About the Artist

ART FROM THE MAINE COAST

My Inspiration

I've spent most of my life on and around the ocean, and particularly enjoy the patterns of water and light, and how they're affected by wind and tide. My goal is to fully understand and then express a sense of what's below the surface of things, and what's reflected off the surface from above, while not losing the integrity of a particular image taken as a whole. I search for moments that stir both a sense of familiarity and awe. Sometimes I find this in the power of the sea; other times in the stillness of a summer day.

Early on, our family spent summers cruising the coast of Maine. Then about 25 years ago, we had a dream opportunity to buy a small island in Casco Bay. This has become the center of our lives where we share the hard work, challenging adventures, harrowing weather and gorgeous summer days with family and friends. It has been our total joy. My art reflects much of this, and the narratives describing various paintings tell you the story behind each. My hope is that you come to see my love, awe and wonder in my art from the Maine coast.

My Journey

I grew up in southern Massachusetts in a small coastal town and married my high school sweetheart. We moved to Maine in 1972 and raised our two sons here. After my graduation from the University of Maine School of Law, we built our home beside the salt marshes of the Cousins River in Yarmouth. I began painting in mid-life, attending various classes at the Maine College of Art in the evenings after work, and retired after 26 years of practicing law to give full attention to my art practice. Along the way, I was fortunate to study with several extraordinary Maine artists including Diane Dahlke and Tina Ingraham.

My Art Process

In the Studio: Most of my work is created in the studio because winters are really long and cold in Maine. My home studio is in a daylight basement with 10' sliding glass doors facing out to the salt marsh. I keep company there with a large 10 year old goldfish named Zippity-Do-Dah, who lives in a repurposed flower pot. I work from a multitude of photographs as well as from plein air pieces, sketches and memory, and use Adobe Photoshop to experiment with color and composition, often collaging things together from various sources to design the ultimate piece. Instead of printing the working image out, I have a large screen attached to my workbench that lets me consider adjustments on the fly as the painting progresses.

Painting outdoors, en Plein Air: Summers on the island force me to work spontaneously on location. I have a good setup which I can cart over rocks and sand, and through the woods. I have also taken numerous trips to Monhegan and Arizona to paint. The process of painting what's in front of you, with the light, wind, tide, insects and spectators changing from moment to moment, is a great challenge for me, to think less and paint more intuitively. I use smaller canvases outdoors, trying to finish each piece in one go of between 2 to 4 hours.

Professional Highlights

I. My artwork has been exhibited in museums across the country:

Marine art exhibitions in which I have participated have been hosted by such institutions as the Jamestown Settlement Museum (VA), Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum (MD), GulfQuest Maritime Museum (AL), Channel Islands Maritime Museum (CA), Coos Art Museum (WA), Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MN), Mystic Seaport Museum (CT) and New Bedford Whaling Museum (MA).
A Signature Member of the American Society of Marine Artists, I have been juried into each of their National Exhibitions since 2011, many regional exhibits and served on their Board of Directors from 2013-2020.

II. In my home state of Maine:

I was twice juried into the Center for Maine Contemporary Art Biennial, (2016, 2010)
I have participated in The Biennial Portland Show at Greenhut Galleries (2018, 2019 and 2020)
I have also had solo or small group shows at Bowdoin College, the Maine College of Art, the Pace Galleries of Art at Fryeburg Academy and Mercy Hospital.

III. My work can be seen at:

The Gallery at Somes Sound (Somesville, ME)
Thos. Moser (Freeport, ME)
And at my home studio by appointment.