Maine Art Hill Blog

Witbeck and his Women – Artist Insights on Nudes

October 12, 2017 by Maine Art

“The human figure has been subject matter for art forever,” says David Witbeck.

Witbeck has been working on figure drawing almost every week for several years. The drawings and sketches, however, piled up in his studio, unseen by anyone but him. Then one day, that changed. “I thought it would be fun to turn some of them into paintings. An artist should paint what he loves,” grins Witbeck. ‘Nough said.”

These pieces evoke the classic, whimsical Witbeck style but, because they are based on drawings from observation opposed to the iconic fishermen culminated from memories and imagination, they are more anatomically correct in terms of proportion, though ever so slight in some cases. Witbeck doesn’t draw particularly realistically and is not into making beautifully finished renderings.

“Even when drawing from life, the figure is a point of departure to have fun with making shapes,” says Witbeck. “The genesis of most of my figurative paintings are rough, one and two minute sketches.”

Just as the model is the point of departure for the original sketch, his sketch is a point of departure for the finished painting. Each step is a little further removed from the original, what many refer to as simulacra.

“Even the most gorgeous young model can become an ordinary, maybe even slightly frumpy, middle-aged beach babe or a voluptuous Nereid by the time she gets to my canvas,” he laughs of his deliberately unconventionally sexy women. “My emphasis is, as always, simplifying and exaggerating shapes and composing the surface of the canvas in a pleasing way.”

To fill out the composition and give a counterpoint to the main subject there are occasional figures in the clouds and little creatures nearby.

“They are there mostly just for fun, but they are necessary. Maybe a Freudian would say that I’m that little voyeur gull,” laughs Witbeck, “but seriously, a basic element of good composition is a repetition of shapes.”

Witbeck’s women range from nude woodblock prints to his bathing suit-clad beach babes to his Nereids, who are a Witbeck version of the classic sea nymphs.

“They’re all great fun to paint. I especially love when I don’t need to worry about what color to paint their clothes.”

David Witbeck’s Solo Show will run until Thursday, October 19 at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture at 14 Western Ave in Kennebunk, Maine. He has completely taken over the first floor, and his show is a must-see for the fall season. Please click the links below to learn more about David Witbeck and his work.

David Witbeck’s 2017 Solo Show

David Witbeck – A Year Round Collection of Available Work

David Whitbeck – Artist Insights and Stories

Painting Maine – Thoughts from David Witbeck

October 5, 2017 by Maine Art

Even though David Witbeck now lives in Rhode Island, Maine still holds a large portion of his heart and his work. He has so many memories he has created here and visits as often as he can. “Last October I spent a couple weeks recharging my Maine batteries and explored,” says Witbeck. “I wandered amongst the pole wharves of Friendship and Stonington, and visited many bays and harbors along the coast.”

“This year I seem to have developed a fascination with pole wharves,” shares Witbeck. “They often look so spindly and fragile, and yet they withstand the coming and going of the tide and the bumping of boats against them.”

Pole wharves are a classic style that are often found in the fishing villages of Maine.

Witbeck loves walking low tide mudflats around and under the pole wharves. He spends a great deal of time looking for whatever secrets the receding water may have revealed. “Even though the pole wharves I visited don’t look a bit like the ones I painted, they certainly provided me with inspiration. My work has always been more about what it feels like than what it looks like,” says Witbeck.

Witbeck’s Solo Show at Maine Art Gallery also has a few new harbor paintings. “These pieces are based on the view of Camden and Penobscot Bay from Mt. Battie and Mt. Megunticook. The day was spectacularly beautiful, like so many autumn days in Maine,” he says. “Like all my work, they are essentially big shapes based ever so loosely on reality.”

Witbeck captures the Maine coast and all its wonders in a fun and interesting way. We welcome you to come and see this amazing show and challenge you not to smile.

Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture is at 14 Western Ave in Kennebunk. We open every day at 10 am. Please check our website for daily closing hours as they will change with the seasons. We do showcase Witbecks work all year round, however, this solo show will only be hanging through October 19.

