If you are in or around Portland, Maine in May stop by the Richard Boyd Art Gallery to see a great annual exhibition of original oil paintings. Relax while viewing a selection of paintings in a variety of styles including traditional realism and impressionism, created en plein air and in studio settings.

The exhibit is comprised of a select offering of paintings by established and nationally renowned artists CR Bryant, Patricia Chandler, Carrin Culotta, Kevin Daley, and HM Saffer II.

Although each artist has their own style and approach to using the medium they are joined by a passion – painting with oils. The exhibit is open free of charge from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily from May 2nd through May 30th, 2024.

About The Artists

C. R. Bryant

Internationally renowned Maine artist C. R. (Bob) Bryant created Maritime art for more than 60 years. Born in the eye of a hurricane in Central Florida, he created his first painting at age five.  Later, as a member of the Palm Beach Museum of Art he painted on site copying, reproducing, and learning from the masters. Following his service in Southeast Asia, his understanding and appreciation of visual arts was enriched while living in Europe and devoting considerable time in the world’s great art museums, living and painting in the footsteps of the old masters.

Working primarily with oils using techniques of the old masters learned over years of study, he became a master of realism.  Well known for his ability to paint water he had a working knowledge of sailing ships and is recognized as a leading international marine artist.

Relocating to the Pacific Northwest in 1988, his focus centered on preserving the rich Marine history of Puget Sound and his passion for classic sailing yachts. A key aspect of his work involved the human figure, seldom included in maritime paintings but frequently the subject of his work. Many of his paintings, specifically yachts, are portraits of crew and owners. His love for the sea evolved through his considerable sailing experiences, and he never strayed far from the water. Bob moved to the East coast and continued to create maritime paintings from his studio in Cape Neddick, Maine until his passing in November of 2023.

He was a member of The Copley Society of Art Boston, The Copley Society Portrait Registry, The Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters, The Maritime Gallery Mystic Seaport Greenwich Connecticut, The International Marine Artists, associate member The Salmagundi Club New York City, and Co-Founder of PRIMA the Pacific Rim Institute of Marine Art.

Fifteen of Bob's paintings are in the permanent collection of COGAP - United States Coast Guard Art Program, and his paintings are in maritime museums, and part of permanent collections held by national and international corporations, and in private collections in Europe, Asia, the West Indies, and the Americas.

Patricia Chandler

Nationally renowned Maine artist, retired educator, and illustrator Patricia Chandler’s career as a commercial and fine artist spans six plus decades. She earned a BFA in Illustration from Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island and MFA in Painting and Printmaking from Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York.

After several years of working in the commercial field creating illustrations she moved to Minnesota, where she renewed her interest in printmaking and painting at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, moving back to Maine in 1971, later becoming an Adjunct Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of Maine from 2005 to 2014.

Pat’s creative process and production inevitably refer to her geographic roots. “Maine’s more remote regions inspired much of my artwork to the same degree that its landscapes informed my early life. Ever since I can remember, the trees and woods, mountains, lakes, and fields of Maine have been where my mental, physical, and emotional balance could be restored.

The influence of those sensual memories emerges strongly when I work in the studio. My work includesrealistic paintings that seek to record places and certain senses of space and color in sites more visited in the summer by people from other places. Those are more meditative in practice–exercises. The expressionistic, semi-abstract images touch the feeling associated with those wilderness regions of forest and ocean. The variety of Maine’s natural environment is sufficient for many lifetimes of an artist.”

Pat’s paintings are widely collected and held in numerous private and corporate collections across the US.

Carrin Culotta

A Biomedical Engineer in the medical imaging field by training, noted artist Carrin Culotta has created visual art on and off again for years. Her current portfolio includes paintings from multiple genres including landscapes and figurative works in a range of mediums and styles created en plein and in her home studio in Townsend, Massachusetts.

