53 Artists and Over 140 pieces of art

Nancy Bariluk-Smith grew up in a small town in Connecticut surrounded by creative energy. Her mother, being a strong influence, taught her rug hooking, knitting, bead work, embroidery, how to garden and how to harvest. At a young age Nancy enjoyed drawing and sketched the dreamy faces on album covers.

After a brief stint in College, Nancy took the road less traveled and solo backpacked through New Zealand and Australia, finally settling in Alaska for 10 years. Moving back to “the lower 48” she raised her two boys just outside of Saratoga Springs NY. She taught wet felting and needle felting classes, learned how to spin wool, created lamp-work glass beads and a line of glass jewelry.

Now living on the seacoast of Maine for some 12 years, her focus and passion is painting and illustration. Nancy recently illustrated two children’s books, loosely based on her friend’s childhood adventures in the 1950’s, Maude and the Holy Oak and Maude and the Merry Christmas Tree.

Nancy’s experiences influence and shape her creative expression. She lives boldly and creates bold vibrance paintings that bring her joy. Nancy’s paintings evoke a sense of exploration and discovery. She finds inspiration from her flower gardens, the colors of the setting sun, birds singing in the lilac bushes, all these precious moments give her a sense of peace and belonging. Through her art and love of flowers, she pays homage to her surroundings and her goal is to be a mindful steward of this amazing planet!! Sharing that joy with others is a dream come true.

Amy is an artist whose work delves into themes of nostalgia, common symbols, and memory, she invites the viewer to engage in the narrative process in a manner that is both intimate and deeply personal.

Drawing from her fine arts education, she approaches her work with a profound appreciation for artistic heritage, while staying connected to the present through the timelessness of aesthetic simplicity. Through an understated language of visual symbols and meditative studies, her work manifests as a visual journal chronicling transformation, discovery, and solitude. Her attention to light, shadow and form, combined with the unique attributes of each photograph, imbues every piece with its own distinctive story and personality.

She also chooses to shoot with a Kodak Instamatic X-15F for its unparalleled ability to capture moments in a distinctive, nostalgic aesthetic. The simplicity and reliability of the camera allows her to focus solely on composition and subject, free from the distractions of complex camera settings. The monochromatic palette lends a timeless quality to her photographs, enhancing the emotional resonance of each image. Additionally, the grainy texture of black and white film adds a unique depth and character, bringing a pictorial, authentic quality to her work. Using this classic combination of camera and film is not just a technical choice, but a deliberate artistic statement that speaks to her preference for capturing the essence of a moment in a beautifully analog form.

Along with exhibiting primarily in Maine, she has also gladly donated some of her photographs for charity fundraisers in New York and Maine

Catherine Bickford, South Portland, Maine Catherine Bickford is a Maine based artist whose artwork is an instinctual response to her life. She builds worlds in paint that are based on direct observation, memory, and dreams. Her artwork explores heightened moments that include strong color and exaggerated spatial experience. Her paintings often present a journey for the viewer that takes them from the concrete “here and now” through a window, door, or portal into distant places that lie just beyond the limits of the frame. Bickford was awarded an Artist Springboard grant from the Maine Arts Commission in 2023 which resulted in a body of work entitled “Field of Study'' which was exhibited by the Yarmouth Arts Alliance in Yarmouth, Maine. The three works on view here were created at that time and were also included in a juried group show "Working Maine" at Maine Art Gallery in Wiscasset, Maine in July 2023. Catherine is the long-time Executive Director of Artascope Studios in Yarmouth, Maine. She recently graduated from the New York Studio School of Painting, Drawing, and Sculpture. She has been awarded the 2024-25 Artist-In-Residence position through NYSS at the Dumbo Studio in Brooklyn, New York.

As an artist and native of this beautiful state, outside is my favorite place to be.

There is so much nature to take in and so many colors to admire.

I feel so fortunate I see the many colors in the world the way I do and enjoy splashing them on the canvas.

I paint with all mediums, but oils always seem to pull me in. I start my paintings on a blank canvas with no plan in mind and no idea where each piece will take me. I often switch gear’s halfway through and enjoy the surprise of the finished piece.

As a busy ER tech, my free time is very important. Painting allows a much needed break.

Painting is my relaxation and each time I pick up a brush, I’m switched into the present moment.

Michael Branca is an artist based in Bath. His media and subject matter range from fantastical oil paintings to plein air landscapes to conceptual assemblages. His work addresses feelings of (dis-)connectedness with nature, and attempts to find beauty, joy and humor in the unexpected and mundane.

