Patrick Ploude has been a part of the Maine Art family for almost ten years. His sculpture has captured the hearts of many of our collectors, and we are always excited when new works come in.  Therefore, you can understand the enthusiasm he left in the wake of his latest visit. The twelve new pieces presently snuggled into the displays at Maine Art Paintings and Sculpture on 14 Western Ave in Kennebunk make January a "must-visit" month.  These pieces are simple, "discarded then discovered" objects that take the ordinary to extraordinary.

Patrick Plourde shares how he works from the thousands of elements strewn about his studio floor and tables. “I have to separate the pieces and parts into small piles,” he laughs. “Okay, these are horse parts, these are turkey parts, these are flower parts.  I know what I want them to become. Sorting them is a necessary part of my process.”

As much as the staff loves to see Floral Spigots come through the door with Patrick, it was very difficult not to fall in love with the new Diving Ducks. The colorful croquet balls that center each of his birds add a sense of whimsy that is hard to deny. These birds were created this fall for the holiday season.

“For the last four years, I've participated in the Bradbury Mountain Arts holiday show. It happens the weekend before Thanksgiving and really gives me a great jump start for the new year,” says Plourde. “I try to make the work fun and affordable. I want people to own it. That is what it is all about, right?” A graduate of Washington University MFA program, with a BFA from Portland School of Art, now the Maine College of Art, MECA, in Portland, Plourde calls Maine home. With a studio space in New Glouster, Maine he is inspired by his surroundings and a love of giving old things new life. We welcome you to stop in and see these new pieces. Our winter hours are Thursday through Sunday from 10 am - 5 pm. As always you can also find these pieces online by clicking Plourde’s Artist Page.