I’ve never heard of Edwin Douglas, and the magic of Google isn’t offering much insight either. Perhaps you recollect a painter by the name of Edwin Douglas setting up an easel in/near Beggs Park some time around 1969?
Or perhaps the mysterious painter never set foot in our fair village. Perhaps he was smitten with an image from a postcard visiting the town. Or perhaps it was the merest mention, a story carried to him in the words of a friend, perhaps a family member who had the good fortune of visiting Essex on Lake Champlain.
Perhaps.
Perhaps not.
What I can tell you is that this colorful painting is currently listed for auction on eBay. If you’d like to bid, just click the eBay link in that last sentence. If the auction is no longer active, I’m sorry to have lifted your hopes only to dash them on the merciless internet boulders. Better luck next time.
And if you know anything about the artist or this painting, please share your memories (or hypotheses) in the comments below.
The auction description for Edwin Douglas’ painting states only the following:
Oil on Masonite “Lake Essex Beggs Point ” New York 1969 by Edwin Douglas. (eBay)
An inquiry to the seller went unanswered. Regrets. Stay tuned for any further developments.
Until then, here are two additional images, the first revealing the full painting, and the second showing the artist’s details taped to the rear of the painting.
Update
September 5, 2014
A hardy shoutout to Dianne Lansing for solving the mystery with her always wise comments. (See below.) And Eve Ticknor also stopped by to let me know that Edwin Douglas is a seasonal resident of Essex who loves the outdoors and is a masterful artist. Thank you both for guiding me toward the answer. I certainly am hoping to become acquainted with Mr. Douglas soon.
I’m reminded once again what a diverse community I live in, so diverse that after almost a decade I’m still discovering fascinating members of the community for the firs time. There are so many interesting lives folded into these shores, valleys and hills that one never quite knows them all. And frankly, that endlessly unfolding mystery is much the pleasure of living in Essex.
Related articles
- Vintage Photo: Lake Champlain from Beggs Park (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Vintage Postcard: Essex Bay (www.essexonlakechamplain.com)
- Combating sea lamprey on Lake Champlain (northcountrypublicradio.org)
- Independence Day Parade (rosslynredux.com)
I just talked to Edwin Douglas and since he doesn’t “do” e-mail, he didn’t know of this. Ed and his wife, Bernie, live in the schoolhouse near the top of Couchey Hill. I may have some of these details wrong but he has retired from the Portland (ME) School of Art and resides and paints in Portland in the colder months. If you are part of the “inner circle” (cough, cough) you might get an invitation to an opening of his show some spring!
Bravo, Dianne! You’ve done it again. 🙂 Thank you for filling in the gaps. I know (and love) that little schoolhouse, but I’ve never met the owners. Will hope to in the future. And perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to enjoy more of his art along the way…
I, too, know of Edwin’s paintings. He has been here for quite a while. Many years ago, he joined Ethel Bernard ( my mother) in what would be the first noon-time concert in Essex. Eventually Ben Brewster and others joined in and soon music moved from her barn to the Community Church. Anyway, he is a heartfelt painter. Would that we could see more of his paintings around town, or in the gallery……..
Eve
Eve, thanks for helping solve the “mystery” behind Edwin Douglas’ painting, and thank you doubly for sharing yet another intriguing twise regarding the early days of the Essex concert series. I miss your mother. I can only wish that I had arrived in Essex long enough ago to enjoy the concerts in her barn. Memories will have to do!