Click this link to see the 360-degree virtual tour of Witbeck’s Solo Show

David Witbeck – A Solo Show

Click this link to read more about David Witbeck

David Witbeck – Artist Insights and Stories

Click this link to see our entire collection of Witbeck’s work

David Witbeck – Artist Page

The Shape of Things – Thoughts from David Witbeck

September 28, 2017 by Maine Art

“All my work is essentially big shapes based ever so loosely on reality,” says David Witbeck.

Witbeck is one week into a three-week show at Maine Art Gallery. He has taken over the entire first floor and this new collection of work is fabulous. His subjects range from pole wharves to harbor scenes to his classic fishermen and lobstermen.

“Regardless of what the nominal subject matter of my work may appear to be,” says Witbeck, “to me, my paintings are about making interesting shapes and composing the surface of the canvas in a pleasing way.”

Be it the larger than life Hank, the fisherman, or the harbor of Blue, Blue Bay, it is easy to spot a Witbeck original work once you have seen one.

“I start just about every painting by drawing one big shape, the “subject” directly on the canvas. By default that leaves a second shape, the “background,” explains Witbeck. “I try to refine the two shapes so they’re both interesting. Even my landscape, seascape, and harbor scenes are essentially a sky or water shape combined with a land shape.”

After that the subject gets subdivided into smaller shapes. in the case of his fishermen, for example, to suggest clothing and such. Then other small shapes are attached to the primary shape to suggest the fish or the lobsters, or even the clever little seagull that finds his way into many of Witbeck’s pieces. “I usually add some little details to the background to suggest a boat, a gull or a piece of land, which creates the illusion of a middle ground.”

“A compositional thing I do, which adds to the two-shape idea, is when I add these little details to the background, I usually ‘attach’ them either to the figure or to the edges of the canvas,” he explains how he keeps his work connected. “Few of my paintings have more than a couple ‘free-floating’ shapes. “That is, the shapes are not attached to one another nor to the edge of the canvas.”

This is by far the most diverse collection of Witbeck’s work we have seen here at Maine Art Gallery. We love the variety of both subject and size. It is truly a wonderful show. The work is simple and clean, but never loses the honest feel of Maine and the way it should be.

Witbeck’s Solo Show is at 14 Western Avenue in Kennebunk. It will run through October 23. We are open every day at 10 am. Please check the website or call for closing hours as they will change later in the fall. You can also see the entire show virtually by clicking the show link here. David Witbeck – A Solo Show 2017

Click here for the website – www.maine-art.com or call (207) 967 – 2803 FMI

To read more about David Witbeck click here – David Witbeck – Artist Insights

To see our entire collection of Witbeck’s work click here – David Witbeck – Artist Page

David Witbeck – A Solo Show at Maine Art Gallery

September 21, 2017 by Maine Art

Fans of artist David Witbeck might quickly – and rightfully so – associate him with a particular subject. “I’ve been painting my signature fishermen for eleven years,” Witbeck says. “They’ve become my identity as an artist, but it’s not all I am.”

Witbeck’s recent work, which includes figurative and landscape pieces, will be on display for three weeks at Maine Art Gallery in Kennebunk, beginning Saturday, September 22. The artist will attend the opening reception that evening, from 5 to 7 PM.

Witbeck’s larger-than-life coastal characters have earned him many ardent followers. During recent years, however, the Rhode Island-based artist has focused his energies on other subjects. For example, last October he spent time in Maine, in Friendship and Stonington, so he could focus on pole wharves. Witbeck is drawn to their spindly and fragile appearance, which belies their ability to withstand the constant barrage of the tides.

“I love walking low-tide mudflats, around and under pole wharves, looking for whatever secrets the receding water may have revealed,” Witbeck says. While his subject matter may shift, his loose, bold, expressive style has not. “The actual wharves in these harbor villages don’t look a bit like the ones I painted for the show,” he says. “As always, my work has always been more about what it feels like than what it looks like.”

