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.
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.
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.”
When your business is called Maine Art, people come looking for images captured not only in the spirit of Maine but often times in the places of Maine. The three artists currently featured at Maine Art Shows do just that.
“I began painting boats recently because I love the way they evoke a sense of peace and calmness,” says Granter. “However, some of my fondest childhood memories of the sailing world were not on the water nor were they calm and peaceful.” While speaking with Ellen about her newest collection, she shared some of her… Read more »
Margaret Gerding is not only a painter, she is also a teacher. Spending many days in the marshes or on the beaches of the Kennebunks, she shares her gift or art with her students. It was during one of her recent sessions that she asked her students to push themselves a little further. She issued the 30 Day Artist Challenge, a test to push skills beyond their normal comfort zone. Not only did Gerding issue this challenge, she joined in.
“All three artists have strong ties to Maine and capture the true essence of the state,” says gallery owner John Spain. “Though each has distinctively different styles and subjects, the show as a whole is a wonderfully cohesive body of work.”
Come and join Maine Art and MaineStage Shakespeare on Tuesday, August 8th. The actors and actresses, in full costume, will wander among Lyman Whitaker’s Wind Sculptures at 14 Western Ave in Kennebunk from 7:30 to sunset. They will share excerpts from their present production of Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Whitaker’s sculptures have been surrounding both Maine Art Gallery and Maine Art Shows for ten years. They have become a landmark for Lower Village, Kennebunk and a wonder for tourists and locals alike. From five feet to twenty-eight feet tall the sculpture forest is filled with all forty-four styles in multiple sizes.
Welcome to the first week of Maine Art Painting and Sculptures 20th Anniversary Celebration. Over the next few weeks we will be using the blog to keep you updated on what’s going on, what to expect, and of course a little kudos for events that have gone by.