In November we will be showcasing the work of three artists: Carol Hess Benson’s watercolors, Laurie Leiser’s fine art drawings, and pastel artist Sandy Baroody.

Carol Hess Benson 

Artist Statement:

In 2009 I randomly decided to take a class in watercolor at a community college and loved it. I had always dabbled in art in various forms – from high school art classes to designing my own needlepoint and counted cross stitch designs. Unfortunately, I lacked the time to pursue it on a regular basis. I retired from nursing in 2012 and have been painting every since. I am mostly self-taught and have learned from workshops and classes both online and in person with various artists in CT and ME. I have had pieces in shows in CT and ME as well.

I like to paint what strikes my fancy – interesting objects and settings I may come across as well as animals, flowers, landscapes, and grandchildren. Daily, I am awed and inspired by the natural beauty of the coast of Maine!

My daughter’s family and I are fairly recent arrivals to Maine, but we are not newcomers. We have been coming to Maine for 40 plus years – ever since fog thwarted our vacation plans to go to Canada! It turns out I have had a long family history on the Blue Hill Peninsula where my earliest ancestors (1700s) settled (Brooksville). We recently moved to Blue Hill after having lived initially in Surry and Penobscot.

Laurie Leiser 

Artist Statement:

I am a self taught artist working primarily in pen and ink or colored pencil. I also sculpt using tubes of birch trees as my favorite material.

Subject matter for my drawings is diverse including physical structures, abstracts, and anything organic. My drawings develop a life independent of the subject as design elements and organic form emerge during the meditative, methodical style of my technique.

Previous to my work in the arts I studied ocean engineering receiving degrees from Florida Tech and Florida Atlantic. For many years I worked in ship design and ocean engineering.

I now reside in gorgeous and inspiring Brooklin, ME.

 

Sandra Baroody lives in Sedgwick, ME and is an occasional artist.