Local Landscapes, Local Ladies
I don't paint what you see. I paint what you remember in your mind's eye when you walk away. ~ D. Rainville.
The beauty and color of southern Maine are being celebrated at Maine Art Hill with a talented duo of local female artists. Jill Matthews and Liz Hoag are taking over Shows at Maine Art Hill at 5 Chase Hill Road in Kennebunk. Doors open on Saturday, August 17, at 10 a.m. There is also an Artist Reception from 5-7 p.m. that evening.
Both of these women are drawn to their home's stunning scenes. Maine fills their canvases with sweeping oceans, landscapes, abstracts, and still-life pieces. Color palettes may vary, but the tranquil vistas and views are created to bring a memory of Maine to permanence.
Farm Sunset 18x24 Acrylic $1600
For Liz Hoag, the ocean, brooks, ponds, lakes, and woods of Maine continue to give her that quiet calm she is continually seeking. Camera in hand, walking her favorite paths and trails brings inspiration and a piece of quiet.
“As always, painting is a comfort to me. It gives me a sense of peace and accomplishment when other parts of my life are chaotic. It’s nice to have something stable when I’m in the middle of a big transition in my life. For me, art is comfortable,” Hoag says. “The color and light in the trees are always gorgeous. The smell of the air is always clean, and the woods are always quiet. This helps me feel balanced. It is my constant.”
Hoag, who has lived in Maine for over thirty years, has a studio in Westbrook. After taking photographs on walks around her neighborhood or many trails and parks around the state, she goes to work in her studio. It is there that the magic happens—starting with a dark canvas or negative space and building up by adding light. For her, the result is both abstract and representational.
Fall on the River 24x18 Acrylic $1600
While Jill Matthews is also called to the landscapes of Maine, she has found solace in abstract and still-life art. Whether a large oceanscape is on her easel or an amazing little 8 x 8 vase of flowers, her work draws you in while still giving you room to breathe.
“As a landscape artist and primarily a representational one, I am consistently evolving and pushing myself to move past the literal,” shares Matthews. “My new collection of work embodies the idea that an artist is somewhat of an editor.”
Matthews explains that the world around us, nature, and our surroundings are just a complex collection of various shapes, colors, lines, and textures. The artist's job is to take all this information and essentially translate it into their unique language.
Matthews studied Fine Art at the University of Vermont. Upon graduating with a B.S. in Art Education, she moved to San Diego, where she continued to study painting at the University of California, San Diego. After a brief career as a fine art educator, she realized her true passion was being more hands-on in creating, and she has been painting professionally ever since. She feels very fortunate to live and work in the inspiring state of Maine.
Both of these women speak the language of Maine, her beauty, and how it impacts the people who are lucky enough to be surrounded by it. Are you interested in seeing what they have to say?
Shadowed Inlet Oil on Canvas 30x48
Flora Oil on Canvas 36x48
This show opens on Saturday, August 17, at 10 am at Shows on Maine Art Hill, 5 Chase Hill Road, Kennebunk. The public is invited to meet these two amazing women on the evening of the 29th at their Artist Reception from 5-7 pm. Art, music, and yummy bites will be available. The show runs until September 11, and the gallery is open every day at 10 am. FMI call 207-967-2803 or visit www.maine-art.com.