Events: Featured Artist
Sign Up for Consideration as a Featured Artist
After a year of resounding success, Seacoast Artist Association is continuing the opportunity for SAA members to have their own dedicated mini-gallery and increase exposure for a larger representation of your work. For more information on our Featured Artist Program, and to download an application, please visit the Featured Artist Program area of our Membership section.
Now Featuring: Nancy Hubbe - December 2011 through January 2012
Nancy started out as a map maker and became interested in watercolor in the sixties. She took workshops and evening courses when she could, and sold her first paintings at a sidewalk sale in 1978. Since then she has studied pastel painting with Herman Margulies, portraiture with Daniel Greene, and watercolor (including a workshop in Brittany, France) with Doris Rice.
Her most recent enthusiasm is for scratchboard. To work on scratchboard, it is necessary to "think negative" and patiently work out the contrasts, a peaceful change from the exciting bursts and subtleties of watercolor.
Hubbe enjoys painting outdoors. When she travels, she records the scenes in a sketchbook. These sometimes become the bases for her landscapes. Hubbe is a "hanging member" and secretary of the Seacoast Artist Association at 225 Water Street in Exeter.
Please join us for an artist reception for Nancy Hubbe on December 9th from 5-7PM at the Seacoast Artist Association gallery, 225 Water Street, Exeter.
As the artist featured in December and January, Hubbe will be displaying works in scratchboard, watercolor, and pastel. Refreshments will be served.
Past Featured Artists
Missed a featured artist program from the past? Take a look at what you missed. If you find something you like, contact the gallery to see if the works are still available in the gallery, or how to contact the artist to obtain them.
Barbara Stevens Adams - October through November 2011
Barbara Stevens Adams' involvement with art began in 1987 at Creative Arts workshop in New Haven, Connecticut. She moved to New Hampshire in 1990 and pursued her art studies in Portsmouth. The ensuing process has taken her to her current passion with dry pastels and oils.
Barbara is a founding member and the past president of the Pastel Society of New Hampshire, a juried member of the New Hampshire Art Association, a signature member of Pastel Painters of Maine, and a member of the Seacoast Art Association, the Newburyport Art Association, and the Kittery Art Association. Her paintings have been accepted into many juried shows locally, nationally, and internationally.
Since 2002, Barbara has been a member of a group of five artists, The Red Shoe Gang, who paint and travel together, display their art, and sponsor exhibitions such as the highly successful "Barn and Beyond" shows. Barbara's work can also currently be seen at the Mast Cove Gallery in Kennebunkport, Maine and the New Hampshire Art Association's Lincoln Levy Gallery in Portsmouth.
The focus of Barbara's art is frequently themes from her "en plein air" painting excursions, her international travels, and her enjoyment of the history and many moods of the New England Coast.
Although no longer practicing in her profession as a psychotherapist, Barbara has continued to be an active supporter of community agencies. She volunteers for the YMCA - Art Source Auction, and supports, through her art, Families First, Ballet New England, Portsmouth Music and Art, and the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire.
Barbara's studio and residence are in Portsmouth.
James Faist - August through September 2011
James has been photographing for over 40 years, starting at age 10 when his father gave him his old Agfa Karat. H would wander the neighborhood, looking for images, while the other kids were taking music lessons! His primary vision is of nature's symbolic abstracts, landscapes, and images which he hopes illustrate the spiritual reality which unites us all.
James "day job" is as a design and electronic photolithography engineer for a major U.S. corporation, and he also moonlights photographing weddings, family, and commercial projects.
Lauren Chuslo-Shur - June through July 2011
The art work of Kensington photographer Lauren Chuslo-Shur will be on display at the Seacoast Artist Association Gallery at 225 Water Street in Exeter during the months of June and July, 2011 as the gallery's featured artist.
Lauren blends photographic imagery and digital artistry to create fusions of color, form, and light that evoke the environments and elements that "catch my eye or splash in my brain, and can turn into something amazing. Not always, of course," she says, "but that's part of the surprise."
Combining her artist's eye with other skills, Chuslo-Shur has worked as an editor, page designer and freelance writer, founded a monthly publication for women, and earned a master's degrees in English from the University of New Hampshire. She has also served as a college instructor.
Through her business, Shur Communications, Chuslo-Shur creates web sites, logos, product branding and other design elements for a variety of individuals and 
organizations, including Womenade of Greater Squamscott and local author Phyllis Ring. She also offers people-friendly services and support as a computer-skills tutor to those who consider themselves less-than-technical.
An artist's reception will be held on Sunday, June 12 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the gallery. Refreshments will be served.
