Maine Art Hill Blog

Red House and Pink Cloud II – Abbie Williams and Monhegan Island

July 22, 2015 by Maine Art

Abbie Williams | Red House, Pink Cloud II | Oil on Linen | 30″ X 40″ $4300

It is dirt roads and no cars, cagey cliffs and quiet paths, fir trees and fairy houses. It is twelve miles of hidden trails wound around one mile of island. It is quiet beauty, living colors, and one of Abbie Williams’ favorite places.

Monhegan Island is a sanctuary for many artists. All who travel here are looking for one thing; solitude. Artists seek out the peace and natural surroundings of Maine unspoiled, and Abbie has been lucky enough to find it on this little island in Maine.

“One of the amazing parts of being able to stay on Monhegan Island for a period of time is seeing how the light changes day to day, from the early morning to the late afternoon,” says Williams. “The skies around the island are intriguing, magical, ethereal. Beyond description.” So, if she can’t describe it with words, she must paint, and that is how Red House and Pink Cloud II came to be. “This orange and pink cloud behind the red house created such an exciting response in me, I couldn’t help but paint it.”

It is this passion, this love, that Abbie has for her surroundings that is revealed in each canvas. Works like Lone Pine and Winter Moon breathe with the life she infuses in her work. Standing in front these paintings, one is transported and sitting on the edge of the scenery taking in the world that is Abbie Williams.

Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture has the pleasure of housing a wonderful collection Abbie Williams’ work. If you would like to see more, please visit at 14 Western Avenue in Kennebunk or visit her Artist Page on-line.

Maine. As they see it., will be open at Maine Art Shows everyday from 11-5. Please come in and check out this wonderful new show highlighting our state through the eyes of some of the most talented artists in the area. You can also view the show on-line at Maine. As they see it.

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Maine. As they see it. Opens

July 20, 2015 by Maine Art

The day a show opens is always an exciting time. The gallery, as well as the artists, are filled with anticipation. Of course selling a piece of work is the hope of all, but there is also the worry of having a “successful” opening night. Can we fill the gallery? Will people enjoy the work? Will all the planning and preparation pay off? In the case of the opening of Maine. As they see it…. Yes. Yes. And, yes.

There was not a parking spot to be had at 10 Chase Hill Road last night. All three rooms were full to capacity, food and drink flowed perfectly next to the buzz of brush strokes and beauty, and over a dozen artists discussed their inspiration and shared their thoughts and ideas with art buyers and each other. This is success.

One buyer spent most of the evening trying to decide between two paintings, both were just as much a part of his Maine experience as the artists’. We, as a gallery, love it when this common connection happens. So many people were congregated in one space to celebrate the impact this state has on those of us that have been lucky enough to experience it. Maine just has that way. It creeps into you and forever becomes part of who you are, and our artists captured it perfectly. This is success.

As the night closed, and the gallery again grew quite, John Spain, owner of Maine Art Shows, had a moment to reflect on the evening. “There was an incredible energy in the gallery, with artists, staff and friends enjoying this remarkable show, ” said Spain. “Since opening the gallery in 1994, we have done well over 100 receptions. I am not sure that we have ever had a one as busy as last night’s gathering.” This is success.

Near the end of the evening a short conversation was had with Kim Case, one of the artists. “When I was little I used to come here, back when it was the Gallery on Chase Hill. I dreamed of having my work on these walls,” said the creator of “Island Line”. The smile on her face, as she looked around the room, said it all. Maine, As they see it., is, by every definition, a success.

If you didn’t have a chance to come by the opening last night, please accept this as your personal invitation to come and visit. We are open from 11 – 5 every day. If you are far away and want to have a chance to experience this show, visit the on-line show at Maine. As they see it. The show will run until August 6. Don’t miss it.

Many of the artists in this show also have additional pieces at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture down at 14 Western Avenue in Kennebunk. You are always welcome to stop in, and the staff is more than happy to show you around.

