The Clam Boilah 40x30 $4350
Daniel Corey’s paintings have long been known for their skillful attention to light and place, but there’s another layer to his work that feels equally personal. It’s the layer of lived experience—family traditions, playful afternoons, beach days, and the quiet rituals of a Maine summer. Through these paintings, Corey offers a heartfelt celebration of life as it unfolds in real time.
In The Clam Boilah, Corey paints from memory and tradition. “The Clam Boilah depicts my family’s huge clam boil pot and the highest authority in the fine art of steaming clams outdoors, my Uncle Dave,” he says. It’s a painting filled with warmth, not just from the fire, but from the communal joy of preparing and sharing food. “Hours of work get put in by the entire family,” he adds, “prepping food for the pot, building the interior of the pot, readying the fire, and setting the tables to eat. All done for us just to say ‘Yup, that’s good,’ when we bite into the first clam dipped in butter.” This piece was entered into the American Impressionist Society National show and won the Modern Impressionism Award of Excellence.
Beach Play at Low Tide 36x48 $3700
Orange Cooler Oil on Canvas 18 x 18 $2,200.00
This love for tradition extends into moments of carefree play. In Beach Play at Low Tide, Corey paints his children surrounded by bright toys and the chaos of sand and saltwater. “Having children now, I am forever looking for ways to share the pure energy of them playing,” he says. “This is my love letter to beach play.”
Paintings like Orange Cooler and Scooter Party reflect the vibrancy and spontaneity of summer. A cooler on the sand tells a story. Scooters lined up in Kennebunk inspire compositions full of color, chrome, and motion. Even the architecture gets a nod, with Beach Cottage capturing the charm of a weathered summer home in Higgins Beach, a structure Corey describes as quirky but perfect.
Blueberry Bunch 10x10” $750
Scooter Party 18x18 $2200
Beach Cottage 18x18” $2200
In the quieter painting Blueberry Bunch, we are reminded that beauty can be found in the backyard. “Our backyard has three major blueberry bushes,” Corey shares. “I adore the blue and purples that these berries produce, a very classic blue.” These same bushes make an appearance in The Clam Boilah, tying together scenes of family and place.
For Corey, the subject is not just what he sees, it’s what he feels. Through his art, we’re invited into the heart of a Maine summer, full of light, laughter, tradition, and joy. Whether it’s a moment of play or a meal shared at a long table, these works are personal reflections made universal through paint.
The exhibition Coastal Light will be on view from August 9 through 27 at Maine Art Hill, located at 5 Chase Hill Rd in Kennebunk, Maine. The gallery is open daily at 10 AM. For more information, visit maine-art.com, email info@maine-art.com, or call 207-967-2803.