The artist and her husband John have two grown daughters. For more information about her work visit www.kensingtonartandcards.com and www.shurcommunications.com. E-mail lcshur@comcast.net.
Barbara Cowan- April through May 2011
The art work of Exeter artist Barbara Cowan will be on display at the Seacoast Artist Association Gallery at 225 Water Street in Exeter during the months of April and May, 2011 as the gallery's featured artist.
Cowan's work is expressive, full of color, and a unique response to the world around her.
Cowan works from her home studio in Exeter yet is comfortable as a plein air painter working at a variety of locations. Cowan principal medium is watercolor but she also enjoys working with pastels and the monotype printmaking process. Cowan is an exhibitor at the Seacoast Artist Association, the Exeter Arts committee displays at the Exeter Town Hall Gallery, and other regional shows.
Mary Jane Solomon - February through March 2011
Mary Jane Bascom Solomon, painter of landscapes, faces, furry and feathered friends, and other fancies in watercolor and pastel, or whatever's handy.
A NewHampshire native, Mary Jane came to the coast to attend the University of New Hampshire. During that time she earned her BFA and fell in love with the seacoast area making it her home ever since. She currently lives in a 1743 farm house in Kensington, NH with her husband, Bob, dog Marlee, cats, and occasional chickens. Her three amazing children have, for the most part, grown and moved on, but always are welcome when they come back home.
Oil painting was Mary Jane’s concentration while in college. After graduation she took various courses in illustration and design and worked as a graphic artist in an advertising display company as well as freelance illustration and layout, back in the day before computers. Motherhood absorbed her for many years but as the little ones became big and she found more time, Mary Jane signed up for watercolor classes. Though attracted to the medium for its loose, fluid quality, tight control and detail work is more her style and she’s O.K. with that. After a recent visit to the Pastel Society show in Portsmouth, Mary Jane was enthralled with the vibrancy of the pigments and has begun playing with this dry medium. Dirty, dusty hands aside, she’s loving the results.
Growing up on a small dairy farm way out in the boonies and being blessed with wonderfully compassionate parents can be credited for fostering her appreciation of and connection to the world we live in and its fellow inhabitants.  Mary Jane is rarely seen without her camera as she uses this tool to capture instances in time that constantly catch her eye. She primarily works from her own photos combining and tweaking elements to create a satisfying composition.  She thinks of her paintings as thank you notes for the experiences awarded her by the subjects.
Mary Jane is grateful to her husband for the many years of encouragement and support, and her kids for tolerating all those 'projects' thrust upon them in the name of fun. Well, she had fun, anyway.
Mary Jane is a member of the NH Art Association and Seacoast Artists Association. She exhibits regularly in the SAA Gallery. For current shows visit her website at mjsolomonart.com. You may also e-mail at lostmarbles01@yahoo.com.
Don Sylvester - December 2010 through January 2011
Don's interest in photography goes back to grade school in Presque Isle, Maine. As a book report project he discussed a book entitled "Flashbulbs A- Popping". Since that time he has experimented with many film cameras: an old Ansco, a Polaroid, a Konica and a Canon AE, both 35mm film cameras. Today he uses a Digital SLR.
Over the years after college and the US Army he was busy with a career in manufacturing management and consulting, retiring at age 56 – much too early. As an effort to get him occupied (and to keep him from reorganizing her kitchen once again), his wife, Elaine, gave him as a Christmas gift the Bill Lane six week photography course. Elaine's support and Bill's guidance has led him to his first ever show now at the Seacoast Artists Association Gallery in Exeter, NH.
Don works only with available light. His hope is that he will help others see a particular symmetry, a shape, an expression, an emotion that is evident with the natural light in which we live. This first show is around the theme of hands. Hands do and say many things – all have a story to tell by way of their texture, their shapes and the thing they are doing.
Don's training in photography is only by Bill Lane. His training in "seeing" is being done by Elaine. His other formal education is a BSEE from the University of Maine, Orono, various courses at Hood College in Maryland and the Executive Program at the Tuck School at Dartmouth College.
A reception will be held on Thursday, December 9th, from 5-7PM, at the Seacoast Artists Association at 225 Water Street, Exeter, NH.
Jan Kilburn - October through November 2010
Jan Kilburn, a Maine Native, lives and paints year round in Damariscotta.
Jan is a plein air painter. The Seacoast, Monhegan Island and Maine's cottages and flower gardens are some of her favorite subjects. Her style is impressionistic.
