FEATURED ARTISTS
DAVE SNYDER
Wood Artist, Pittsfield, Maine
Dave and his wife, Alicia, bought a house in Pittsfield that was built in 1900. Upon retiring from IT consulting in 2018, Dave renovated the barn, turning it into a 21st-century woodworking shop. During the renovation, Dave found a 1944 Delta Milwaukee lathe for sale in Limerick, Maine. He purchased the lathe and taught himself how to turn bowls by watching videos on YouTube. His first pieces were created on this wonderful old lathe. Later, he bought a new lathe and uses both depending on the project.
He added carving and furniture making to his repertoire, creating charcuterie boards, tables, and unique shelving.
Living in a small Maine town has distinct advantages. Since maple trees live only 120 to 130 years, as they come down, people have offered Dave the trees. When he accepts the wood, he names it in honor of the family that gave it to him – Tozier Maple, Cooke Maple, MCI Maple. He filled the loft of his barn with beautiful maple.
Dave’s work is both art and practical. Every piece is one-of-a-kind. The majority of his pieces are custom orders shipped all over the U.S.
“How magical that a rough piece of wood can be turned into a stunning piece of art.”
~ Dave Snyder
RICK HAMILTON
I paint stories. I’m drawn to people who work with their hands—lobstermen, dancers, folks who put in real physical effort every day. There’s something beautiful about that kind of dedication, and I try to bring it to life with bold colors, layered textures, and a little humor. I hide a cat in every painting—it started as a joke and just stuck. My process is pretty loose and intuitive. Sometimes I make amess or bubble the paint with a heat gun by accident—and I just roll with it. Those “mistakes” often end up being my favorite parts. In the end, I just want my work to feel alive, joyful, and a little surprising.
I’m a self-taught painter living in Portland, Maine. I didn’t go to art school—I found my way here through a bunch of different jobs, including two intense weeks as a lobsterman (never again!). I started painting years ago after a little girl outside my apartment asked me to paint with her. That moment lit the spark—and I’ve been painting ever since.
These days, I focus on scenes that mean something to me—people working hard, Maine landscapes, small moments of joy. I love painting big and often do live sessions where people can watch the process unfold. I always sneak a cat into every painting (even though I’m allergic), so if you have one of my pieces, there’s a feline in there somewhere. My art is about connection—between people, place, and the unexpected things that make us smile.
KIMBERLY BAKER-GALICA
Kimberly is an emerging artist based in Southwest Harbor, Maine who specializes in watercolor and acrylic paint techniques on canvas and paper. Kimberly’s work explores through abstract/impressionism the sea, harbors and coves of Maine. Colors, movement and the stillness through the use of water color-washes as well as the layered complex colors in the sand, water and grasses with acrylic paints are all inspiration.
Kimberly’s interest in art developed and started at a young age with the love of painting birds. Art was a voice unspoken.
Kimberly is currently focused on her life long dream of capturing the colors, the movement, the quiet sounds and the essence of the seaside of the Maine coast.
Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time. – Thomas Merton
TONY GALICA
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember. The one drawing that did it for me and solidified my desire to create art was the first car I ever drew that had perspective. It wasn’t much to look at because I was probably in first or second grade but, I thought it was the best. The rest is history. As the years passed and I gained experience there was an endless flow of encouragement from family as birthdays always brought new art supplies. My art direction and education was gathered from Saturday mornings watching Captain Bob on channel 38, how to draw books from the library and of course Bob Ross and his happy little trees. No formal training needed when it’s a gift from GOD. As an adult my interest continued with illustrating cars. Primarily Hot Rods. Then I met my wife Kimberly and my artistic view changed to the beauty around us. We lived on a farm back in New Hampshire surrounded by gardens we had planted together and the abundance of nature’s beauty. It fueled my desire to capture it and put it on paper by way of block prints, sketches, watercolors or whatever.
Fast forward 17 years and you find us here on this beautiful island living in Southwest Harbor surrounded by endless inspiration everywhere you look. Today I find myself creating constantly together with Kimberly. Capturing local scenes like boats in the harbor or in boatyards around the island to the beauty of Acadia and the Downeast sea coast. I feel truly blessed.