Branca holds an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, a BA from Colby College and studied at Temple University Rome. He has been awarded fellowships at the Skowhegan School, Vermont Studio Center and the Monhegan Artist’s Residency, and received a grant from the Maine Arts Commission. He teaches a variety of art classes at Southern Maine Community College. His work has shown at Center for Maine Contemporary Art and other venues throughout the Northeast

I have been making art ever since I can remember. My collage explorations began by cutting up old paintings on paper and rearranging them. Currently my artwork is a hybrid of painting and collage, and you have to look closely to discern the brushstrokes from the torn or cut edges.

I am inspired by the natural world and also the inner landscape of feelings, memories, and experiences that mark my personal journey through life. My creative process allows me space to play with materials, ideas, and images in a fluid manner. I love seeing how unexpected harmonies or tensions can emerge between shapes and spaces, or how one color can vibrate against another color to create a deep shadow or flickering light.

Although I have lived in Maine for most of my married life, I was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia. I received my Bachelors degree from the University of Maine at Farmington in Visual and Performing Arts with a major in the Fine Arts. I attended the Maine College of Art where I obtained the majority of my studio credits. I have been painting, drawing and carving for over 30 years inspired by the beautiful Maine rural landscape where I live as an active farmer. My work is a reflection of my life raising sheep, growing vegetables and working in the woods. I also sketch on a regular basis when my husband, Bob and I travel particularly in rural areas of the world. My work can be found in private collections in Australia, England, Italy, New York and Maine. I hope you too can take time to enjoy it.

Mary Anne Cary is an oil painter living in Cape Elizabeth, Maine.

I attended Southeastern Mass University, graduating with a BFA in Visual Design.

A former graphic artist, I now devote my time to oil painting. Inspired by the Maine coast and landscape, I strive to capture everyday scenes with a fresh vision and energy.

I am drawn to shapes, shadows and patterns found in nature.

I find that living in Maine, I am supplied with endless possibilities for paintings. I see intriguing studies every time I take a drive, whether down the street or up the coast. I love having my camera ready to record the many compositions and ideas I see around me. I strive to paint boldly with loose strokes and vivid color to bring life to my work.

I have attended workshops with local and nationally recognized artists and I enter regional juried art shows.

Amy is an artist whose work delves into themes of nostalgia, common symbols, and memory, she invites the viewer to engage in the narrative process in a manner that is both intimate and deeply personal.

Drawing from her fine arts education, she approaches her work with a profound appreciation for artistic heritage, while staying connected to the present through the timelessness of aesthetic simplicity. Through an understated language of visual symbols and meditative studies, her work manifests as a visual journal chronicling transformation, discovery, and solitude. Her attention to light, shadow and form, combined with the unique attributes of each photograph, imbues every piece with its own distinctive story and personality.

She also chooses to shoot with a Kodak Instamatic X-15F for its unparalleled ability to capture moments in a distinctive, nostalgic aesthetic. The simplicity and reliability of the camera allows her to focus solely on composition and subject, free from the distractions of complex camera settings. The monochromatic palette lends a timeless quality to her photographs, enhancing the emotional resonance of each image. Additionally, the grainy texture of black and white film adds a unique depth and character, bringing a pictorial, authentic quality to her work. Using this classic combination of camera and film is not just a technical choice, but a deliberate artistic statement that speaks to her preference for capturing the essence of a moment in a beautifully analog form.

Along with exhibiting primarily in Maine, she has also gladly donated some of her photographs for charity fundraisers in New York and Maine

Cassie Doyon lives in Boothbay Maine. She has worn various hats as an artist for over thirty-four years, starting off as a graphic artist and then continuing in mixed media art and sculpture. Over the past ten years, Cassie has focused on mosaic sculpture. In addition, Cassie has worked as an art educator for over twenty-five years, teaching art in a variety of settings, including private schools and galleries, most recently at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Essex Art Center in Lawrence.

Cassie has an undergraduate degree concentrating in graphic design from Salem State College and a graduate degree in art education from SMFA/Tufts University. She has exhibited her work internationally via galleries, craft guilds/societies and collaborations and her work has been publicized in various news sources, books and magazines. Cassie’s work has won several awards in area galleries including best in show and most innovative/experimental sculpture. She has done public architectural and sculptural installations solo and as part of a collaborative and has curated mosaic exhibits.

