For respite, however, even as a child, I would just lay back in the lush lawn and gaze up at the forms in the billowy clouds, pure white cotton set against endless blue summer sky. The sky’s the limit! In your imagination, in absorbing nature in its full summer bounty!
Tag: First Lives
First Lives – Margaret Gerding
At nine years old Margaret Gerding’s father cleaned out a portion of their family garage in order to create a little studio space for her. However, even with unconditional support an artist often has to find other avenues first. Gerding has held many other jobs in her life which have allowed her to be where she is today.
Liz Hoag – First Life and the Law
“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… Read more »
Meet the Staff – John Spain, Owner of Maine Art
It may have started with musicals like Jesus Christ Super Star and Choral Camp at the University of Maine in Orono or a favorite teacher who guided his interests toward the art department, but it ended as the lead singer in a rock band and the owner of a successful gallery. That’s right, being the front man is nothing new for John Spain. Even though, it is more common to find the owner of Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture in jeans and a dress shirt, not black leather pants and a tank top, his love of music and the arts has never waivered.
William B. Hoyt on Being a Navy Man
The idea was to accompany the musicians with paintings of what was going on out in the field. He sold the idea to the Admiral, and I was sent out on an aircraft carrier, a destroyer, an amphibious assault ship, everything except a submarine. I had a set of orders from the Admiral, and everyone there did what he said.
Behind the Painting – Custom Stretchers from Brickyard Enterprises
Brickyard Enterprises is located in Ferrisburgh, Vermont in the beautiful Champlain Valley. They are a small company run by Mike Poskas and his wife, Ann. They are also live about a half mile from Rebecca Kinkead.
Mike and Rebecca’s husband, Jaime hunt together. Knowing Mike was on furrow from his job as a commercial airline pilot, Jamie tossed a very random idea his way.
“When Jamie asked about making stretchers for Rebecca’s canvases, Mike was all in,” says his wife, Ann. “Then he promptly came home and researched what a stretcher was and how to make one.”
First Lives – Philip Frey
Like so many artists, giving back and sharing skills and knowledge found its way into Philip Frey’s life. Aristotle said, “Those who know, do. Those that understand, teach.” Not only did teach students at the high school level, but he was just crazy enough to take on the role of the K-8 art teacher on Swan’s Island right here in Maine. Teaching is still very much part of Philip’s world. He hosts various workshops and classes for children and adults.
First Lives – Susan Wahlrab
At a very young age Susan Wahlrab was expressing her own “important ideas”. “My grandmother said I came home from whatever event and went right for my drawing pad or my desk chalkboard and immediately created a visual diary of what most interested me,” says Wahlrab. “Making images has been my way of integrating life’s experiences since I was very smallI.” Having someone to nurture those interests and natural curiosities soon led Susan down the road to becoming an artist.
First Lives – Ellen Welch Granter
Ellen Granter has been with Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture for over ten years. Her love of nature and wildlife, especially the winged ones, is known well in the Maine art community. Her work is peaceful and warm and welcomes the viewer in with open arms. Yet, her life did not start at an easel.
First Lives – David Witbeck
“As a kid, I thought I wanted to be an artist… or maybe a musician,” says David Witbeck. “As a high school senior my choices were music school in Potsdam, NY (the boonies, -40 in the winter), or Art School in the Big Apple. What would you choose?”