CAITLYN DOMINGO
Born and raised on the coast of Maine, Caitlyn Domingo has always felt a deep connection to the natural beauty of the shoreline. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics from the New Hampshire Institute of Art, where she explored the relationship between form, texture, and place. Now based in Harpswell, Maine, her work is inspired by the coastal landscape she experiences every day. Working primarily with a mid-fire clay body, she uses layered glazes, organic textures, and thoughtful shapes to echo the shifting tides, weathered rocks, and quiet rhythms of the sea.
JUDY VOLKMANN
Judy Volkmann grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts and earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees in Painting and Art Education from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. She has received numerous awards, including the Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship to study at Yale Summer School of Music and Art in Norfolk, CT. It was during that summer, inspired by the abstract painters there, when she began to explore abstraction in her figurative work.
For over thirty years, Volkmann’s art focuses mainly on the human figure and expressionism, working primarily in oils. Her range of subject matter includes faces, birds, landscapes and still life. She is inspired by nature, beauty and humanity. Her work is displayed in solo and group shows in galleries throughout the northeastern region of the United States.
For over two decades, Volkmann shared her love of art and creativity with students of all ages and skill levels in painting, drawing and sculpture. She focused mainly on elementary and high school education in public and independent schools.
Judy Volkmann has practiced her art in studios located in New York City, Providence, Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts. Currently, she lives and works in the foothills of western Maine. Her art is in numerous private collections throughout the United States. She is currently represented by Mainely Gallery & Studio, Belfast, ME; Art 3 Gallery, Manchester, NH; Sarah Jessica Fine Arts, Provincetown, MA; True Grit Art Gallery, Middleborough, MA, and Norton Framing & Gallery, South Dartmouth, MA.
ELLEN LECUREUX
Ellen Lecureux was a Michigan resident until her move to Gorham, ME a year and a half ago to be closer to family. She started sewing at an early age and upon retiring from the medical profession in 2014, Ellen was drawn back to her love of fabric and sewing but with a new twist. She began designing free-motion landscape quilts. She was able to take her fondness for the out –of – doors and recreate it with fabric.
Her landscape quilts lure the viewer into the scene with selected fabrics, specialty threads and embellishments. A 3-D image is generated to exemplify the beauty of nature, recall of a fond memory or capture an individual emotion or story.
Ellen was a member of many guilds in Michigan. Her work was on display at Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe, MI with their Arts for the Spirit program. She had participated in numerous art shows in southeastern Michigan and was interviewed by WABC- TV Detroit.
In Maine, she is a member of Casco Bay Quilters in Scarborough. She has been involved with several charities, donating the proceeds from the sale of her artwork, the latest being the Love Gala for the center for Grieving Children.
The base of Ellen’s work is primarily made from cotton fabrics. Some fabrics are commercially printed and some she has painted or dyed. The cheesecloth technique in some of her work, uses glue and water. Markers and oil pastels provide shading. The metallic and glitter thread help to make the piece “pop” in the light. Embellishments include buttons, sea grass, sea glass, wood pieces, Spanish moss, yarn, etc.
LINDA GRAY
I have been making art my whole life, at different times focusing on ceramics, fiber arts, papermaking, and now painting oil landscapes for nearly 20 years. After graduating from Plymouth State University as an Art Education/Art History major, I created appliqued fabric landscape wall hangings that sold in galleries, juried shows, and were commissioned by collectors throughout New England. I began painting intensively in 2006, inspired by artists such as the Canadian Group of Seven, Emily Carr, Fairfield Porter, as well as many contemporary painters.
I have spent part of every summer for the past 45 years on Gotts Island, just off the southern tip of MDI - a source of constant inspiration and renewal. My paintings speak to a sense of place and the landscapes I love – from the Lakes and White Mountains of New Hampshire to the coastal marshes and islands of Maine, and occasionally from travels out west. My inspiration comes from the dramatic and constantly changing elements of sky, land, water, and especially the edges where they meet and merge. Time spent in these still wild and beautiful places reinforces the need to ensure robust conservation efforts so they will be here for future generations. In the words of the Maine Coast Heritage Trust, “Once protected, these lands will forever enrich the lives of all who live, work, and play [and create art] here.”
