Bayside Bunch- Karen Bruson’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

 

Karen Bruson | Bayside Bunch | Oil on Canvas | 16″ X 40″ | $1600

“Not only was this particular painting a total joy to paint, but I was so pleased with the result,” says artist Karen Bruson. “The 16”x40” format was new for me, and I found it to be such a cool size and dimension, lending itself nicely to strong diagonals.”

Bruson could actually feel the crowded beach’s energy juxtaposed with the triangle of water where the eye is allowed to rest.

“Overall, there’s such a good balance of energy versus calm, warms and cools, and lights and darks,” explains Bruson. “I find people so interesting, and I purposely gave more attention to those in the foreground and simplified the rest. I love it! It’s a good one.”

To see all available work from Karen Bruson, click the link below.
To read more insights from Karen Bruson, click the link below.

Autumn Orange – Janis Sanders’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

Janis H. Sanders | Autumn Orange | Oil on Panel | 20″ X 16″ | $1600

“My favorite painting from the current inventory at Maine Art Hill is Autumn Orange,” says artist Janis Sanders.Winter, spring, summer, or fall. I love Maine!  I especially love Acadia National Park.”

This scene at Eagle Lake in Acadia speaks to Sanders in reality and translation as a painting.

“At once, there is a sense of intense serenity and drama in each. The jagged shore rocks contrast immediately with the peaceful waters, holding, cradling soft reflections of the far mountains,” shares Sanders.  “The splashes of autumn red and orange add contrast, contradiction, and counterpoint. It’s like hot pepper on sunny eggs.”

This particular painting evolved to encapsulate a vast outdoor space in a small area.

“It offers great visual depth with an array and panoply of colors and textures,” says Sanders. “It holds an uplifting lightness and brightness,”

 

To see all available work from Janis Sanders, click the link below.
To read more insights from Janis Sanders, click the link below.

Dinner at Water’s Edge – William B. Hoyt’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

William B. Hoyt | Dinner At Water’s Edge | Oil on Canvas Stretched on Panel | 24″ X 36″ | $14,500

“This painting celebrates a serendipitous moment at my daughter’s summer home and son-in-law on Islesboro in Penobscot Bay,” shares Hoyt. “They had a dinner party, guests had arrived, and the lobsters are almost cooked. Out in the harbor, a rendezvous of windjammers has gathered and anchored for the night they hadn’t anticipated, completing the scene as the setting sun goes down.”

“The challenge of painting flames, steam, sunset, and all those boats and my personal connection to the place and the event all contributed to making this my favorite recent painting,” says Hoyt. “Other than the one I’m working on right now… it’s always my current favorite.”

To see all available work from William B. Hoyt, click the link below.
To read more insights from William B. Hoyt, click the link below.

Elevation – Julie Houck’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

Julie Houck | Elevation | Oil on Linen | 37.62″ X 36″ | $4800

“My favorite piece at Maine Art Hill is Elevation, one of my most recent coastal landscapes,” shares artist Julie Houck.  “I love the clouds’ nuances against the sky and the way the clouds seem to move and lift you up and into the painting. I chose to juxtapose the clouds against a darker sky, to intensify this dynamic.”

“The meandering waterway heading to the horizon, and then the portal up and into the sky are the compositional aspects of this piece that produced its name, Elevation.”

To see all available work from Julie Houck, click the link below.
To read more insights from Julie Houck, click the link below.

Beach Stones #8 – Alex Dunwoodie’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

Alex Dunwoodie | Beach Stones #8 | Oil on Panel | 12″ X 24″ | $2600

 

“My favorite is Beach Stones #8,” says Alex Dunwoodie. “I love the tumbled rocks along shorelines; the mix of colors and textures. Sitting and studying the stones is calming to me.”

For Dunwoodie, it’s a lot like looking at the water because her eye wanders over the surface in the same way as over waves — very relaxing.

“The best time to look at rocks is on overcast or rainy days when their colors stand out. It’s a great thing to do on a foggy day,” she explains.

Dunwoodie has been making beach stone paintings for a few years now.

“I’m pleased with how this particular one came out.” Dunwoodie shares.  “I want my paintings of stones to be inviting to viewers. I like to pick up some of these rocks and hold them and turn them over in my hands.”

To see all available work from Alex Dunwoodie, click the link below.
To read more insights from Alex Dunwoodie, click the link below.

 

Trees Along the Winter Marsh – Margaret Gerding’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

Margaret Gerding | Trees Along Winter Marsh | Oil on Panel | 42″ X 60″ | $10,000

“One of the best parts of my life as an artist is to explore nature and witness the unexpected moments it offers,” shares artist Margaret Gerding.

Her time is largely spent in the studio during the winter, but she still walks the trails and beaches.

“The bare branches allow for some breathtaking views not seen during other months, hence the creation of Trees Along the Marsh. This painting is based on a walk I took in Wells down by the harbor and is a winter reminder to keep looking.”

To see all available work from Margaret Gerding, click the link below.
To read more insights from Margaret Gerding, click the link below.

Tango at Sunset – John LeCours’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

John LeCours | Tango at Sunset | Oil on Canvas | 16″ X 40″ | $2400

“This piece flowed out of me in a very mysterious way,” shares artist John LeCours about Tango at Sunset, his Fall Favorite. “It seemed to come directly out of my subconscious.”

