From July 26 to August 6, Maine Art Hill invites art lovers, collectors, and coastal wanderers alike to a stunning new show featuring the work of three New England artists: William B. Hoyt, Margaret Gerding, and Olena Babak. The show will be held at 5 Chase Hill Road, Kennebunk, with an opening reception on Saturday, July 26, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
This carefully curated exhibit captures the beauty, emotion, and subtle magic of the natural world through three distinct lenses. From the quiet charm of fog-covered harbors to the powerful presence of shifting skies, each artist offers a body of work that is both deeply personal and universally familiar.
William B. Hoyt returns to Maine Art Hill’s Show Gallery with a collection that feels like a journal in paint. Each day offers the possibility of inspiration, moments that quietly demand to be remembered in paint, and this year, many such moments unfolded along the rugged coastlines and gentle harbors of Maine and beyond.
“No matter where I travel, I find myself pulled to canvas again and again. From the fog-draped charm of a cottage to the gleam of sun filtering through the hush of the fog, there is a quiet magic,” says Hoyt. “Even in fleeting connections, there was beauty. Through mist, sparkle, labor, and laughter, these paintings hold not only light and form but the lived rhythm of coastal life and the quiet joy of noticing.”
Margaret Gerding paints from a place of deep attentiveness. Her search for “glimmers”—those fleeting, emotional flashes found in nature—drives her creative process.
“Whether I’m painting en plein air by the shore or in the quiet of my studio, I’m always chasing light, watching clouds shift above Kennebunkport, or noticing how fog softens the edges of the world,” shares Gerding. “These scenes are more than landscapes—they are emotional imprints of time spent immersed in the natural world. Painting is how I hold onto those moments, how I stay present, and how I share the beauty of this place I call home.”
Olena Babak’s home studio, filled with natural northern light, is her sanctuary. While her approach to painting leans traditional, she enjoys experimenting—using brushes, palette knives, paper towels, rubber tools, even rollers—whatever the work calls for.
“Painting en plein air is an essential part of my process. I start many large pieces outdoors, capturing the mood, light, and immediate response, and then bring that experience into the studio where it can be processed, reflected on, and transformed,” shares Babak. “The studio allows for contemplation; plein air offers spontaneity. I thrive in the tension and harmony between these two states. Whether I’m painting coastal clouds, marshes, or figures, my goal is always to create something that feels honest—an image that holds a piece of the place and moment that inspired it.”
Together, Hoyt, Gerding, and Babak invite viewers into three interconnected worlds, each shaped by light, time, and the artist’s attentive eye. This is a show that captures not only Maine’s coastal charm, but the intimate, quiet revelations that make it unforgettable.
Don't miss the Artist Reception on Saturday, July 26, from 5:00 PM –7:00 PM. Meet the artists, experience the work, and celebrate another extraordinary summer of art on the coast of Maine. The show runs until August 6th, and the gallery is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. FMI www.maine-art.com or 207-967-2803.