Her passion for color gives her paintings a quality of their own. Her subjects are common and simple, but when translated onto paper using her soft but bright colors, she transforms them into something expressive and alive. "I want you to feel the beauty and warmth in these subjects. Every now and then everyone needs a peaceful place in which to escape. That's what I want to create.
Jan spends most of her time painting the seacoast of Maine and New Hampshire. When she is not painting outside, which she prefers, you'll find her at home in her studio painting or teaching watercolor classes. Monhegan Island, where she spends early summers, is one of her favorite painting locales. Living in the Mid-Coast area of Maine provides spectacular local subject matter in quaint villages like Pemaquid, New Harbor, Round Pond and her home Damariscotta. She captures the beauty of the New England coast with its capes and flower gardens. Mostly self taught, Jan has studied with Doris Rice, Judy Wagner, Tony VanHasselt and Peter Spataro.
A reception will be held on Thursday, November 4th, from 5-7PM, at the Seacoast Artists Association at 225 Water Street, Exeter, NH.
For more information about the artist visit www.JanKilburn.com
Jack Pollard - August through September 2010
Jack Pollard has been a member of the New Hampshire Art Association since 1968, and also has been in the Seacoast Art Association and the York Art Association. Jack has shown in exhibits of the latter two organization galleries as well as in many art exhibits of the New Hampshire Art Association, to include several Currier Art Museum shows and at the NHAA tent at the League of Arts and Crafts Mt. Sunapee summer shows. He has also exhibited in several December holiday art shows at the Boston School of the Museum of Art.
Jack studied art at:
the Manchester Art Institute, 1965 to 1970;
Institute Allende, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, Aug. 1969;
Museum School of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 1970 - 1972;
Kaji Aso Studio, Boston;
and several Don Andrew summer watercolor workshops, Newcastle, NH.
"The natural landscape of New England along the seacoast has served as inspiration for much of my work. I enjoy painting outdoors with watercolor and pastel, which I like for their immediacy and freshness," Jack says.
A reception will be held on Thursday, September 9th, from 5-7PM, at the Seacoast Artists Association at 225 Water Street, Exeter, NH.
Ann R. Howland - June through July 2010
Welcome to Annie Land
For me, art is about mystery, discovery, tension, passion and soul. In my studio, canvas, music and images playfully co-mingle. I dance as I work. I sing.
It is my nature to explore, discover and adapt. I believe that we are compelled to venture ever-deeper if our work is to remain fresh and true.
Ann's child-like mind, is innocent and reflexive. Her intuition rules her brush and palette. Ann's work appears in private collections throughout the United States.
A reception will be held on Thursday, June 17, from 4:30-7PM, at the Seacoast Artists Association at 225 Water Street, Exeter, NH.
Title of above painting is "Bright Meadow." For a sampling of what you'll see at our gallery, launch the Photo Browser below:
Natalie Rotman Cote - April through May 2010
Natalie Rotman Cote is a Software Engineer by day and an artist by night. She began pursuing art when she enrolled in a drawing class at the Sharon Arts Center, where her goal was to learn how to draw her Greyhound Heidi.
While Heidi has made a beautiful model for many paintings, Natalie continues to search for her artistic niche by experimenting with landscape, still life, and floral paintings using pastels, watercolors, oils, and acrylics. She also captures unique images of Nature with her digital camera.
Natalie is excited to be the SAA Featured Artist for April and May 2010. For this show, she'll be featuring her photography from all around NH and from trips around the world that she's taken with her husband Stephen, with whome she shares a deep appreciation of nature and animals and all of this world's natural beauty.
Natalie hopes that you find the same peace and beauty when you look at her pictures as what inspired her. Enjoy!
For a sampling of Natalie's work, launch the Photo Browser below:
Pat Boyd-Robertson - February through March 2010
My Name is Pat Boyd-Robertson and I love to take pictures. Since the age of 18, and after seeing a man working on the Tobin Bridge in Boston, I realized that I wanted to capture his face. He face was black with tar, grit and dirt his black bib overalls barely evidencing the blue that they once were. But I was helpless - no camera.
At the time, I could afford no more than a Polaroid and I knew that what I wanted to capture forever on film was not going to happen.
The need to take pictures has remained with me and as 1 grew older I was fortunate enough to be provided with a new camera every year, each year bringing on a new and better way to fulfill my need to obtain more of life with deeper details. I finally opened my own little business with taking wedding pictures, family pictures and sittings and was very much involved with producing real and honest photographs. However, a strange need remained inside of me which was pushing me to find more and more and making me realize that I wasn't truly satisfied with what I had been doing.
