Cary Wendell Paintings/Murals/Set Designs
Lone damselfly
SOLD
watercolor 12"x9"
Cary Wendell is a painter, set designer, scenic and mural artist now living in central Maine. My paintings and drawings in watercolor, pastel, charcoal, ink, and acrylic shown in this website are for sale unless otherwise noted. Most Recent paintings follow the introductory section
I am also available to design theatrical sets, do mural commissions, and scenic painting. Examples of my theatrical and mural work are displayed in the latter half of this site. For inquiries or comments please contact me at:
cwendell1950@gmail.com (603) 793-0651
Cary Wendell 726 River Rd., Norridgewock, Me. 04957
Dockside on Crawford Pond
$350
watercolor
20"x16"
Reed reflections Ink on rice paper 9"x12"
$125
Market Square mural 36'x46'
The cabin on Crawford Pond
$125
pastel on paper 9"x12"
Androscoggin backwater
$225
Acrylic 12"x16"
"Largo Desolato" Generic Theater McDonough St. Studio Portsmouth, NH photo by Andrew Edgar
My junior high art teacher, Kathy Dugas Brown and my mentor at Haverford College, Charles Stegeman, were my main sources of formal painting training. After graduating from Haverford College with a BA in Fine Arts in 1972, I attended the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts in Alberta, Canada for the summer. The following school year I returned to Haverford College assistant teaching painting and drawing as a post graduate student. In 1973/74 I continued my studies at the Boston School of the Museum of Fine Arts. During my college days I painted mostly in oil, but since then I have been working largely in acrylics and pastels.
Painting: early inspirations
Creativity and a love of nature are in my family’s DNA. My grandmother, a graduate of the Art Students’ League in the 1920s, hooked rugs that featured animal life and landscape imagery. My father, a chemist by profession, loved photography and home remodeling. My mother created educational display panels that she took to schools to promote appreciation of the environment. My artistic development is the direct result of the passion for art, nature, and creativity that I grew up with.
Painting first in watercolors and then oil, pastels, and acrylic, I have always been inspired by nature. I find myself drawn to a few themes in my painting: natural patterns such as rippling waves and reflections on water, tree branches silhouetted against the sky, clouds of a sunset, or shapes carved in sand by the ocean. I'm also inspired by the drama of atmospheric lighting effects experienced in fog, sunrises and sunsets, or approaching storms. Many of these paintings were done from the porch or the dock of the cabin my grandmother had built on a lake in Maine.
Recent Acrylic Paintings from '23 and '24
Seen better days (framed) 18x24 $475
Frosty window (framed) $100 10x10
Duck pair $120 10x10
Houston Falls (framed) $280 14x18
Heading 5
Sunset in Skowhegan (framed) $280 14x18
Waves of snow (framed) $175 11x14
Teresa $120 10x10
Race Point Cape Cod (framed) $475 18x24
Yarmouth marsh (framed) $160 11x14
Yarmouth pier (framed) $280 14x18
Desmond in his light 14x18 NFS
Coburn Park late autumn (framed) $475 18x24
Yarmouth tide (framed) $125 10x10
Desmond 10x10 NFS
Peaches at her dog dish 10x10 $!25
Winter wonderland (framed) $475 18x24
Kitchenterior $250 18x14
Birdfeeders 10x10 $125
Fresh snow 10x10 $125
Raging Kennebec (framed) $280 14x18
Below Houston Falls (framed) 14x18 $280
More Acrylic Paintings
on paper 12"x9"
End of Autumn $160
14"x11"
Heavy branches SOLD
14"x11"
Skowhegan dam at sunset (framed) $350 16x20
From the garden (framed) $160 11x14
Albert $120 10x10
Spring melt (framed) SOLD
Icy sunset (framed) $175 14"x18"
Peaches on vacation SOLD
Norridgewock sunset SOLD 14"x11"
Early snow at Coburn Park (framed) $280 14"x18"
Cape Elizabeth sunset (framed) $250 18"x24"
Exploded view of a tree $225 16"x20"
Skowhegan dam late winter (framed) $125 10x10
Mermaid Rock Lake George (framed) $180 11x14
River Road sunset (framed) $180 11x14
Mill Stream $190 16"x20"
Backyard winterscape $120 10"x10"
Skowhegan dam rocky banks (framed) $160 10"x10"
Autumn in Coburn Park $175 12"x16"
Overlooking the Kennebec $225 16"x20"
Coburn winter #2 (framed) $350 14"x18"
Winter full moon $125 10"x10"
Full moon labyrinth North Hampton Beach $120 10"x10"
Poppins is a spirited and standout font that takes its inspiration from handwriting. It's sure to grab your reader's attention, especially in short paragraphs.