Having grown up in New England, Carrin “acquired an appreciation for its unique beauty and seasons. My adventurous spirit and love for untamed natural settings inspires me to paint on location in and around northern New England. I use art to channel my creative focus on natural subjects and to evoke the emotion I feel while experiencing it. Art allows me to immerse myself in the beauty of nature and the mystery of a moment in time. This gives me great satisfaction and is what I enjoy most in my life.”

Carrin is a member of the Princeton Art Association, Princeton Portrait Group, Massachusetts Plein Air Artists Group, Central Massachusetts Plein Air Painters, Plein Air Painters of Maine, Plein Air Painters of New Hampshire, Gardener League of Artists, Leominster Art Association, and an Associate Member Oil Painters of America.

Kevin Daley

A retired educator and established fine artist, Kevin Daley creates paintings on location and in his studio in West Paris, Maine. Whether depicting an old barn or a quiet cove, Kevin’s traditional style paintings are a visual and poignant portrayal of that place in time.

When asked what inspires you to paint? Kevin replied, “I am often drawn to subjects that evoke either a sense of peace or a sense of loneliness or isolation. Maine, particularly, offers an abundance of landscapes and buildings that catch my attention.

I love the process of discovering a subject that interests me and then digging in to see what exactly will happen. Will the creation of this painting be smooth, or will this new work generate unforeseen problems and become a learning experience? What emotions do I have about the subject as I spend hours studying it or working with it? Can I communicate some of these emotions to the viewer?

My most successful paintings are those that seem to “paint themselves” from the moment I begin them. These are particularly joyful occasions when I feel both totally relaxed and completely focused. The final products of these nearly mystical experiences are always paintings that I value greatly. I have found, over time, these are also the works that other people seem to like the best.”

HM Saffer II

Internationally renowned visual and performing artist HM Saffer II is a pointillist style artist with a focus on landscapes. His paintings are a combination of Western techniques with those from the Orient, such as sumi-e, and the use of Japanese and Chinese colors creating a unique path towards the visual expression of his personal and emotional views.

HM graduated from Temple University in 1965, and traveled to Paris, France to enroll in graduate economics courses. While in Paris he performed with many notable French stars including Hugues Autray, Jacques Brel and many other. Later hired by Barclay Records as a producer and he had hit records in 1968 and 1969.

Saffer returned to the United States in 1971 and continued on with his music career at Warner Brothers Productions. He later established HMS Two Music Ltd. and spent his time writing and producing music for films, commercials, recordings, and Broadway productions. HM’s work in the commercial field includes creations for Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Ford Motor Company, and Michelob, among others.

Through this period he continued to paint. In 1981 he began to study the art of Japanese brush painting, Sumi-e. HM traveled to Japan in 1983 to study with Japanese masters and was represented by Galerie Musee and the Artbridge Gallery in Japan, and in Hong Kong by Alisen Gallery and the Kaai Fung Hin Gallery as a resident artist where he enjoyed many successful solo exhibits.

HM reentered the United States in 1994 and took residence in Upstate New York. He instructed at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, Berkshire Community College, and Columbia-Greene Community College. His works are in numerous corporate and private collections around the globe.

About Richard Boyd Art Gallery

Richard Boyd Art Gallery, an owner operated fine arts gallery represents a diverse group of nationally renowned and established artists. The gallery exhibits original paintings in a range of styles from multiple genres, limited edition bronze sculptures, and a select offering of works in clay. Exhibitions change monthly so clients and visitors always discover something new and exciting when visiting the gallery.

The gallery is open year-round. From the first of April through the end of October the gallery is open between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. daily. From the first of November through the end of March the gallery is open every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Additional days and times by chance or scheduled by appointment. For more information about the gallery call (207)-712-1097, email info@richardboydartgallery.com or visit the gallery’s website www.richardboydartgallery.com .

For exhibit updates follow the gallery on Facebook www.facebook.com/RichardBoydArtGallery and on Instagram http://www.instagram.com/richardboydartgallery9327 .

For more information about the exhibit contact the gallery by phone (207)-712-1097, email mailto:info@richardboydartgallery.com or visit the gallery’s website www.richardboydartgallery.com .