day and the name could not have been more perfect".

Shadows on Katahdin

24 x 28" framed size

Plein Air painting on hand made paper

from the Frederic Church camp on Millinocket Lake, Maine

For an artist, there is no way to describe the feeling of standing before this mountain, watching the clouds settle on the peaks, casting violet shadows on the mountain, whilst bringing everything we have in us to the movement of brush and pigment on paper.

To see other paintings, please visit my website. If you are in the area, please come to the studio for a cup of tea. I love having company! Best to call first just to be sure I am not off somewhere.