Morning sun burning through SOLD
11"x14"
Rag doll rendezvous SOLD
20"x16"
Sunset on Cape Cod Bay SOLD
11"x14"
Skowhegan sunrise from River Road (framed) $175 11x14
Bowl with fruit and veggies (framed) $160
11"x14"
14"x11"
Mossy forest floor $160
Kennebec River from Coburn Park 16x20 $350
16"x20"
Next Door Neighbors NFS
8"x10"
Norridgewock fields on panel $65
8"x10"
Lake George Rocky bottom acrylic $120 11"x14"
Dam on the Androscoggin SOLD 16"x20"
10"x10"
Cats in their light on wood SOLD
Norridgewock pasture (framed) $175
16"x20"
Truro fog (framed) $100 10"x10"
Heading 5
Great Island on Crawford Pond NFS 12"x16"
Backyard blues SOLD 10"x10"
Afternoon on River Road $90 10"x10"
Blueberry fields, Rockport (framed) $175 11"x14"
Waves at sunset (framed) $175 11"x14"
Dam on the Kennebec, Skowhegan $350 16"x20"
Urban Forestry Center watercolor framed $240 12"x16"
Dam on the Kennebec Skowhegan acrylic SOLD 11"x14"
Norridgewock blizzard acrylic $220 20"x16"
Cape Cod Dunes 1 acrylic $200 16"x20"
Cape Cod Dunes 2 acrylic $200 16"x20"
Snowprints acrylic $100 10"x10"
Raindrop ripples acrylic $100 10"x10"
Cardinal acrylic SOLD 10"x10"
Heading 5
Cape Cod Dunes 3 acrylic $200 20"x16"
Crawford Pond sunset 1 acrylic $200 16"x20"
Heading 5
Crawford Pond sunset 2 (framed) $350 20"x16"
Crawford Pond sunset 3 (framed) $350 16"x20"
Exeter Woods acrylic $200 20"x16"
Exeter Woods abstract acrylic $200 20"x16"
Lake George early spring acrylic SOLD 11"x14"
Lake George sunny bottom acrylic $120 11"x14"
Skowhegan dam flood waters (framed) $175 11"x14"
Ripples and lilypads watercolor on paper $110 8"x11"
waves and reeds sumi ink on paper $85 8"x 11 1/2"
Drawings in charcoal, pencil, ink
Heading 2
Clurie Bennis $75 12"x9"
The young violinist $75 12"x9"
The composer $75 12"x9"
The conductor $75 9"x12"
Ominous still life 9"x12"
Desmond sneaking a peek $75 9"x12"
Crawford Pond storm $90 9"x12"
Young Desmond $60
Hanging by a thread 5"x7"
Iraqi mourners 1 $90
Iraqi mourners 2 $90 9"x12"
Peggi napping SOLD
sumi ink on rice paper 24"x36"
Pastels: on paper unless otherwise noted
Journals on the table
NFS
on paper 9"x12"
View through the Pines $80
9"x6"
The Green House $100
on paper 9"x12"
Water Striders $75
on paper 6"x9"
Early Morning on Crawford Pond $100
9"x12"
Crawford sunset 1 $100
12"x9"
Striped sunset on Crawford $80
9"x6"
Damsel flies chilling (framed) $100
10"x10"
Lily Pads $80
9"x6"
Storm coming (framed) $120
9"x12"
Bright mist on Crawford $100
9"x12"
Crawford sunset 2 $100
9"x12"
Late light on Crawford SOLD
9"x12"
High water mark $90
9"x12"
Waves on the shore $90
12"x9"
Shoreline grasses $90
on paper 9"x12"
Down to the dock $90
12"x9"
Sandra in the labyrinth North Hampton Beach NH NFS