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Maine. As they see it. – July 18th to August 6th

July 16, 2015 by Maine Art

In 2013, Maine Art Shows introduced Maine. As they see it., a show comprised of artists with strong Maine connections. It was a show like no other, revealing Maine through the eyes of some of the most accomplished artists in the area. Now, after two years and a great appeal to do it again, we are happy to announce Maine. As they see it., 2015. “Each painting is a reflection of the artists’ relationship with Maine,” says Amy Lewia, Gallery Director of Maine Art Shows and Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture.

If you are from Maine, or even if you have only visited, you understand the concept of having a “relationship” with the state. It is hard not to feel a special connection, even if you are just vacationing. “It is not a show of lighthouses and lobster pots,” say John Spain, owner of the gallery. “It is very clear from this body of work that each artist has their own unique connection to the state.” It is also very clear that the inspiration Maine provides is second only to the talent that has captured it.

“We have had contact with each artist over the years. We know their work and invited them to join us. We only asked them to provide us with one quintessential piece of work,” says Spain. Of the thirty-one artists, only eighteen are Maine Art artists. There are thirteen others that were invited to participate in this unique show, even though the gallery does not currently represent them. “Some of the participants Maine Art has represented in the past, and some have participated in prior shows with us,” say Lewia.

As artists stop in to visit and drop off their respective work, the excitement builds. Each piece is a “blockbuster” piece of work. When the collection comes together at Maine Art Shows, it will be simply outstanding. Maine. As they see it. will run at Maine Art Shows, 10 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk, for three weeks starting on July 18th. We welcome you to stop in and experience this work first-hand. As always, the show will also be available on-line at Maine. As they see it. starting Thursday, July 16th, and will run through August 6, the length of the show.

We also welcome you to visit Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture at 14 Western Avenue in Kennebunk, or online at www.maine-art.com.

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Summer Celebrations – Philip Frey

July 12, 2015 by Maine Art

In Philip’s New Works show at Maine Art Shows in Kennebunk, there are a few pieces featuring children at play that connect to each other. Inspired by time at the dock on Cranberry Island a few years ago, In the Moment, Double Cannon ball, Diver and Tandem celebrate summer the way Maine children have for decades… by simply playing outside.

We have all seen them – these ‘free-range’ children. Some of us were even lucky enough to have been one. They are the children who head out the door with bathing suits on underneath their clothes on a bicycle that used to belong to someone else. They are the children who, when the first light of day breaks, “go play” until summoned home for a meal, or more likely, bed-time. They are the children of Maine.

Philip was able to spend countless hours watching this phenomenon during his Heliker-LaHotan Foundation Residency. No iPads, no cell phones, no PlayStations. Just sunshine and summer. Capturing these moments on film, as well as in small studies, Frey found the magic. Working en plein air is difficult. “There is an immediacy when painting outside,” says Frey. “My paintings sometimes begin with drawings, plein air oil sketches or photographs that become the basis of larger studio works. Exploring different subjects through a series of work allows me to investigate various color palettes, compositions and paint handling within those parameters.”

These pieces will be on display until July 16th at Maine Art Shows, 10 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk. As in all things, being there is the best way to take in the wonder that this work holds. However, they can be viewed in the on-line show at Philip Frey, New Works, or on his Artist Page on Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture’s website.

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Incidental Marks – Philip Frey

July 8, 2015 by Maine Art

When speaking with Philip about this show, some specific pieces of work, and how he moves through the creation of his work, he paraphrased Jackson Pollack. “It’s about the paint and the process, it’s not about the artist.” He may have been referring to something very specific, comparing his style to Pollack’s, but the phrasing rang true for Philip as an artist. For him, it is not about the end result or the name on the catalogue, it’s about watching the magic that happens with a brush stroke; creating movement with a sweep of color and bringing the canvas to life with a talent he knows he is fortunate to have. As we interact more and more with Philip Frey’s collectors and friends, one theme rings true. Not only are they happy for the success of the show, but they are happy for the success of Philip, himself. “He is a great man, as well as great artist.”