Darcy Duda is a writer, farmer, and self-taught artist who has lived in Maine all her life. Her work, both written and visual, focuses on topics such as the environment, women, and social class.

Martha Ferguson creates drawings, paintings, and sculptures that examine her relationship to the natural world. Since moving to Maine several years ago she established her studio in Portland and is a member of the Running With Scissors art community. Ferguson has exhibited her work in Portland, ME at Cove St Arts and the Maine Art Collective. She has had solo exhibitions at the Merrymeeting Arts Center in Bowdoinham, ME, the Adler Gallery in Port Washington, NY and Berkeley College in NYC. Her work has been included in numerous group exhibitions in NY, NJ, and PA. Her work is in the collection of the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and various private collections. Ferguson was awarded a Japanese Fulbright Memorial Fund Fellowship to travel to Tokyo and Okinawa. While in Japan she was the guest of renowned Japanese printmaker, Takuji Kubo and initiated an international printmaking project, “Peace Flags Across the Seas”. In 2010 Ferguson received her Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia where she was awarded a graduate merit scholarship. She has also studied painting at Santa Reparta International School of Art in Florence, Italy and printmaking in Corsica, France.

Degree: B.S. Forest and Wildlife Management from the University of Maine, College of Forest Resources in 1982, Master of Policy, Planning, and Management 2023.

Experience: State Horticulturist since 2015. Manager, Pesticide Programs for the Board of Pesticides Control for 28 years. Off and on practicing Licensed Professional Forester since 1985, Kents Hill Forestry Services. Former chair of the Arborist Board. Worked as a horticulturist for ChemLawn Services Corporation for 5 years, 1983 - 1988.

Personal: Grew up in Farmington, Maine. An entomologist from birth and was inspired to love plants by my Mother, who always grew beautiful roses and rock gardens. I am also a landscape and nature photographer.

Nature is the divine artist. I know I can’t come close to what she produces, but in my work I try to communicate how incredible this planet is.

I like creating when the process involves my whole body, some technical figuring out, and more than two dimensions - printmaking, cooking, gardening, ceramics, and product design do that for me. Just two dimensions feels limiting, but printmaking offers a third dimension and the spontaneity of pulling a print. It feels natural to leave some control to the process; who am I to tell materials what to do? I can only learn from them, obey them, then stand back and let them do what they do best.

These block prints come from a series I made to celebrate the beauty of summer life on the Sheepscot River. I grew up dog paddling in the Sheepscot, searching for fools gold. I still live by the river; it is my church.

I am in awe of the incredible beauty of nature. The wilderness is a subject that I have explored throughout my artistic career. There is a calm and quietness to nature in the wild and the ability to experience that firsthand is becoming rare. I prefer my paintings to have little or no reference to man.

The Maine that we experience today is a beautiful and wonderful place, but it has changed a lot from when I was young. In my paintings I like to capture scenes that I remember while growing up but are not as common as they once were, like cows grazing in an open field.

Jaclyn found her way to printmaking in 2023 while temporarily living in the DC area, though she has considered Maine to be home since moving to Scarborough in 2016. She pursued relief and reduction woodblock and linocut printmaking classes through The Art League in Alexandria, VA, and was an affiliate printmaker in the Discover Graphics Atelier at the Torpedo Factory. She returned to Scarborough in May 2024 and now works out of her studio at Running with Scissors in Portland.

In her relief and reduction prints, Jaclyn seeks to interpret her experience with the natural world as a birder and general outdoor enthusiast. During her time in DC, she felt a void of the beautiful scenes that were so easily accessible to her in Maine. Printmaking was a way to channel her nostalgia and put these scenes in front of her eyes again. In particular, the practice of reduction printmaking allows her to rest in landscapes and explore them from new angles. In this technique, a repetitive process of inking, printing, and carving the same block will build layers of colors to create a final image, gradually destroying the block in the process. These iterations on the same image slow life down and allow Jaclyn to commemorate scenes and birds that hold special places in her heart and mind.

A fervent believer that art is essential to conveying information about the natural world, Susan enjoys engaging all ages in pursuits that connect art, science, and the outdoors. A career educator with a B.S. from Cornell and an M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, Susan has worked at Harvard University for 20 years overseeing educational outreach programs and working with Harvard students on teaching and science communication. Susan is a Signature Member of the New England Watercolor Society and belongs to the Society of Animal Artists and the Copley Society of Art. She is a resident of Portland, Maine.