John Spain, Maine Art’s owner, says that Witbeck’s work evokes joy. “I’ve had the pleasure of representing David Witbeck for eight years and one of the most enjoyable parts is watching peoples’ first reactions to his work,” Spain says. “It begins with the smiles on their faces, and then they stand and really study each piece, the amazing compositions, and the masterful execution.”

Witbeck looks forward to discussing his work and his process at the opening. Maine Art Gallery is at 14 Western Avenue in Kennebunk. The gallery opens 10 AM daily. FMI, visit maine-art.com or call 967-2803.

Click to see the new show in a virtual 360-degree tour.

Click to see our entire collection of David Witbeck’s available works.

Click to read more about David Witbeck.

Liz Hoag – First Life and the Law

September 14, 2017 by Maine Art

“People think that being an artist and being a lawyer are exact opposites, one, a left brain activity, one a right brain activity,” says Liz Hoag. “I disagree.”

Liz Hoag completed her undergrad at Cornell and received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in Studio Art in 1983. She then earned her Masters of Fine Arts in Painting from Boston University in 1986. Thinking she had completed her “college life”, she moved to Maine started a screen printing business, mostly on fabric, t-shirts and such.

“My boyfriend quit his urchin diving business and grew the screen printing business with me two years later. However, things change. Our relationship ended in 1994, and in 1997 I sold out my share of the business to him, as well.”

At that point, Liz decided on another change and opted for law school at the University of Maine. She met her husband in 2002, earned her JD in 2003, clerked for a Justice on the law court and had twins in 2004, and soon after took a new job at Pine Tree Legal Assistance. We are fairly certain she took a few deep breaths in there as well.

When asked about her complete change in life work, this is often her answer:

“The biggest difference lies between the culture of art and the culture of law. Art is generally a friendly and even collaborative field. Law is neither,” says Hoag. “Law is designed to be adversarial. Someone wins and someone loses; end of story.”

The second twist in the story…in 2010, Liz quit law and went back to art.

“It took a while for the decision to gestate. Up until 2010, I didn’t have the courage or self-confidence to be an artist full-time. I had a husband. I had children. I had financial responsibilities,” says Hoag. She also had the problem many of women have, she felt like a fraud. “I never thought I was as good as others thought I was. So if I never really tried, I couldn’t fail, and people would still think I was good. There was no risk.”

However, with a fiftieth birthday coming up fast, Liz knew if she was going to do it, she had to do it soon. “I did my financial calculations. I had arguments with my husband. Then, I quit my job,” she says with a grin.

As an artist, one might not be as successful financially as another painter or might not have particular skills another has, but Hoag believes artists are not expected to face off against each other so that someone wins and someone loses.

“We find our places as artists. We change and grow and have open-ended possibilities,” says Hoag. She found after a few years of practicing law, she was just exhausted from spending her days arguing with other lawyers and always trying to “win”.

“There were certainly some good feelings that came with a win in court, but the feelings didn’t last. I worked with low-income residents of Maine and liked the idea of giving them quality legal representation, but in the end, I knew that I was better at something else, and I’d be happier doing that something else.”

The biggest difference between the two I think lies the culture of art and the culture of law. Art is generally a friendly and even collaborative field. Law is neither. Law is designed to be adversarial. Someone wins and someone loses; end of story. As an artist, I might not be as successful financially as another painter or I might not have particular skills another has, but we are not expected to face off against each other.

Having found success in both fields Liz feels there are more similarities than many understand.

“The thought processes of both professions require both sides of the brain. Of course, we think of art as being creative, but the fact is if I sit around in my studio and wait for inspiration to show up, I would never get anything done,” laughs Hoag. “An artist and a lawyer need to focus, have goals, and plans to achieve them.”

Hoag knows we all need to work through the days of “I just don’t want to do this”. We all have to learn and we have to be creative. Law is no different.

