Maxfield Parrish Skies

My friend Karen was the one who first introduced me to Maxfield Parrish. She sent me a postcard from somewhere - she always went to the most wonderful places - with a scrumptious blue and pink sky. They made me think of my favorite crayon in the Crayola box, Sky-Blue Pink.

Later I found a huge book of paintings by Parrish on a book store rummage table. I brought it home and our love affair began. I loved the simple beauty of his illustrations -- like something out of a fairy tale I had dreamed about. Sweet girls in wispy dresses, bits and pieces of temples and castles, adorable boys who were so in love. And always there were those skies!







I had been living in New England for a few years before I heard about the Currier Museum in Manchester, New Hampshire. What an extraordinary jewel that is! Not only do they have a collection of Parrish's work but a few years back they had a wonderful exhibition of Parrish murals. While reading Parrish's bio in one of the books I bought, I found that, as a child, he had come with his father to Gloucester to summer and to paint! Well, that explained where he got those sky-blue pink skies of his!

I know there are beautiful skies in most places but somehow the skies in Gloucester seem exceptionally gorgeous to me. Especially as winter closes in, it seems that Nature tries to compensate us for the oh-so-early sunsets by making them extra beautiful. I took the four photos here around four in the afternoon one day last week. Today the sun set at 4:11... but it did so beautifully.

The picture at the top of the page was taken from the parking lot of Eastern Point Lighthouse. The sun is setting over Dogbar Breakwater in colors that Parrish would adore.

The next photo is of Eastern Point Light and the Coast Guard Station keeping an eye out for Gloucester fishermen headed home after a hard and, hopefully prosperous, voyage. By the time I shot those the sun had set but I love the way the trees are twisted and gnarled by the seawinds -- a thing you appreciate better in winter when their leaves are gone.

And finally there is beautiful Good Harbor Beach with Salt Island in the distance, the Twin Lights of Thacher Island on the horizon, the tidal creek in which Mark spent a good chunk of his childhood -- and a rising moon.

Maxfield Parrish died in 1966 at the age of 96 leaving behind a remarkable body of work. He was a genuine original, following no school or tradition but carving out a singular and unforgettable style of his own.

Personally, I think that all stems back to Gloucester....

Thanks for reading.