Jonathan Leach is a Maine-based woodcarver, specializing in capturing the dynamic movement of birds and marine mammals using locally-sourced wood. His art celebrates the beauty of creatures like dolphins, seals, and humpback whales, crafted to convey their grace in motion. Each piece, born from the heart of Maine's forests, invites you to bring a piece of our local magic into your home. Through carvings, he aims to deepen our connection with the state’s wonders while reminding us of our duty to protect these magnificent beings and their habitats.

Jonathan has been carving for 10 years and his work has won awards in many New England wood carving competitions, including Best in Show at the Maine Wood Carvers Association annual show in 2022. Jonathan has appeared on an episode of Maine Cabin Masters, creating a custom beer tap handle for the “Passport to Greenville” episode, an experience that still results in being recognized by the show’s fans years later. He credits the instruction and inspiration from master carvers Wayne Robbins and Marcia Berkall for any skills he may have picked up on the way.

Jonathan grew up in Blue Hill and lives in Augusta with his wife Rachel, their dog Willow, and their two cats, Molly and Dolly. Recognizing the truth in the old adage “carvers are starvers”, Jonathan continues to work for the Department of Health and Human Services, where is the Compliance Manager for the Division of Licensing and Certification.

I see the world in birds. I know that sounds silly, but I often see an interaction, a place, or a sky, and in my mind, it looks just like the painting it becomes. I see it instantly and can capture it in my mind and store it like a photograph to retrieve later. The interaction of my characters is based on observations of living beings and the scenes are always inspired by nature, by places both real and imagined.

My work is often autobiographical with many of the people and animals in my life appearing as birds in my work. Inspiration is all around and I find plenty in my everyday life. I live in Marshfield, Maine with my husband Garret, dog Butters, and cat Judy. I grew up in Wisconsin in an environment filled with creativity and nature. My mother and brother are both practicing artists. I have the most fulfilling job as a high school art teacher.

While growing up walking distance from Acadia, my parents encouraged creativity and the arts. I moved away from art as a focus in higher education to pursue biochemistry and forensic science disciplines. As an artist and scientist, I constantly struggle to find balance and harmony between both cerebral hemispheres. Over the last decade, I have found that painting with watercolor provides both freedom and control to the artist that meets that need. Usually, I find myself painting automotive-related topics in this media, but ventured into landscapes for this submission. The themes of these pieces are the top producing agricultures in Maine, potatoes, blueberries, and dairy.

"Lin Lisberger has been a sculptor and wood carver since the 1970s. She taught sculpture, drawing, and design at the University of Southern Maine Art Department from 1981 until her retirement in 2017. Lisberger has an MFA in sculpture from the University of Pennsylvania (1980) and a BA in Literature from the University of California at Santa Cruz (1973) and she lives and has a studio in Portland, Maine. Her exhibition experience is widespread, and she has worked in several private and corporate collections.

Lisberger has been making art in Maine for over forty years, and over time the sculptures have incorporated many images, always resonating with the attributes of locally accessed wood. She approaches carving wood in a nonconventional way. Traditional wood carvers find or create blocks of wood that they then carve to create the form they seek. She prefers to carve, construct, carve some more, and then construct further to allow the sculptures to grow more integrally out of the process. She is also interested in the impact that place and materials have on the sculpture. While most characteristics of wood are similar, there are small differences that make an impact on carving. Grains, barks, growth patterns, hardness or softness, and even fungal differences affect how the wood responds to the tools and her emotional and intellectual response to the wood.

The wood for these three pieces was sourced as follows: Bagel Breakfast Sandwich: maple from Portland, Maine, Hamburger: oak harvested and carved at Kezar Lake in Maine, Loaded Hotdog: lilac and poplar from Portland, Maine.

Lisberger’s attention to form has been consistent, describing both object and space and thus creating a foundation upon which an abstract narrative can be built. She uses narrative, both subtly and overtly, to emphasize her interest in humans and their journeys. The Sandwiches were carved at a time when she was especially drawn to spaces “between” and what it means to be sandwiched physically and emotionally. "What those spaces looked like sculpturally was puzzling, so the obvious was actual sandwiches and things caught and emerging. These have a real presence and can act as humorous reminders of our daily worlds."

"Kimberly MacDonald is a mosaic artist based in Portland, Maine. Working from her home studio, Kimberly has honed her skills through a rich educational journey that spans local Maine ceramic and glass studios, the Chicago Mosaic School, and intensive studies in Ravenna, Italy, a world-renowned center for mosaic art.