9"x12"
I am not a vegetarian SOLD
gouache on watercolor paper 8"x12"
Crawford sunset 3 SOLD
6"x9"
Crawford sunset 4 $75
6"x9"
Kitchen Jotul $60
9"x6"
Imploded mushroom
Fallen mushroom 5 1/2"x8"
Twin mushrooms SOLD
Lone mushroom SOLD
Remnants of autumn 5 1/2"x8"
Norridgewock Winter 2 $100 9"x12"
West Coast forest fires East Coast sun $90
12"x9"
Reeds on waves $80 on pastel board 8"x10"
Autumn on the Kennebec River (framed) $100
Provincetown dunes (framed) $200
Reeds and Lilypads on pastel board 8"x6" $85
Norridgewock Winter 1 $75
on pastel board 7"x5"
Norridgewock Winter 3 $90
12"x9"
Backyard colors $90 9"x12"
Murals; Designing and Painting for the Theater;
In 1981, my wife and I moved to Portsmouth, NH. In the early 80s it was hopping with creative energy. During my first 2 years in Portsmouth, I helped found a gallery and a mural company. Market Square Murals, later Mural Works, grew out of a volunteer mural project some of the gallery members painted on a four-story, temporary, plywood wall after a partial building collapse in Market Square, Portsmouth. The mural is shown at the top of this website. It depicted the 2 buildings behind the façade as it looked in the early 1900s. Our 4 story mural stayed in place for over a year and drew a lot of media attention. A Yankee Magazine article led to a major commission to paint images throughout Christ the King Church in Ludlow, Mass. Mural Works, remained a partnership for 11 more years, earning grants from NH and Maine Arts Commissions, as well as churches, banks, restaurants, schools, and public spaces.
Also during that time, with a small group of new friends, we helped found Generic Theater. From 1981-2020, Generic Theater gave me the opportunity to act, direct plays, design and create sets. Collaborating for nearly 4 decades contributed immeasurably to my appreciation of the art of theater as well as my development as a designer. By filling multiple production roles, I became aware of the unique needs of actors and directors, that a set designer must satisfy.
Murals and scene painting
2 New murals in 2023: Emery Square, Norridgewock, Me.
Emery Square mural October 2023 8'x16' Norridgewock, Me
Christ the King Church Ludlow, Ma Market Square Murals
Rail Trail mural November 2023 4'x8' Norridgewock , Me.
Benton Elementary School, Benton, Me. acrylic on cutout plywood pieces on 5 walls 6'x40' Mural Works
Benton Elementary School acrylic on cutout plywood pieces Mural Works
"Lest We Forget" designed by Gordon Carlisle Mural Works 42'x100'
"Arcadia" painted backdrop for "Acadia" at Phillips Exeter Academy
"Arcadia" set Phillips Exeter Academy
"Heart Land" charge artist Goodspeed Opera House Chester Conn.