“On an average day, I was rewarded for NOT being creative – that’s what “precedent” is all about. The need to research and use what has gone before to help win a case,” says Hoag. “But then when a case with a novel issue comes, one that hasn’t been dealt with in Maine perhaps, this is when creativity is critical. I was able to take precedent and expand it. I loved giving the judge something new to think about,” says Hoag with a smile. “It’s rare and exciting working on a novel idea in law, but it does happen. So see, art and law both require hard work, critical thinking, and creativity.”

Law has also helped Hoag understand producing art is hard work like any other profession. It deserves respect and effort. “I still get comments about how being lucky, about being talented and the lovely comment ‘I wish I could quit my jobs and just do art’,” Hoag laughs. “Me too, I want to say, but I simply say Thank you. Yes, it’s great.’ and move on.”

Hoag knows it’s not that simple and being lucky or genetically talented didn’t get her where she is as a painter today. “Hard work, a lot of thought, and some middle-aged self-confidence got me here,” she says. “And I’m so glad I made the move. My possibilities are infinite.”

Click the links below for more about Liz Hoag.

View her One Woman Show at Maine Art Gallery

Artists Insights – Words from Liz Hoag

September 7, 2017 by Maine Art

The entire first floor of Maine Art is currently featuring work from artist Liz Hoag. While she was here visiting, she shared a few words with us regarding her work and her perspective of Maine. Her show will run through Thursday, Septemeber 21st.

From Liz…..

“You take a photograph of a sunset over a lake and realize later when you look at the photo that there were branches in your view. You unknowingly wiped them from view when you were looking through the lens. But they’re there; part of the landscape that gives depth and frames the beauty. They are an integral part of the beauty. You take them in without thinking about them.

When you’re walking in the woods, you think “this is so peaceful” and look around at the “quiet.” It’s not just that the trees surrounding you dampen the sounds of nearby civilization, but the light and color around you also make the space “quiet. “ The warm light sifting through the trees, the colors of early morning or late afternoon, the cool blues and browns of the path all come together to give you that peace. At any time of day, even at midday with the bright light washing away some of the color, the balance of the trees, branches, light and dark of the forest still creates calm.

You go to the edge of the sea in Maine to find “calm.” Islands, boats, and seaweed break up the vast expanse. Rather than wrapping your arms around yourself as you might in the closed quiet of the forest, you instead take a deep breath and spread your arms wide. You find a different sort of peace here.

Paths, trees, branches, color, light, air, open space, water; we have it all here in Maine. Whether it’s looking up at trees in our suburban neighborhoods, driving down country highways, or walking trails to the lakes and sea; we have a visual peace and quiet within reach. You can find calm and beauty right along the road almost anywhere in Maine.”

We are open daily at 10 am. Please come visit or click here to see her entire show in a 360-degree virtual tour. Virtual Tour and Online Show.

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Meet the Staff – Natalie Lane, Gallery Director

September 4, 2017 by Maine Art

Back in May, we did a featured blog piece on Natalie. At the time, she was our gallery manager. However, like the season, things are changing here at Maine Art, as well.

So…

We would like to reintroduce Natalie Lane, our new Gallery Director. She is still the same wonderful smile that greets you as you enter Maine Art, but her role with us will grow and change to feature her talent and skills in many different ways.

As many already know, Natalie has always been the brains and talent behind our framing counter. With over twenty-four years framing experience, we are incredibly lucky to have her. For the last ten years, she has shared her amazing eye for design, her color sense, and skills in the Maine Art frame shop and on the sales floor. She is an accomplished framer and manages to keep us all on task and organized, and helps keep the gallery running. This is something that won’t change too much. When you have an expert in the house, it is impossible not to utilize her.

Natalie was born at Portsmouth Naval Air Hospital in Kittery, Maine. Her father was stationed at Pease Air Force Base in Portsmouth. Being a military child, her travels started at a young age. One of her earliest memories is of Madrid, Spain, while her father was stationed at Torrejon Air Base.

“I think this is where my interest in art may have begun. There was a man in Spain, Suarez Gomez, who became a friend of my father’s. He was an artist that used various mediums such as oil, pastel, and charcoal. Several paintings and portraits of his hung in our home for many years, even after we returned stateside,” says Lane. “Some of them hang in my home now.”