Many have also commented on the “change” in Philip’s work. Frey attributes the strength and growth seen in his show, New Works, to time spent at the Heliker-LaHotan Foundation Residency on Cranberry Island in 2012. His residency was a few years ago, but it changed not only his final products, but his process. He comments on this during our interview.

One of the most remarkable changes is what Frey calls, “incidental marks.” These marks happen with the “throwing” of paint that might occur throughout the painting process to fold in texture, direction and a sense of spontaneity. “It gives a sense of movement,” says Philip. “It’s a throwback to when I worked with watercolor.” He refers to Japanese watercolor and calligraphy and the looseness of the brush. Watch the video below to hear it from Philip himself.

If you haven’t had a chance to come by 10 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk to view Philip Frey’s New Works show, consider this an invitation. The show will be on display until July 16th. He has additional pieces at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture at 14 Western Avenue in Kennebunk, as well. You can also see his work online by clicking the SHOWS link, as well as his entire collection on his Artist Page.

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Almost Full Disclosure – Philip Frey

July 5, 2015 by Maine Art

To uncover the secrets and stories behind a piece of art is one thing; to discover the physical secrets hidden underneath the paint is quite another.

Usually, for Philip Frey, the beginning of beautiful starts with venetian red. A background color he washes on, rubs off, and then proceeds to hide beneath the layers of oil paint we see on the surface of his work. By the time his end result is achieved only wisps and fragments of the stunning color peek through, but this first step is an integral part of his process.

This is not the only secret he conceals below the finish of his work. Recently Philip pulled out a series of abstract panels he created a while back. At the time he wasn’t satisfied with them. These panels covered in Raymar linen held blocky abstracts of scenes captured in just a few moments. In them Frey found inspiration for several of his smaller pieces that grace the walls at Maine Art Shows. By applying more detail, more color, more “Frey” he was able to create pieces like the one below. Who knew covering up could expose such beauty.

While visiting we were able to witness Philip “peel back” one of these painting. He shared some of the original panels similar to those he used in “Raining Clouds and Sun” and “Split” pictured above. The panels have to remain a secret, at least until his exhibition at the University of Maine Museum of Art next spring. Yet we were lucky enough to listen to him walk through a bit of what happened as he developed quick studies into fabulous abstracts worthy of his New Works show. Below is a small video clip of Philip discussing this process with us.

This “painting behind the painting” is new for Frey. “I think of Philip as one of our most creative in terms of always trying to step outside of his boundaries to try new things. It is how we learn and how we expand our knowledge,” says John Spain, owner of Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture.

There are so many secrets to discover when visiting with Philip Frey’s work. We welcome you to come and find them out for yourself. The show is running until July 16th at Maine Art Shows at 10 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk, or virtually at Philip Frey, New Works. Also, check out more of Philip’s work on his Artist Page at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture’s website.

Philip Frey: A Look Inside

July 1, 2015 by Maine Art

On Saturday, June 27th, Philip Frey hosted the opening of his solo show, New Works, with Maine Art Shows. All three rooms of the gallery at 10 Chase Hill Road are filled with pieces Philip has created for this one-man show. This show will run until July 16th.

Philip lives in Sullivan, Maine in a lovely little house nestled in the woods just off the beaten path. His studio sits right next door with a short stone path connecting the two through the trees. He has surrounded himself with the solitude and woodsy beauty of Maine hidden minutes from the rugged coast of Acadia and Mount Desert Island. He has found the best of both worlds.

Over the years Frey has immersed himself in watercolor, acrylic, and oil; painting still life, figurative, and landscape. Yet the one constant throughout most of his work has been the inspiration Maine has given. Whether it’s the rough and rocky coastline or a group of young children celebrating summer on the dock, there is an outside presence of where we call home. It weaves its way through all medium and style to show off its charm and allure through Philip’s work.

Over the next few weeks we will offer ‘Behind the Scenes’ posts about Philip and his collection of work on Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture’s Blog. Individual paintings will be seen through his eyes and stories will be told through his voice as we take a closer look into the beautiful world of Philip Frey.