This autumnal tree’s look resonates with the fall season but speaks to the viewer on several levels.

“Even though there is a loneliness to this piece, there is also a feeling of future hope and eternal life,” says LeCours. “Symbolizing the Tree of Life and an existential vibe that is inherent in this composition.”

To see all available work from John LeCours, click the link below.
To read more insights from John LeCours, click the link below.

Mother of Pearl – Ingunn Milla Joergensen’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

Mother of Pearl, Oil on Canvas with 18 Karat Gold Leaf, 36″ X 36″ $3700

“Fall has always been my favorite time of year,” shares artist Ingunn Milla Joergensen. “I can allow myself to slow down after a busy spring and summer.”

For Joergensen, it is a time to reflect and think, to simplify and breathe.

“That is why Mother of Pearl is my favorite painting,” she says. “To me, it is rhythm, simplicity, calmness, and poetry. I love the soothing colors and subtle reflections.”

To see all available work from Ingunn Milla Joergensen, click the link below.
To read more insights from Ingunn Milla Joergensen, click the link below.

What Is Drawing? Part Eight – A partial repost from Vasari21 with Susan Bennett

FROM Vasari21…

“I’m surprised, too, that even though the concept of “drawing in space” has been around since Spanish sculptor Julio González articulated the idea in Cahiers d’Art in the 1920s and ‘30s, only one sculptor so far—Susan Bennett—has brought the practice up to the present. (I’m sure there are others out there, and I hope I hear from you because it’s a nifty way to extend the practice of using line to define space.)”

From Artist Susan Bennett…

The focus of my art making is primarily steel and stainless-steel sculpture. The technical aspects of welding became fluid while perfecting my craft as a pipe welder. Or to put it another way, my welds couldn’t leak under pressure. A few years later, mostly through happenstance, I was pursuing a fine arts degree as a nontraditional student—a woman in her forties. Early in this endeavor, a professor stated that life experience matters in the art-making process, and I would go back to this many, many times. In my studies, I was naturally curious about the history of direct metal sculpture. Now, as it must have been then, the idea of using this ubiquitous material in the creation of 3-D art is liberating. Welding steel, in part, has redefined the elements of modern sculpture. Drawing in space, using this mean material, is free from restraint, and is not unlike the automatic drawing process. Intuitively made, the implementation of the work evolves through an inclusive and integrated design approach. A blend of deliberation and spontaneity that is altogether pleasing.”

 

See the full article From Vasari21 by clicking here.

 

Artist Ryan Kohler – Introduction and Insights

Ryan Kohler is a young local artist who recently joined Maine Art Hill.  He has several pieces at The Gallery on Western Ave and has already sold. Check out his Artist Page to see all of his available work or come in for a visit. We are open at 10 am every day. 

As with all new artists, we love to take a few minutes to share a bit about them. It is important to us for our clients and visitor to have insight into an artist when you are viewing their work.

Insights from Artist Ryan Kohler

“I always say that I’ve been drawing and painting ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon.  Luckily, my parents and grandparents were always super encouraging about my interest in art.  They even let me paint right on my bedroom walls and ceilings,” shares Kohler.  “Growing up, I used to try and replicate my favorite album covers and t-shirts.  It taught me a lot about design and laid the groundwork for some pretty cool paintings later on.”

Kohler has a BA in Art with a concentration in drawing from the University of Maine at Augusta. Throughout his college years, many mediums were practiced but one continually came out ahead.

“While studying for my art degree, I was subjected to all sorts of torturous experimentations with various mediums,” Kohler jokes.  “I knew that whatever avenue I chose to pursue in art, drawing would still be a relevant skill, so I took just about every art class there was, sometimes unwillingly, but painting was always my favorite.”

If painting was his preferred outlet, acrylic was his first love. He grew up painting in acrylic and used it for most of his college work.

“Acrylic has its charms, but my favorite painters were always working in oils.  It wasn’t long before I taught myself to work in oils.  I consider myself pretty handy with both mediums now, but I’ve recently discovered a great way to combine them,” shares Kohler. 

The first layer or two of his current work is acrylic.  He works quickly and easily. It comes naturally.  Once the painting is in a “good place”,  he switches to oils and continues building texture, adding and removing loosely applied layers of color before finally defining focal points of the painting with crisp, graphic lines. The end result being something different and interesting.

When it comes to inspiration, Kohler is more of a classic.

“I actively seek inspiration.  I do not wait for a ‘divine visionary moment’ or anything like that.  Just plain old research,” says Kohler.  “I’m constantly seeking out new favorite artists, looking for new subjects to paint, or aimlessly driving and walking around hunting for what excites me.”

Lastly, we wanted to share a bit of insight as to how Kohler himself views art and how to process his own work.

“Everyone steps to a painting with their own approach, but initially, I like to view a painting as an abstract work first. I look at the composition, paint texture, general shapes and colors, and temperature first before inspecting the recognizable imagery,” explains Kohler. “I want the viewer to see my work as a precarious mix of careful observation and spontaneous mark-making. My painting seems to work best when I can find the most entertaining ratio of the two.”

However, it is this last piece of advice for anyone coming to see his work that may be the most beneficial.

“If it matches the couch, great.  It’s not that art isn’t allowed to match the furniture,” says Kohler. “However, f you’re that worried about it, get a new damn couch.  Either way, be sure the most important question is being asked.  ‘Does the painting bring you joy?’”