Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

Photography cannot begin to capture the scale of the Alaskan landscape.

My photographs don’t capture the scale of the Alaskan landscape.

I recently realized that my whole reason for painting is that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.” Most landscape painting is a pale copy of God’s creation, but it’s a way of sharing the natural world with others.

The 1964 Good Friday earthquake created "ghost forests" of trees. They died after salt water inundated their root systems, but that also preserved them.

The 1964 Good Friday earthquake created “ghost forests” of trees. They died after salt water inundated their root systems, but that also preserved them.

It is, in some ways, more factual than photography. Photographs are accurate in the minute, but they don’t really capture the impression of space. That comes from the flickering, moving, stereoscopic, subjective nature of human vision. The more I paint, the less interested I am in taking pictures, which is why I no longer worry about carrying a ‘good’ camera. Still, there’s a time and place for plein air painting, and the deck of a rapidly moving boat isn’t it.

A painter who loves rocks can only adore Alaska.

A painter who loves rocks can only adore Alaska.

As with Denali, people visiting Kenai Fjords National Park seemed more interested in the marine mammals and birds than I was (although they’re certainly fascinating). I was there to see the land forms and glaciers and to glimpse an iceberg if I could.

The cleavage of ice seems to mimic that of the rock.

The cleavage of ice seems to mimic that of the rock.

This obsession started with Rockwell Kent and Lawren Harris. Both of them painted icebergs so credibly that I feel the need to see some in the real world, for myself. Although I was in a general area of iceberg formation, it was the wrong season. What I found were more along the lines of large ice cubes, about the size of my car.

Large ice cubes, about the size of my Prius. As close as I got to an iceberg.

Large ice cubes, about the size of my Prius. As close as I got to an iceberg.

The greatest iceberg-watching space in the world is just a hop, skip and a jump from Maine. Well, it is actually more like a thousand miles by car and ferry, but compared to the 5200 miles we drove to get to the Bay of Alaska, that’s a mere bagatelle.

Smacks of jellyfish formed brilliant turquoise pools in the water.

Smacks of jellyfish formed brilliant turquoise pools in the water.

Just as I’ve been a failure at spotting moose in the north woods, I’ve never seen a whale from a boat in the Atlantic, either—not even from whale-watching boats. I saw many humpback whales on the Kenai Fjords boat trip.

Glaciers are constantly dropping dribs and drabs into the ocean. It makes a racket.

Glaciers seemed to be constantly dropping dribs and drabs into the ocean. It made a racket.

I have seen whales from lighthouses and coastal cliffs in Maine, however, and this boat tour helped me understand why. The captain scouted the shallow waters near the shore, because that’s where he expected to see humpback whales.

A humpback whale slapping his pectoral fins.

A humpback whale slapping his pectoral fins.

Humpback whales are surprisingly acrobatic and graceful animals, considering they’re such behemoths. They are known for slapping their huge pectoral fins on the surface of the water. There lots of theories about why they do it. To me it looked a lot like the human behavior known as “splashing”, or what we also call “play.”

The sea otter is an awfully cute member of the weasel family.

The sea otter is an awfully cute member of the weasel family.

Likewise, it’s kind of sad to realize that sea otters sleep on their backs with their paws curled on their chests because they’re trying to stay warm. I prefer to think they do so as part of their generally adorable personality.

The sea lion to the far left decided to leave after the bulls started bellowing. Smart cookie.

The sea lion to the far left decided to leave after the bulls started bellowing. Smart cookie.

Just as Alaska’s humpback whales are much larger than North Atlantic minke whales, the white-sided ocean porpoises I saw were larger than Maine’s harbor porpoises. But they swim alongside boats and leap across the bow wave in the same exact manner. I’m sure scientists have an explanation for this as well, but I think it’s because chasing boats is fun.

I suppose scientists also believe that giant paw print was caused by a landslide rather than an irate bear.

I suppose scientists also believe that giant paw print was caused by a landslide rather than an irate bear.

Thus ends my two weeks of being a travel bore. I arrived in Rochester, bone-weary, on Saturday afternoon. Today I start an art project of an entirely different nature: prepping this house to go on the market.

I was skeptical when my daughter Mary suggested I really wanted to go to Alaska to paint, but I think she’s right. Next time, it will be with my full kit of oil painting supplies and the time and intention to work.

Carol Douglas

About Carol Douglas

Carol L. Douglas is a painter who lives, works and teaches in Rockport, ME. Her annual workshop will again be held on the Schoodic Peninsula in beautiful Acadia National Park, from August 6-11, 2017. Visit www.watch-me-paint.com/ for more information.