Heavenly Sky, Ogunquit River Footbridge – Claire Bigbee’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

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Claire Bigbee | Heavenly Sky, Ogunquit River Footbridge | Oil on Canvas | 24″ X 48″ | $3650 Ogunquit River, Footbridge Beach

“This painting represents what I love most about Ogunquit, which is also where I live,” shares artist Claire Bigbee. “It truly is a heavenly place.”

Bigbee walks along the picturesque Marginal Way all year round in all types of weather.

“This painting represents the natural beauty and feeling of peace I have when I stroll by the marshes and shoreline,” explains Bigbee. “There is  a connection to nature and a sense of freedom.”

For Bigbee, Maine is a healthy place with a high quality of life in times of stress like these days with the Covid 19.

“Everything slows down, and you are in the right place at a perfect moment,” she says. “It is a goal to capture that moment and presence of place. Between the dramatic vast palette of colors in the skies, the sea salt air,  and the waves’ crashing sounds against the rocky coast, I am inspired by the serene and natural beauty.   I infuse each painting with that feeling of awe and wonder. Maine is the way life should be.”

To see all available work from Claire Bigbee, click the link below.
To read more insights from Claire Bigbee, click the link below.

It’s a Nutty Christmas in the Kennebunks

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The Nutcrackers from “It’s a Nutty Christmas!” will be on view in the Pop-Up Thanksgiving weekend.

Nutcracker by Danie Connolley
Local artists and photographers are painting six-foot nutcrackers to “stand guard” outside stores, restaurants, and hotels of the Kennebunks for the first two weeks of December. They are sure to lure you in!
“Cracker Jack” Lobsterman Nutcracker by Robin Swennes
Take a picture with all of them and you may just win a prize! There will be more than forty about town.
Nutcracker by Danie Connolly
Mark your calendar to be sure to see the exhibit!

Huge THANK YOU

to Danie Connolly for organizing this fun event.

Carousel – Mark Davis’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

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Carousel | Brass and Aluminum with Steel with Wires, Oil and Acrylic Colors | 13.5″ X 13″ | $900

Mark Davis chose Carousel for his Fall Favorite because of what it means to him and his artistic process.

“I created this piece approximately two years ago, but for many years before that, I had tried to make a standing mobile with two turning points, with no success. The pieces were very overworked, and I never was happy with the results,” explains Davis. “Finally, I created a base that allowed me to make a separate section revolve within the base itself.”

Davis had to keep it very simple to get that to work. In making it simple, Davis came upon a new direction to his work.

“Each piece was mounted on the end of a wire, giving it a somewhat mechanical feel, but together they created a kind of whimsey that felt to me like the playfulness of Paul Klee’s paintings, which I greatly admire,” shares Davis. “The lines, shapes, and colors are disparate but work together in a sort of poetic harmony. It was quite a small but wonderful change for me and my work.”

To see all available work from Mark Davis, click the link below.
To read more insights from Mark Davis, click the link below.

Long Row – David Witbeck’s Fall Favorite on Maine Art Hill

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David Witbeck | A Long Row | Oil on Panel | 36″ X 36″ | $8200

“My best paintings are the ones where the nominal subject matter is secondary to the design and composition,” explains artist David Witbeck. “Long Row is an example.”

Long Row started with the idea of a big interesting “water” shape defined by silhouettes of surrounding shapes.

“Essentially, it is just two shapes, one dark, one light. Once the basic structure is established, then I can sub-divide the big shapes and have fun creating a little narrative and emotional quality with the pictorial details,” shares Witbeck.

This piece is a lot sparer than much of Witbeck’s other recent works.

“I like it. I should keep a print in my studio to remind myself that a successful painting can be quite simple,” reminds Witbeck. “Sometimes, less really is more.”

To see all available work from David Witbeck, click the link below.
To read more insights from David Witbeck, click the link below.

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.