The two Body of Work shows at the Seacoast Artist Association this month both inspire with beautiful spacious skies.
“For as long as I have been painting, landscapes and big skies have drawn me in,” Stratham artist Marcia Trahan tells us about her solo show “Taking the Long View.” “I may set out to create a scene with a closer horizon, but inevitably the question of what’s beyond that hill, field, or tree intrigues both me and my paintbrush and off we go to find out.
“As a native New Englander and recent transplant to New Hampshire my heart and mind are full of beautiful images and lovely palettes with which to experiment. Many of my paintings begin with a reference photo or sketch of a scene and then morph into something imagined or intuited. My preference is to work in oil as I love the richness, depth of color and versatility I find in this medium. I’m mostly self-taught, but have taken classes with Amy Brnger, Kathleen Robbins, and Erin Spencer of late. Having such an inspiring arts community on the Seacoast has brightened many a day and helped me meet the challenges of these last several years with a sense of purpose and optimism. Whether I’m painting in my home studio space or attempting to capture a moment in plein air, for me, the unique characteristics of each brush stroke and mix of color present both challenges and satisfactions in equal measure.”
Exeter artist Ellen Kingsbury reveals, “I am a life-long hiker, skier and tennis player who loves being outside in all kinds of weather.” About her show of paintings, “Nothing But Blue Skies,” she adds, “As I have learned and enjoyed making art, I have especially enjoyed painting and collaging skies, clouds and the light. This show highlights my recent work where I have spent time in Plein Air as well as working with cut paper and collage. I have been drawing and painting for 15 years and have studied with many teachers over the years. I don’t make any one kind of art. I have loved drawing the figure and have been in figure drawing groups for 10+ years.
“I love working in encaustic and once set up my garage with all the equipment needed to make encaustic paintings. I have enjoyed collage and have bags of printed papers in boxes with scissors and glue. There are some times when I paint sharp edges with acrylics and other times when I use loose washes of watercolor for an abstract piece. I love printing with Gelli plates and creating funky designs for collage or a get-well card for a friend. I’m not sure if the journey will end with expertise in representational art or whether I’ll make a name for myself in abstract expressionism, but I know that along the way I’m having a ball!”
The Seacoast Artist Association is located at 130 Water Street in historic downtown Exeter. They are open Wed-Sat, 10-5 and Sun, 1-4. Parking is free. These two shows run through April 30th. The public is invited to the Second Friday artist reception on April 14th, 5-7PM. Music will be provided by Exeter harper Regina Delaney. See more at seacoastartist.org and follow them on Facebook.