Her award-winning work has been exhibited both regionally and nationally, earning acclaim for its technical excellence and imaginative depth. Kimberly’s mosaics delve into themes of science, nature, health, and communication. Her unique blend of serious exploration with an occasional side trip into whimsy allows her to narrate diverse stories showcasing a spectrum of representational and abstract fine art mosaics.

In addition to her work in mosaics, Kimberly hosts Art on Oakdale, a free little art gallery. Situated outside her Portland studio, Art on Oakdale aims to inspire and connect individuals, showing that the way we tell our stories through artistic expression can truly transform and enrich our lives. Visitors to the gallery are encouraged to take a free piece of art they love, leave a piece of art they made, or simply enjoy the art on view.

Alyssa Marini completed her undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology and Master’s degree in Entomology from the University of Maine Orono and is currently pursuing her PhD in Biological Sciences while working at the Applied Genetics and Genomics Lab at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Diagnostic and Research Laboratory. Her research focuses on vector-borne disease systems, specifically the ecology of diseases transmitted by ticks and mosquitoes. With extensive experience both in the field and in the laboratory, she engages with arthropods in natural environments and under the microscope.

I spent most of my childhood near Augusta, Maine, and was educated in Augusta schools. I received a BA in American Studies from Barnard College and an MA in Special Education from Teachers College, both part of Columbia University in New York City. I have always loved to draw. My first formal art class was in drawing at Columbia University. I have since taken classes and workshops in art whenever I was able. I met my husband mountain climbing, which we did together very intensely until our son, Keith, was born. In 1978 We moved back to Maine when we bought Lakeside Orchards in Manchester. My husband and I owned and managed that business for 21 years, after which time we returned to our original professions of teacher and engineer. I have painted and sold my art for over forty years.

Cheryl L. Miller is a native of Staten Island, NY. She received her B.A. in Art from Hunter College, NY. She moved to Maine in 1988 because it’s the way life should be. Ms. Miller is best known for her community participatory art project 46 Million Turkeys and can be seen regularly at the Portland and Biddeford Art Walks inviting the public to draw a turkey’s portrait.

Ms. Miller has been a State of Maine employee since 2010 and considers it an honor to contribute and participate in our community.

I am primarily self-educated in art, a realist by nature and style. I hold a BA in studio art… but it was in the sixties. I took a useful course in General Design from UMA back in the day as well – it has withstood the test of time - and since then have studied here and there with other local artists and art groups, in between child-rearing and working… like most of us!

My “day jobs” have mostly been in the social justice field (and if they weren’t, I always introduced that concept!). Art has always been intermingled with that… early on, I was impressed with the Currier & Ives concept of having prints made from their paintings specifically to provide affordable art ownership options for the country people who were so often the C&I artwork subjects. make giclee or digital prints of favorite works to sell or donate to non-profit fundraising efforts. My giclee print “Wild Turkeys of Blaisdell Street” - on display here – is an example.

I have won some prizes over the years – the Common Ground Fair poster contest in 1994, and the Harlow Gallery and Waterville Arts awards. I have also completed many “commercial art” commissioned projects – t-shirt designs, poster art, stationary, and theater props. Since retiring in January of this year, I have taken a deep dive into visual arts once again, searching out old roots and new branches. It is an exhilarating ride, and I appreciate the opportunities offered by Maine Arts to connect with local businesses and new faces!

Heather Newton Brown (She/They) is a mixed media encaustic artist residing on unceded Wabanaki territory, known today as Casco. Heather is largely self-taught and holds a Bachelor of Arts from Goddard College and a Master's Degree in Counseling from Union Institute and University. In her abstract creations, Heather endeavors to convey emotion, experience, and connection in a manner distinct from representation. Her artwork serves as both a reflection and a transformation of reality, stemming from her unique personal journey while aspiring to resonate with viewers' own experiences. Heather perceives art as a dynamic dialogue—a call and response—between the artist and various elements: the substrate, the medium, the subject, and ultimately, the audience. Within her studio, Heather delves into the delicate equilibrium between deconstruction and construction, where alchemy, inspiration, and vision intersect. She is drawn to experimenting with novel and unexpected materials, engaging intimately with every facet of the creative process: from gathering materials to crafting paint, composing, executing, and troubleshooting. Through the amalgamation of diverse forms, materials, and techniques, Heather synthesizes something entirely novel and compelling. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Heather also practices as a psychotherapist. During her leisure time, she cherishes moments spent with her human and four-legged companions, engages in volunteering, immerses herself in nature pursuits, and scours for scrap metal to incorporate into her next body of work. Heather’s work can be found at: Art Space Gallery, Rockland ME Vera’s Iron and Vine in Wilton, ME.

