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The Camden Public Library welcomes artist Lisa Kyle for a solo exhibit of her paintings, titled “The Magic of Maine” in the Picker Room Gallery during the month of December*. The collection features landscape paintings of the Midcoast and celebrates the beauty and serenity that Kyle has found in Maine.
The public is invited to view the exhibit and meet Lisa Kyle during the Opening Reception on Saturday, December 9, from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM in the Picker Room at the Camden Public Library.
“As I was painting this year, I was reminded of the excitement that I always felt when we drove to Maine for our summer vacations,” said Kyle. “As we got closer to Maine, the traffic diminished and the scenery grew more beautiful. Even the light seemed clearer and brighter. While we have now lived in Maine full-time for 6 years, I am still entranced by the beauty of Maine: the quality of the light, the simple yet compelling forms of the old houses and barns, the subtle colors of the meadows, the amazing summer sunsets and the views over the water.
The paintings in the collection “The Magic of Maine” are about the beauty and serenity that I have found in the landscape of Maine, especially the Mid Coast regions, including the Pemaquid Peninsula, Boothbay, Marshall Point and Birch Point State Park. There are also paintings inspired by Vinalhaven and Jonesport. In each painting I have tried to depict a landscape that could only be Maine, especially Maine in the glorious season of summer.”
“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.”
Learn more about Lisa Kyle at her website.
*The Picker Room hosts meetings and library events and is not always open for viewing. Please call ahead or check our website calendar to see what’s happening daily.