Emotionally cool with the sense of the coming crisp weather, an estate along a still lakeshore has just the slightest suggestion of ripple across the water’s glassy surface. An absolutely amazing artistic accomplishment to make this blend of diverse application techniques work so well together on one canvas. It appears that layers of color had to be blended to create the reflective water, polished down ever so delicately with a brush. In stark contrast, the tree trunks look like they are oil straight out of the tube and pushed along the canvas vertically. Heavy impasto, aggressive brushwork and even spots of bare canvas intentionally peeking through are all noticeable.

The painting contains multiple levels of appreciation, which must be viewed first hand to realize. While the artist has set the season, especially with the burnt umber and varied foliage, he chose to keep the exact lake unidentified in his original title. Perhaps the human figure, centrally near a small boat hull - in this viewer’s opinion - would be the one to ask.

Thieme historically worked on scenes throughout the Cape Ann Peninsula, traveling about in a modified horse-drawn wagon he converted into an art studio. Likewise, later, he spent significant amount of time in Florida and the Caribbean. He still owns a reputation for establishing friendly relationships with locals and visitors alike, but would tolerate no interruptions while working at a canvas.

Portrayed with a spectral array of autumn colors, Thieme has found a restful cabin in a secluded location on the Cape Ann Peninsula. Showing his diversity with subject matter, he incorporates the reflective coastal inlet and ever-present boats of the area with the aged structure. The work becomes a blend of the things he is known for: his professional handling of light and shadow, strong natural coloration and great impasto application of his oil to canvas.

Silent and serene, one’s senses are activated by implication to Thieme’s work. The visual stimulation conveys the cool, almost icy touch of the water, and the rarely broken silence of movement through the crackling ground cover. Inside would be a fireplace of warmth and strong . His heavy palette approach gives a depth to the objects which creates a dimensional realism.

Thieme’s wife, Becky, once wrote of her husband “he often says that he was born 50 years to late”. Thieme longed for simpler times amid the march of progress. He worked relentlessly at his art, and became one of the premier, internationally recognized members of the Cape Ann and Rockport School of Art. He painted scenes from the diverse Cape Ann Peninsula, traveling about in a modified horse-drawn wagon he converted into an art studio. He owned a reputation for establishing friendly relationships with locals and visitors alike, but would tolerate no interruptions while working at a canvas.