My paintings represent both plein air and studio work from my photographs, memory, and imagination. My work has been exhibited in a number of group and solo shows, and is included in several private and corporate collections. I am currently represented by WREN’s Local Works Gallery in Bethlehem NH, by Pompanoosuc Mills in Concord NH, and at the Cygnet Gallery in Southwest Harbor, Maine. After a long career in the nonprofit field, I’ve retired from the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation, and finally have more time to travel and paint!
JAMES LAGASSE
Jim Lagasse is an artist based in Bangor, Maine. His work reflects his love for the everyday moments that make life extraordinary. His inspirations range from lobster rolls and whoopie pies to quiet drives down Maine’s backroads, local stories, and the occasional purring of his cats while painting in his studio.
Jim’s art journey is as authentic as his personality. Primarily self-taught, he embraced watercolor for its unpredictability and challenges, honing his skills through experimentation and curiosity. Despite a college art professor doubting his vision, Jim’s dedication to his craft has led to remarkable achievements, including teaching watercolor classes in Bangor and having his work featured in National Magazines such as Blick Art and Leisure Painter (UK), as well as appearing on National Television. His work has appeared on such stage sets for television including "Blue Bloods", "HBO, and Saturday Night Live.
DOROTHY FEELEY
An American living in Canada! I grew up in Pennsylvania. In my adult life spent 10 years full time living in Maine, raising my sons. Followed by summers in Maine, winters in Florida before moving to Calgary, Alberta in 2019 when I married my Canadian husband. I still make sure I spend as much time as possible in Maine every summer as it still feels like home.
I find inspiration in shapes and patterns in the sky peeking through the trees, light bouncing off water and distant landscapes. Close to home my garden, home and kitchen are places my creativity extends. I used to think painting and creativity just happened on a canvas, now I realize, it’s all creativity. When I am painting, I give myself full permission to be expressive in any way I feel will give me joy, and maybe that’s pushing the boundaries of what and how I’ve always painted, maybe I am making marks and love notes with pencils and crayons or using collage, or using finishing trowel to pull the paint across the surface. I have been known for my rich colors, I am beginning to break the rules with a sometimes more subdued palette. My focus right now is to paint feelings… this will be a lifelong pursuit.
I studied at Moore College of Art in Philadelphia and have been a life long learner at the canvas.
CAROL BERMAN
My people say that I see the world through watercolored glasses. The gathering clouds, the sun off the trees, the many moods of water; where ever I go I say to myself, “Now how would I paint THAT?” I am fascinated with clouds, shadows, light and the contrasts in color that nature provides. Mine is a journey of trying to capture these ever changing elements on watercolor paper.
I am especially drawn to the coast of Maine, where my heart and soul live. Each time I cross over the invisible line between the rest of the world, and Maine, my heart breaths a heavy sigh of relief that it is home.
KATIE BUSICK
Growing up on the North Shore of Massachusetts I began sketching, painting and taking photos as a young child and have never stopped. I attended the University of Maine Orono. This is where my love affair with Maine began.
As my children grew I started a photography business. I have become well known as a professional cycling photographer throughout New England. I have also done brand, wedding, senior portrait and family portrait photography. Recently I proudly became a shutterbug for Shutterbugs4Charity.
I try to bring my love of nature into the strokes of the paintbrush and the lens of my camera. My muse is the world around me. I am forever looking for color combinations and compositions around me. I hope my art brings you a bit of peace and wonder.
SHARYN PAUL BRUSIE
From my early childhood, I felt this need to create all types of art and that is what I’ve known to be true throughout my life. I’m a painter and a filmmaker and presently, all I do is paint! Well, painting has taken a hold of me, once again. I’m primarily interested in painting people and animals. Recently, I’ve been exploring abstraction, combining figurative with less of the literal and more of the mystery to life. Creating bold marks, texture and using mixed media excites me. I like leaving the viewer with the opportunity to wonder, to look within themselves and hopefully connect to the greater whole. There is often a depth and a lightness to my work.
In addition to my work as a painter, I’m also a filmmaker. I appreciate the similarities in both mediums. They broaden my awareness and my view of what it is to be human. It’s essential to stay open and to keep taking leaps into the unknown – in art as it is in life
I attended a summer session at the Rhode Island School of Design and graduated with a BFA in Jewelry and Photography from the Maine College of Art. I also received a BS in Art Education and taught art for several years.