Natalie’s family returned to the U.S in 1969. Throughout her life, she has called many places in New Hampshire and southern Maine home. She is truly a New Englander at heart. She has a love for hiking, fishing, and gardening. Living in rural Maine with her wonderful husband, Jeff, certainly, helps foster these activities.

“I have a lot of artwork in my home centered around trees, birds, and botanicals, so I guess you could say I’m a nature lover,” says Natalie. “Thanks to my 4-H leader, Mrs. Saltmarsh, I have also been sewing and designing with fabric since I was nine years-old. Project Runway is my guilty pleasure. On my days off, I like to poke around flea markets and browse through old photos. Yet most of all, I love spending time with family and friends. My husband, daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons are by far my favorites.”

Natalie participated in various clubs and sports in school, but her favorite was Drama Club. She is always writing or composing something in her head, but it was the camaraderie and creativeness it required that drew her in. This explains why she is so at home at Maine Art.

“When I came to Maine Art, I was prompted to take on the challenge of original art sales along with running the custom framing aspect of the business. I enjoy welcoming new customers to the gallery, engaging in conversation, and introducing them to the works of all our artists,” says Lane. “I feel lucky to have a career in a creative field, and I am privileged to work with such quality people.”

Art has always been a love of Natalie’s, even though she doesn’t draw or paint. Apparently, this talent was doled out to other members of her family but skipped her. Taking lessons is on her list of future plans, but so are a few other things.

“In the future, I want to travel. Honestly, anywhere. I want to see more of America, especially the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest. As far as what I want to be when I grow up,” Lane pauses and smiles, “I plan on becoming our beloved Miss Patty.”

Miss Patty Taylor is one of our former employees, who still visits often, and whom we all love dearly. If anyone can fill Miss Patty’s shoes it will certainly be Natalie. Even though we have other shoes for her to fill, we have no doubt she will continue to emulate the wonder that is Miss Patty. This is proven in her final words of her last interview when we asked what was most important to know about her;

“I believe in the Golden Rule, Karma, and if I can help, I will.”

To read about other members of our staff click here.

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Liz Hoag – A One-Woman Show at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture

August 31, 2017 by Maine Art

Artist Liz Hoag finds inspiration in the simple act of taking a walk in the woods near her Portland home. It isn’t just about what she sees – it is also about what she feels.

“When walking in the woods, the trees surround us. We cannot see the quiet, but we feel it,” says Hoag.

We are so excited to be featuring Hoag’s work in a three-week show beginning Saturday, September 2. We are also thrilled that she will attend the opening reception Saturday evening, from 5 to 7 PM.

Hoag, who has lived in Maine for about 25 years, has a studio in Westbrook. After taking photographs on walks around her Portland neighborhood or one of the many trails around the state, Hoag goes to work in her studio. “This is where the magic happens. I normally start with a dark canvas, or negative space, and build up by adding light. For me, the result is both abstract and representational,” she says.

Hoag blends the ideas inspired by her nature experiences into her work, using mostly acrylic paint on canvas. “It seems I have always leaned toward realistic work, but I like abstract. It’s looser,” Hoag says. She describes the work as “misty” when she discusses the pulling of light color over dark. “It is the light and color that makes a space quiet,” she says.

Hoag especially focuses on trees, as she feels they are the part of the landscape that gives depth and frames the beauty of the outdoors. “They are an integral part of nature. We take them in without thinking about them,” she says.

Besides the “treescapes” Hoag has become known for, she also paints seascapes and landscapes, which will be part of her upcoming show. Nature is constantly inspiring her to paint. “It’s balance and shape,” Hoag says. “For each of us, there is a need to find beauty and balance in the everyday. Much of what I paint is considered ordinary. They are things usually passed by, but if a second is taken to stop and see, it’s impossible not to notice how truly dramatic they are. The balance of the light and dark always manages to create calm.”

