Water – Four Artists, One Place, Endless Possibilities

Shows on Maine Art Hill welcomes all to visit and view their last summer show of the season. Saturday, September 4, is the opening of Water, a four-artist show featuring new works from William B. Hoyt, Ellen Welch Granter, Jill Matthews, and Kathy Ostrander Roberts.

The Therapeutic Power of Water – Artist Insights from Ellen Welch Granter

“Secretly…it is about the effect of light on the water. Sparkling or leaden, transparent or opaque, glossy or flat, the water’s surface is always mesmerizingly beautiful,” shares Granter. “I tried to convey the sense of peace that the water surface inspires with deeply saturated color fields. Of course, the birds are nearby.”

Big Water – Artist Insights from Jill Matthews

“I decided to work much larger for this show. It’s a bit of a challenge for me. I can’t focus on one spot of the canvas for too long. After all, it’s so large I have to constantly be backing up, taking in all in, and reworking things,” says Matthews.  “I can move around a big piece differently than I can a smaller one. It’s free, but I still have to focus. So it’s a little mix of both.”

My View of the Water – Artist Insights from William B. Hoyt for WATER

After following artist, William B. Hoyt for years, there is no other that captures the light and love found in water.  Hoyt is also quite famous for his storytelling abilities. With that said, we are fortunate to have him share a little insight into a few of the pieces he created for WATER.

Returning to Maine – Artist Insights from Artist Margaret Gerding

“Goose Rocks Beach holds special lifetime memories for me. It is full of sun, adventure and fun. Now that I live locally I am able  to capture this beach in paint anytime. It is a joy,” shares Gerding. “This is one of the first ‘beach’ paintings I have attempted, and it truly tells the story of what the beach means.”

Knowing When to Loosen Up – Artist Insights from Craig Mooney

When I was thinking about this new body of work, two things stood out initially. First, I was painting newer versions of much older, more abstracted pieces. Second, sometime after at least a decade of my work tightening up, I’m loosening up again. Corse brush strokes, less definition, a build-up of surfaces. It feels fresh again. 

When Inspiration is Personal – Artist Insights from Margaret Gerding

I have always loved the “quiet end” of the beach, where even in the heat of summer you can find open space to rest. The dune divides the ocean from the marsh, and allows for both a sunset and sunrise viewing. The large clouds held such a beautiful blue against the warm sky this evening.