What happens when three amazing artists come together in one place? A celebration of beauty, fun, and a place loved by so many—Maine.
Shows on Maine Art Hill in Kennebunk is hosting a three-artist show, featuring the works of painters Trip Park, Liz Hoag, and Janis Sanders. Work is on display for three weeks, beginning with an opening reception, Saturday, August 11. The artists will attend the reception, which is 5 to 7 PM.
“These three artists haven’t ever shown their work together in this capacity before,” says John Spain, owner of Maine Art Hill. “They are three incredibly strong painters, each working in a different medium, yet they all put color to canvas with distinctive style and subject. There will be something for everyone at this show.”
The first of these three artists, Trip Park, is always thoroughly inspired by his many trips to Maine. His “Buoys of Summer” series is the product of one of those visits.
Park says, “I kept noticing little pops of color out of the corners of my eyes. There, within the massive crates of wire and steel mesh of the lobster traps, there were these brightly painted lobster buoys all over the docks,” says Park. “I thought to myself, there’s no way people would find a painting of those interesting, but I had to try it.”
Little did he know what iconic symbols they were of the lives and loves of a coastal Mainer. Since, he has also added a few other iconic subjects to his collection, birds, and butterflies, as well as the incredible waters and dunes.
On the other hand, artist Liz Hoag, who also paints in acrylic, is featuring more of the inland beauty of this area. Steams, brooks, and the enchanting woods have all inspired this Portland artist. Each piece of Hoag’s work features nature and light interacting in a way that provides a new and different perspective on the everyday surroundings of the natural world. Mother Nature often illuminates her creations in a way only a few stop to notice. Hoag is one of those few.
Hoag says, “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, streams, and sea; we have a visual peace and quiet within reach. We can find calm and beauty right along the road almost anywhere in Maine.”
The third artist in this show is Janis Sanders, another wanderer of the secret spots in Maine. Long car rides, here, there and everywhere, bring him to the most secluded, yet the most beautiful areas of the state. His stark representation of the landscape, working in mostly oil paint, draws the eye to the simplicity of this beauty.
Sanders says, “Each painting is a moment in time. There needs to be time, time to look, time to stop, time to absorb, time to imagine.”
Anyone can see Maine. It is a real gift to see it through the eyes of artists, such as Sanders, Hoag, and Park.
Sanders says it best, “This art is a place and a moment in an overly hectic world. It is still a slice of being in the now, being present and just enjoying.”
The artists look forward to discussing their work and process at the opening, August 11. The show will run through August 30. Shows on Maine Art Hill is located at 10 Chase Hill Road, Kennebunk. Open daily, 10 AM to 5 PM. FMI maine-art.com or 967-0049.
To read more about each artist click the links below
To see more work from each artist click below