Thos. Moser Plein Air Paintings 

By Indiana Thompson

November 24. 2024

This month, Thos. Moser opened at its showroom in Freeport, Maine an exhibition of plein air paintings that depicts Maine’s striking physical landscape throughout the four seasons. The landscapes on display offer a complement to Thos. Moser’s finely crafted wood furniture, highlighting the spirit of Maine as a source of inspiration for both.

The exhibition includes thirty works showcasing the centuries-old practice of painting outdoors – en plein air – and the resultant unique capturing of light and the realities of the surrounding environment. Featured artists include J. Thomas R. Higgins, Vanessa Michalak, John David O’Shaughnessy, Sean Ware, Russel Whitten, and curator and professor Charles Thompson.

This show at Thos. Moser is the third in a series with this group of Maine-based plein air artists who, following in the footsteps of many 19^th and 20^th century plein air painters, have found value in showing their work as a collective. Previously, members of the group have displayed their work together at the George Marshall Store Gallery in York and the Saco Museum.

Though not a typical gallery space, Thos. Moser has been exhibiting fine art alongside its nationally renowned furniture for forty years, a tradition that Thos. Moser began at its first showroom in Portland.

Visitors to this exhibition will be impressed by the artists’ distinct and emotive articulation of the ethos of Maine, celebrating in oil and watercolor the stark beauty of the woods in winter, the state’s iconic coastline, and, of course, the magnificent colors that are a hallmark of autumn here. Together, these plein air landscapes create a visual journey through Maine’s distinct vistas, offering a contemplative and joyful viewing experience.

The exhibition will be on display at Thos. Moser through December 31, 2024. Thos. Moser hosted a meet-and-greet with the artists on Thursday, November 14. 

Thos. Moser in Freeport, Maine is located at 149 Main St.