I'm Karen Nichols, a 2024 graduate from the Rhode Island School of Design Natural Science Illustration certificate program. I am grateful to share my illustrations and my love for outdoor life with everyone. Having grown up in rural Kentucky surrounded by neighboring farms with cows, pigs, and crops of corn and tobacco, being outdoors was a usual way of life for me and my friends. I summered in Maine with my grandmother and I was introduced to the ocean, woods, and mountains of New England with a special focus on island life in Casco Bay. Climbing over rocks and seaweed at low tide and searching for life in tidal pools was an amazing pastime! There is so much I want to convey and give back to the viewer with each piece of art. I want to demonstrate more than a simple depiction of my subject. I want the viewer to observe the light that I see and the intricacies and complexities of the subject. Most of my works are mixed media and I love creating with gouache, watercolor, graphite, pen, and ink all in the same work. I plan to continue expanding my agriculture series with a tangent for farm animal life, a tangent for crops, and a tangent for insects.

After several years of working as a graphic designer, Coral decided it was time to push herself in the area of art and started attending adult art education classes at the local high school. There she found an enormous amount of encouragement from the instructor and her classmates. Retired, after working in both the military and civilian worlds, she used the GI Bill she earned as a military member and pursued a life-long dream of obtaining a degree in fine art.

This opportunity gave her the ability to immerse herself totally in all aspects of art. As a non-traditional student, at the age of 57, she attended the University of Maine. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in painting and printmaking in 2019. She enjoyed the challenge of this long-forgotten environment (attending school) as well as exposure to new processes, methods, and mediums which she now uses in the creation of her art.

Coral takes comfort in an environment that weighs heavy in organization no doubt partially due to her life in the military claiming that clutter generally knocks her creative spirit off the rails. Although Coral leans more towards realism, she is not above an occasional foray into the carnival that is abandonment. Throwing the rules aside and immersing herself entirely in mark-making using different techniques/tools.

She continues developing a body of work in her chosen medium of oils. A collection that continues to be “Maine” themed in nature. Coastal, inland, flora, and fauna comprise much of the subject matter. Having lived in Maine for most of her life she continues to find beauty from the mountains to the sea and in the daily workings of Maine communities.

Maire Pelletier is an artist with deep roots in the state of Maine. Graduating from the University of Maine in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education; and then with her Masters of Education in 2023. Maire taught art for several years and has been training as a painter for over 10 years. She lives in the Waterville area with her husband, cat, and dog. Her artwork typically explores compelling Maine landscapes and the experience of escaping to these beautiful locations. Regardless of the subject matter, she hopes to make artwork that resonates with others, evoking personal connections to the work. Some of her accolades include participating in special exhibits, such as with Munka Studios in Lewiston, ME. As well as a permanent mural located at Tiller and Rye Grocer, Brewer, ME.

Angela Anderson of Port Clyde, Maine, UNH, Durham, BFA Painting. Post-Grad Studies at Empire State College Studio Program, Lower East Side, NYC. Performance background in music and dance including African Dance and Printmaking at Laney College in Oakland, CA. While living in NYC singing at Carnegie Hall, and played in clubs; Joe’s Pub, Mercury Lounge, and Brownies. Exhibiting in New York and Europe: As Philip Pearlstein’s lead model and part-time framer at BL Frames showed in many downtown group art shows. Independently curating shows with colleagues in New York attracting enough attention to lead to exhibits in Vienna, Austria and a solo exhibit in Munich Germany led to a residency in Arts Nice, France. Multiple museum collaborations with Martin Kippenberger (including at Pompidou Paris in the 90s). Videos made for his Rotterdam Museum show were shown again in 2021 in Folksvang, Essen, Germany in a retrospective Gisela Capitain Gallery organized.

Angela’s Work was featured in the accompanying coffee table book and used as the MP3 promo. Angela has always been an artist for the experience of staying creative and avoiding the trappings of convention, leading her where it may (usually fun and exciting, and physically hard work). Teaching painting to adults and being in bands are her side hustles. Her paintings are also on view at Joe’s Fresh Catch, Coconut Pt. Mall, Estero, FL Lobsters, Red and Blue.

Ben Potter was born in 1970 and grew up in Tennessee. He majored in Art and Biology at Williams College. He received his M.F.A. in Painting and Drawing from the California College of Arts in 1998.

