Studio by the Sea: Winslow Homer in Maine

We're headed to Maine this weekend again and on my list is, now was, to tour the newly restored Winslow Homer Studio. (I love a historic house!) The studio, renovated and restored by the Portland Museum of Art, is located in Prouts Neck, Maine, about a two hour ride north of Boston. The tours are only open to Portland Museum of Art members at the moment, hence us not being able to go this weekend sadly. But starting next Friday, May 31st, the rest of us non-museum members can call to make reservations for a tour. I'm hoping to make it later this summer! I put all the details at the bottom of this post so we could get to the photos, which is, honestly what we're looking for here.

The restored Studio and its ocean view

Not a bad way to spend the day

Homer moved from New York to this Studio in 1884. He came to Prouts Neck, Maine because his brother was buying up land to create a vacation destination for travelers, lucky him. 

The man himself, Winslow Homer. Good looking mustache I might add.

The Portland Museum of Art purchased the building in 2006 and got to work on the long fund-raising program before the actual long hard work of the restoration began. 

Restoration work in progress. Exterior paint chips were analyzed for accuracy, architectural details (see below) appreciated, and a full historical report produced so the Studio was restored as accurately as possible. 

Amazing roof detail at the porch level, or piazza, as Homer called it

Paintings and illustrations by Homer are on view at the Portland Museum of Art, which is also a great way to finish up the day. (More on what to do in Portland in another post.)

Weatherbeaten, view from location very close to Studio, see below

Here's a cool map from the New York Times that shows the location of where some of Homer's most famous paintings were painted. 

Interior shots from an Architectural Digest preview article

Here are the details:
Tickets are $55 for non-members, no refunds of exchanges. Ticket gets you a two and half hour tour in a small group of ten people and transportation to the Studio from the Portland Museum of Art by van, no meeting at the Studio, I asked. Kids under seven are not allowed, for better or worse depending on who you ask. Summer season is June 23 - Sept 4th. Tours given on Mondays and Fridays 10:30am and 11:45am. Weekend tours start with their Fall season, September 4th through October 15th. For reservations call (207) 775-6148.

Email me if you're planning a visit and want some suggestions for accommodations or other things to do near Portland: info@ermillerdesign.com.

Here's to the start of summer!

Photos courtesy of Portland Museum of Art and Architectural Digest