Although her work is an expression of her relationship to nature, Hoag ultimately is hoping to evoke feelings in those who view her work. “I personally do not think of the ‘story’ or ‘narrative’ of my paintings,” says Hoag. “That being said, these paintings truly reflect the feel of the moment when I was in this beautiful place.”

Hoag is looking forward to discussing her work and her process at the reception opening night. Please come in and visit at 14 Western Avenue in Kennebunk.

The online show is live Friday afternoon, Septemeber 1. Watch our Facebook page for the update.

FMI maine-art.com or 967-2803. We are open daily – please check our website for times.

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And Summer Turns to Fall

August 28, 2017 by Maine Art

Our show gallery on Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk is a seasonal gallery. With just a few more days left in our Maine Art Shows Season, we wanted to take time to thank all of our patrons, artists, and friends who have supported us for our 2017 summer shows.

Over the course of the summer, we celebrated with four shows: The 6th Annual Choice Show, Craig Mooney’s One Man Show, our 20th Anniversary Show, and presently, Three Artists, Three Rooms, One Show – Frey, Gerding, and Granter. Click each to view, if you didn’t have a chance to see them. A few pieces from each show are still available on the Artist Pages. Each show featured some of the best art work from around the state and New England. We were incredibly fortunate to house such beauty.

Our success over the past few months has been overwhelming, and we owe it to all involved. It has been a fabulous summer, and already we are already planning great things for next year. Be sure to stay connected through email and social media to help plan your visits next year.

With all that said, it is nearly impossible to believe Labor Day is this weekend, and we will close the gallery on the hill on Monday. However, the nice part about having two gallery spaces is that it doesn’t have to end. So even though our show gallery is closing on Chase Hill, our main gallery at 14 Western Avenue stays open year round and will be hosting two fall shows. Liz Hoag will open on September 2nd and run through the 21st. Following her will be David Witbeck from September 23rd to October 23rd. Each will take over the entire first floor of the gallery and help us to welcome in fall. Watch for more info on each coming soon.

So… as the autumn leaves start to fall, and the kiddos go back to school, don’t forget we are still here and come in for a visit. We have the same wonderful artists we featured all summer long, in addition to many other favorites.

Check our website for hours and our calendar of events. www.maine-art.com

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Philip Frey and His Changing Landscapes

August 24, 2017 by Maine Art

Philip Frey lives in a part of Maine where sea and shore meet mountain and forest. His studio and home are hidden away just minutes from the varied and beautiful landscape of Acadia National Park. When an artist is immersed in the beauty only mother nature can create, it is impossible not to capture it in paint.

“Painting en plein air and then moving into the studio to work is typically a matter of refining the painting in terms of subtle color and value changes to bring it to completion,” says Frey.

Philip has practiced in many mediums, from watercolor to acrylic to oil. The many landscapes that make up the lands of Maine welcome the artist in. “What interests me in most all my paintings is light and color; the sense of light coming through and infusing a locale,” says Frey. “The ephemeral quality of light, color, and shape is intriguing and draws me towards it.”

Frey borders a style somewhere between realism and abstraction. His work is familiar but has a composition that allows some leeway. “I’ve always been interested in abstraction, particularly the moving line between abstraction and representation. It’s a fun and fruitful place to explore,” he says. “I sometimes think about how can I paint the essence of something or a place through an economy of brush strokes.”

This collection of Philip Frey’s work will be at Maine Art Shows at 10 Chase Hill until Labor Day. We are open every day from 11 am to 5 pm. Please stop by and visit, or click here to see the online show with a 360-degree virtual tour. Click here to see our entire collection of Philip’s work.

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Blog

Witbeck and his Women – Artist Insights on Nudes

Painting Maine – Thoughts from David Witbeck

The Shape of Things – Thoughts from David Witbeck

David Witbeck – A Solo Show at Maine Art Gallery

Liz Hoag – First Life and the Law

Artists Insights – Words from Liz Hoag

Meet the Staff – Natalie Lane, Gallery Director

Liz Hoag – A One-Woman Show at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture

And Summer Turns to Fall

Philip Frey and His Changing Landscapes

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