He lives in Belfast, Maine, and is a Professor of Art at Unity Environmental University. His art practice stems from his interdisciplinary background and uses subjects drawn primarily from the landscape and the sciences as the basis for his formal and conceptual investigation.

Ms. Poulin is a proud Franco-American who was born into a family of self-taught artists (5 generations). She has lived in Maine all her life. She has been a member of USM Senior College for many years serving as a board member and instructor in fine art. She teaches fine art as well from her studio.

She loves the state of Maine, “Maine, with its lovely 4 seasons, provides painting opportunities beyond expectation!”

She is a “Forever Learner” and is continuously inspired by a circle of talented family and friends, who are her most valued critics.

Ms. Poulin is a member of the State of Maine Arts Association and is the owner of GreenWood Gallery, located at 998 Old Danville Rd., Auburn.

The gallery is open by appointment by calling 207-782-5118.

Alison Rector is a painter and printmaker. She’s been a working artist living in Maine since 1990. Rector divides her time between studio workspaces in the mid-coast (Monroe) and South Portland. She is known for her paintings of interiors. Her work is represented by two galleries in Maine: Courthouse Gallery Fine Art in Ellsworth and Greenhut Galleries in Portland. For many decades, Rector and her husband Eric lived on a farm in Monroe, homesteading, raising food and animals, stewarding forest and pasture. Through the Maine Farmland Trust FarmLink program, they are passing ownership of the farm to the farmers of Second Frost Farm.

Rachel Robbins is a mixed-media artist hailing from Whitefield, Maine. Working with gold leaf, alcohol ink, and acrylic gives her pieces a nostalgic 1970s glimmer, painting from her heart and spirit creates their ethereal, mythological imagery. Rachel’s paintings are featured by organizations, businesses, private collectors, and several galleries throughout New England.

Antje grew up in Germany in a family where a strong emphasis was placed on being creative and making things with your hands. Her education at Waldorf School gave her broad exposure to creativity and a working knowledge of many artistic skills. This is where the seeds of her approach to form were born and gave her the language that has been deeply embedded in her work ever since. While attending a technical school, where she explored graphic arts and scenic design for theatre, a chance encounter with a goldsmith exhibit led her to a 4-year apprenticeship. Working with a master goldsmith honed solid skills and is at the root of her precise craftsmanship. In 1988 a grant from the Carl Duisburg Society brought her to Maine, where for the next 16 years she designed and fabricated anticlastic jewelry with Michael Good Designs. In 2005, a 7 month immersion in New York City changed the course of her artistic journey, igniting the desire to explore her artistic expression. She then took the leap of faith and set out on her own. Following her curiosity, she opened her eyes to photography, put her hands to clay, and experimented with bronze casting. Called to a larger scale, she applied all her skills to the creation of organic, flowing sculptures, including 8-foot-tall shapes out of steel pipe. Ever expanding in her expression, her work is taking flight with her deep dive into sculptural mobiles. Watching the gently spiraling motion of those suspended sculptures reminds one that life is always in flux and changing. Yet even in motion, one can feel at peace.

Helene Rush Learned to knit from the nuns in French parochial schools in Montreal. She turned that into a 40+ year career as a knitwear designer. Upon retirement, traded the needles for brushes, and began creating with paint, paper, canvases, and anything that could be used as a medium and substrate. “Every day offers me design possibilities in patterns and colors.”

I live in Augusta, Maine, and enjoy painting (mostly plein air) in both watercolor and oil. Living with so much natural beauty in my own backyard is a gift and an opportunity to create beautiful landscape art. I especially love painting elements with a commanding presence such as mountains, rocks, boats, architecture, strong shadow and light patterns, and gardens with a variety of colors. I teach watercolor painting and also write and illustrate children’s picture story books with three books published through Maine Authors Publishing. I am a member of the River Arts Gallery, Maine Art Gallery, Red Barn Gallery, Kennebec Art Association, and organizer of the Kennebec Valley Plein Air Painters

I grew up in Milbridge, Maine, way Downeast, and graduated from the local three-room high school as valedictorian – of a class of 17. With a full scholarship, I went away to The University of Chicago and graduated four years later (not exactly at the head of the class) with a BFA. Since entry-level Fine Arts jobs barely existed and didn’t pay well, I soon switched to IT and worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst at several large companies in the city. I studied at night for a Chicago MBA and made very little art.