"The Tempest" scenic artist Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, Cleveland, Oh
MLK mural acrylic on 3 panels 10'x12'
Phillips Exeter Academy
"Jungle Book" scenic artist backdrop (1 of 8) 35' x '80' Mystic Studios, Dedham, Ma. Animal Kingdom stage at Disney World
"Jungle Book" installation Animal Kingdom stage Disney World
"When You Plant a Seed" Eastern States Exhibition West Springfield Ma. Mural Works acrylic on plywood panels partial view 6'x24'
The Grotesque History of Marie Antoinette backdrop Players Ring Portsmouth, NH
Set Design Process
In 1995 I went to grad school to pursue an MFA in Scenic Design and Technology at Ohio University, where I was awarded a full assistantship as the paint shop manager. My training culminated in an apprenticeship at Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut, which led to me becoming the staff scenic artist for a time.
Cary discussing set ideas with the NH Theatre Project design team for the 125th anniversary of the Portsmouth Music Hall
Designing sets for the theater involves collaboration with other artists. After initial discussions with the design team and active research and analysis on my own (visual, literary, and historical), I must tap into my imagination for solutions. In grad school I built a shelf that fit over a bath- tub. On it I put a candle, a small sketch pad and pencil, and card stock with scissors for modelmaking. To this day I find that long, hot soaks in a bathtub, lead to my most fruitful solutions. I listen to some relaxing instrumental music and let ideas drift in. Solutions to design or construction problems are often achieved by passively receiving them from within my imagination rather than actively grabbing for them.
Set Designs: Graduate school, community, professional
A Doll's House Part 2 Threshold Stage Company
Set model 2023
A Doll's House Part 2 Aurora Borealis effect
"Largo Desolato" Generic Theater McDonough St. Studio Portsmouth, NH photo Andrew Edgar
"On the Verge" Generic Theater at The Players Ring Theatre Portsmouth, NH
"Not on this Night" Dream On Productions Garrison Players Dover, NH
Doll's House Part 2 tech team on set
"Measure for Measure" Ohio University
"Measure for Measure" preshow rave Ohio University
"12 Angry Men" Palace Theatre Manchester, NH
"Angel Street" Monomoy Theater Chatham, Mass
"Life With Father" Monomoy Theater Chatham, Mass
"Of Mice and Men" Palace Theatre Manchester, NH
"The Diary of Anne Frank" Palace Theatre Manchester, NH
"The Crucible" Monomoy Theater Chatham, Mass
"Cabaret" Seacoast Repertory Theatre Portsmouth, NH
"Annie" Seacoast Repertory Theatre Portsmouth, NH
Set Designs at Phillips Exeter Academy
In 1998 Phillips Exeter Academy hired me to be their first Designer/ Technical Director and teacher of Stagecraft for the Theater and Dance program. I used Michael Gillette’s Theatrical Design and Production for my classwork. Gillette describes set design as a process rather than an art form. He details the process in a flow chart that constantly cycles back to the primary question – does this solution serve the play and the production concept as defined by the director? In the educational setting where I was now working, I was able to share this process with my students and my colleagues. I believe that modelling a robust and collegial collaboration with a design team is the most important lesson I taught in my 22 years there. In addition to involving my students in the design process I also taught them in practice how to build and paint sets. They impressed themselves by building platforms and stairs that actors could actually walk on while applying faux painting techniques to make wood look like marble.
Heading 5
"MacBeth"
"MacBeth" Banquo's ghost
Heading 5
"The Wizard of Oz" gates to the Emerald City
"MacBeth" witches' prophecy
"The Good Woman of Szetchuan" the tobacconist's shop
"The Good Woman of Szetchuan" the water seller's sewer
Heading 5
"The Crucible"
"Antigone"
"Twelfth Night"
"Twelfth Night" Olivia and Malvolio
The Foreigner
"The Cripple of Inishman"
"Godspell"
"Frankenstein"
"Urinetown"
"The Madwoman of Chaillot"
"The Dispute"
"Little Women"
"Lysistrata"
"Frankenstein"
"The Man Who Came to Dinner"
"The School for Wives"
My life has taken many unexpected twists and turns over the decades. Having retired from the rigors of work at Phillips Exeter Academy, I now find myself living in a beautiful area in central Maine, with more time to paint, create murals, and explore new theater opportunities.