New Works will be at Maine Art Shows for the next three weeks. They are open every day from 11-5. If you can’t make it in for a visit, the online show. Philip also has more work on his Artist Page at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture or come into the gallery at 14 Western Avenue here in Kennebunk to see his complete collection.

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Philip Frey, New Works Opens

June 28, 2015 by Maine Art

To begin with, “thank you” to all who came out for the opening of Philip Frey, New Works. From eleven yesterday morning until seven o’clock in the evening we enjoyed the company of so many wonderful people. Philip and the staff put in a long day at Maine Art Shows, but the time was well worth it. This was obvious when only an hour after opening a third of the pieces were boasting little red stickers. Philip Frey, New Works was an immediate success.

During an opening it is always interesting to eavesdrop on an artist with new clients. The passion and love for what they do is never as obvious as during these moments. With the quality and quantity of work in this show, Philip was kept busy answering questions and inquiries about particular pieces, as well as his process. Even discussions of place came into play. The love of Maine and her beautiful coast was shared by all who attended and often was the deciding factor in which piece to take home. Appreciation for a painting grew ten fold when both artist and patron were able to share memories of a place so perfectly captured on canvas.

Ten Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk is lucky enough to be the home for Philip’s new collection of work for the next three weeks. Maine Art Shows is open from 11am – 5pm every day and will happily show you around. If you can’t make it in by July 16th, please visit the show on-line, Philip Frey, New Works. Don’t forget Philip has additional work at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture down on 14 Western Ave in Kennebunk, and on his Artist Page, as well.

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New Works in the Making

June 26, 2015 by Maine Art

Last week time was spent with Philip Frey at his home and in his studio. After seeing the artwork for his upcoming show first hand and listening to Philip’s stories, excited doesn’t begin to describe the emotion swirling around the opening of New Works. Even though the inside peek at many of the pieces happened during the visit, some pieces were wrapped for travel or leaning against easels waiting for that final approval. It just wasn’t the same. It’s time to see it all come together, in true Maine Art Show style.

Watching the staff at Maine Art Shows pick and choose what goes where, and next to what, and in which room is crazy. How do they decide? Amy and Natalie make it look easy, but it takes hours of hard work, arranging and rearranging to make “New Work” come to life. As a result by mid-afternoon on Friday, the gallery on the first floor of 10 Chase Hill Road is finally quiet…and without a doubt, absolutely perfect.

It is definitely a treat to wander through the rooms with nothing but silence to critique the work. Time is undisturbed as the memories and visions of Philip Frey spill into each room. Views of Acadia National Park and Schoodic Peninsula, abstracts of water and sky, and children captured in play complete the celebration of summer.

Please come and join Philip, his New Works, and Maine Arts Shows in this celebration. The gallery is open from 11-5 every day starting Saturday, June 27th through Thursday, July 16th at Maine Art Shows at 10 Chase Hill in Kennebunk. You can also visit virtually at Philip Frey, New Works. Be sure to check out the rest of Philip’s work at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture or virtually on his Artist Page.

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Road Trippin’ with WGME 13

June 24, 2015 by Maine Art

When heading into Kennebunkport from Rt. 9 it is impossible to miss Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture. Known for the large display of Lyman Whitaker Wind Sculptures in the front yard, Maine Art has greeted visitors and locals alike for over fifteen years now. We have always thought it was a great place to visit, but when Jeff Peterson from WGME’s Road Trippin’ called to set up a time to film and interview, we were happy to oblige and help him spread the word.

Owner John Spain met with Jeff and his cameraman, Matt, down on 14 Western Ave outside of Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture. The gallery wasn’t open yet and fewer people were wandering around Kennebunkport at that time. John filled him in on some of the history, what the difference is between Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture and the gallery on 10 Chase Hill Road, Maine Art Shows, what’s up and coming for art openings, and of course a little bit about those famous Wind Sculptures.

Road Trippin is a segment on WGME that focuses on northern New England tourism. Where to eat, where to play, and of course where to shop. They air on Thursday mornings on Channel 13, WGME, but their webpage keeps video of past visits in case you miss one. Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture will be featured on the July 2nd show that is coming to Kennebunkport.

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