Eighteen years after I left Maine, my Chicago husband and I moved back, this time to the Augusta area, where we both continued with IT work. But something about coming back to Maine moved art to the foreground again. I met other artists at the Harlow Gallery in Hallowell and other artists’ organizations. In summer, I paint outdoors with a Damariscotta-based plein air group. My favorite medium is oil, and I still love to make ink drawings. Favorite painting destinations include Stonington, South Bristol, and Harpswell, and the old towns along Maine’s big rivers. Most of my art is about loving a place.

In September 2020, I moved to Brunswick where I live with my husband of 40 years (that same Chicago husband) and our two enormous cats.

Jill Snyder Wallace, of Carrabassett Valley, Maine creates intriguing embroideries and mixed-media ‘textile-inspired’ fiber art. Trained in both graphic design and studio arts, her artistic creations live comfortably in both the craft and art worlds and have been exhibited throughout New England and beyond.

As gallery coordinator for the League of NH Craftsmen, her eyes were opened to the art of the hand. A love of history nurtured by employment at a local historical society piqued her interest in material culture and the stories objects tell. A desire to learn and to experiment with new techniques continues to be fueled by membership in the Southern Maine Chapter of the Embroiderers’ Guild of America, where workshops and skills are generously shared.

An affinity for the aesthetics of the Victorian era continues to be relevant to Snyder Wallace. Assemblages incorporating vintage textiles become worthy of both contemplation and interpretation. Her wall-mounted and freestanding mixed-media embroideries are intricate in design and intimate in scale. Communicating a thought, question or emotion is a primary focus. The content or language of her work is fueled by life experiences. Snyder Wallace states, “This labor of love medium enables me to explore and to comment on history, as well as to digest contemporary experiences and to express personal emotion.”

The last 25 years have been dedicated to teaching students about the arts and now, in this next chapter of my life, I am a full-time artist in Maine. The process of making art is a joyful experience for me. I create landscapes on canvas and wood panels using acrylic paints. My inspiration comes from observing the beauty found in the light, colors, and shapes of nature which I feature throughout my work. My pieces all share a unique quality of bright colors and textured backgrounds.

Birch trees are my absolute favorite subject matter as well as landscapes, sunrises/sunsets, and florals. I often enhance colors and composition to capture a moment or feeling. I want to share with my viewers what I see and feel with my heart, expressing the moments of joy I experience in the world around me.

I earned my M.Ed in Integrated Arts in 2021. My passion for art & teaching has recently been redirected into a new creative journey. I have dreamed of opening a local art studio that not only features my artwork but also the work of other independent artists as well as a space designed to facilitate art experiences for all ages. With hard work and perseverance, that dream has become a reality in the Belgrade Lakes Region. Sparkle Art Studio LLC is now open for the summer season through September 2024! I feel so blessed to share the work of over 20 New England artists and offer a space for the community to come and “find their sparkle” in a one-of-a-kind artwork for their home or through creating their own art!

Art has always been an outlet for me to keep focused on the good found in everyday moments. Whether you own a mini painting or one of my oversized canvases, when you display one of my artworks in your own home, I hope it offers you a daily reminder of the good that today brings!

Michael E. Vermette considers himself an expressive impressionist with a flair for plein-air painting. His methods emphasize capturing light with an emotional sense of place. His thick impasto oil and bold watercolor methods are rooted in traditional approaches that he feels capture the mood and soul of his subjects. Michael graduated from the Maine College of Art and Design with a BFA degree in 1980. Soon after he married his First Nations wife and continued his studies in art education at the University of Maine at Orono. After receiving his certification he became the first Art teacher for the Penobscot Tribal Nation through Maine Indian Education. After 36 years of being an artist/teacher, Michael retired in 2022 to paint full-time. His paintings have won numerous awards, appearing in different competitions and juried shows in Maine and New England. He is a signature member of the New England Watercolor Society and has received several artist residencies in Maine and New Hampshire. He is represented by Gleason Fine Art, Yarmouth Frame and Art Gallery, and the Lupine Gallery on Monhegan, all located in Maine where he resides.

Devan Pearl Wojcik is a contemporary artist renowned for her vibrant expressionist works that capture the essence of the things she loves. Her dynamic use of bright colors brings to life a whimsical world filled with birds, dogs, fish, flowers, fruits, and vegetables. Each piece radiates joy and passion, reflecting Devan's deep connection to her subjects. Through her art, she invites viewers to see the beauty and vitality in everyday life, transforming ordinary moments into extraordinary visual experiences.