LISA KYLE
As far back as I can remember, I have loved to draw and paint. I always wanted to be a painter. Even while I began practicing architecture, I studied painting. I took classes wherever my husband and I lived – at SMU in Dallas, at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah and at the Maryland Institute College of Art in Maryland. More impactful, I also studied privately with many artists including Scott Christensen, Jill Carver and Lori Putnam. My dream was always to paint full time, one day, some day.
I spent many years as a residential architect, squeezing in time to paint whenever I could: early mornings before going to an office, or on the weekends after chores. In 2006, I had a sort of rude awakening when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I realized that a lot of the cliches are true: life is short, life can turn on a dime, you should follow your dreams, and there is no time like the present. After finishing cancer treatments in 2007, I began to make a plan: to live somewhere beautiful and to paint for a living. I now know that dreams can indeed come true.
It took a few years for my husband and I to get here, but we moved to Maine in 2016! We live in an old 1830’s farmhouse that we renovated and restored. Like most old houses, it is a work in progress, a never-ending project. In 2017, I began painting full time and have relished every moment of it! I love exploring the areas around our home in mid-coast Maine and also Acadia to find inspirations to paint! I love trying to capture the energy and emotion of a landscape in paint. I love knowing that I am finally where I am supposed to be.
I begin paintings with sketches, and often paint plein-aire or on-site. I have learned that I am a fair-weather painter though! In the winter, I paint in my studio, using sketches, on-site paintings and photographs as sources of inspiration. Whether they are created in the field or in my studio, I try to capture some of the beauty of the natural world –
the quality of the light,
the simple yet compelling forms of the vernacular architecture,
the subtle colors of the meadows,
the magic at sunset.
I am constantly stunned at the ceaselessly changing blues of the waters, whether they are the ponds, rivers, or the ocean.
The more that I paint, the more convinced I am that Art is Important – it feeds our soul. My calling is to lift up nature by creating beautiful objects so that others can live with the beauty and serenity of nature in their homes.
JULIE SPAHR
I prefer the inspiration of painting “en Plein aire” whenever possible. I am a colorist, energized to paint what I see, in a realistic, but impressionistic style. My deep connection with the natural world, in the past, and through my art, has led to my immersion in landscape painting. I am continually sharpening my awareness and “seeing” at new levels, striving to portray the light forms and magic before me in my paintings.
My subject matter is inspired primarily from the rolling Pennsylvania countryside and the rocky Maine coastline. I also love to paint on my travels, especially in Provence and areas surrounding Florence, Italy.
PATTY CORCORAN
Patricia Corcoran has spent her adult life working with students as a counselor and then a dean at the University of Vermont. She recently transitioned to higher education consulting in order to have more time to focus on her work as an artist. Having spent her career caring for her students’ well being and helping them find their spark and passion, her joy of life and appreciation of human nature and natural beauty now find expression through her life as a painter. Patty has painted her whole life. As she grew up watching her painter mother's work progress, she always felt her own truest self was that of an artist, as well. She knew that some day the artist would emerge as her primary identity. Patty's days are now filled with creating art, much of it derived from walking the beautiful trails of Hinesburg, Vermont where she lives with her husband, Andres Roomet and their bounding golden doodle, Pokey. Patty spends her summers painting in Northeast Harbor, Maine where she is inspired by the coast and landscape of Mt. Desert island.
NANCY MCKECHNIE
I can’t remember when I haven’t had a camera and a preoccupation with capturing images. Beginning in the days of “mail away” rolls of film that I would drop into the mailbox slot, tingling with anticipation of what my film would reveal I had seen.
My first “legit” camera was a Pentax P3, which I shot with for many years. I have never been inclined to learn the mechanics of the camera as the camera to me, is not the art, it’s my eye and what I am spontaneously drawn to capture. So I point and shoot for the most part. I like abstract blurred images as well as poignant, clear, black and white portrait photos. My preferred environment is an urban setting with lots of interesting people doing what they do. However, living on the coast of Maine with beauty all around is hard to ignore! I am continually inspired to create art from life. I think if we pay attention to what is around us, we find there is so much to be seen.
“Attention is a kind of energetic attitude. Don’t get used to being alive. Be astonished by what you see.” (Susan Sontag)