Two years ago, after a trip to Bar Harbor, I began taking my 35mm pictures and placing them on my computer. I would sit and look at a picture for what seemed like an eternity. It was then that I realized that my inner emotions were dictating what I wanted and my new pictures (with a flair) is what I truly enjoy as it allows me to see things around me more ˜ emotionally than with a critical eye for perfection. This is what satisfies me. What is even more exciting for me is the fact that there are people, strangers that view my work. Some of them look at pictures of mine and I can see their expression when they "get it".
I watched some people as they look at my work and some have identified my art as "dark". That's exciting too because they are appraising my work through their own emotional core. Either way, there is great satisfaction. I will never stop taking pictures that touch my inner most feelings: the good, the bad, the ugly but mostly good and, best of ail satisfaction of accomplishing what my soul sees and feels!!!!!
During all of this process, I worked in the legal business for 25 years, as a plaintiff's paralegal. sat as a Marital Master and was certified as a Casa volunteer. I have raised 4 children which, in today's society is quite the accomplishment in itself. Now that I have been able to "retire" from office work early, I can devote myself to more exciting adventures and have time to explore my inner most feelings when I generate a picture that has touched my soul.
I live with my husband in Exeter and our two bulldogs, entertain grandchildren and when we can, escape to another part of the country to enjoy ourselves and to find more different ways of life.
For a sampling of Pat's work, launch the Photo Browser below:
Pam Libby - December 2009
The Seacoast Artist Association is proud to exhibit the works of Pam Libby upstairs in our downtown Exeter gallery. Pam's work is expressive, full of color, and has a whimsical feeling. Pam is well versed and is comfortable working with multiple media.
Pam's painting experience covers 20 years. She exhibits throughout the Seacoast area. Pam is also a noted freelance illustrator. Her studio is located in Madbury, NH.
An artist reception will be held at the SAA Gallery at 167 Water Street in Exeter on Saturday, December 5th from 2 PM to 4 PM.
Barbara Cowan - October through November 2009
The art work of Exeter artist Barbara Cowan will be on display at the Seacoast Art
Gallery at 167 Water Street in Exeter during the months of October and November, 2009 as the gallery's featured artist.
Barbara's work is expressive, full of color, and a unique response to the world around her. Her paintings of Exeter, initially done in preparation for the Exeter Ornament series are a mix of the Exeter we know today and the Exeter of years gone by.
She works from her studio at home yet is comfortable as a plain air painter working at a variety of locations. She works with watercolor as a principal medium yet / enjoys working with pastels and the monotype printmaking process. She continues to be an exhibitor with the Exeter Arts Committee displays at the Exeter Town Hall Gallery, The Seacoast Artist Association, and other regional shows.
Maria Simms - August through September 2009
My inspirations come from the world around me, a walk in the woods, the flowers in my garden, the fruits in the kitchen or wherever I am at the moment. I love to walk, either at home in the woods around my house or slowly through the garden. I will come back to the studio full of ideas. When I am abroad in Brittany I always start the day with a long walk along the shores, very often starting before sunrise. This connects me with my surroundings. There is so much to see.
Exploring the many and varied aspects of the sacred feminine has been a primary inspiration for my creative work in recent years my paintings and drawings, my writing and my spiritual practice.
In all scenes and seasons of Mother Nature, earth and water, fire and air, by sunlight or at night during all phases of Moon, I visualize feminine energy and form, celebrate it and enjoy abstracting it into landscape motifs, sometimes subtly, sometimes dramatically.
I was first an artist fine arts degree, then taught art and exhibited widely when I was younger, but grew away from it during years when an interest in astrology morphed first into writing, then to computer graphic design for a publishing company. At the beginning of the 21st century, after my move to New Hampshire, I began painting in oils again, and am so glad that I did. I have written about Goddess spirituality, too, since then. My most recent book, Moon Tides, Soul Passages, includes several of my recent paintings. Undoubtedly, painting is my most purely intuitive form of expression.
For a sampling of Maria's, launch the Photo Browser below:
Annick Bouvron-Gromek - June through July 2009
My inspirations come from the world around me, a walk in the woods, the flowers in my garden, the fruits in the kitchen or wherever I am at the moment. I love to walk, either at home in the woods around my house or slowly through the garden. I will come back to the studio full of ideas. When I am abroad in Brittany I always start the day with a long walk along the shores, very often starting before sunrise. This connects me with my surroundings. There is so much to see.
I usually work in watercolor when on location but prefer the monotype medium back in my studio.
Monotype is a hybrid among printing techniques. It is neither a print nor a painting, but a combination of both. The method is named because it is one image (mono), painted or drawn directly on a plate and then transferred to paper. The printing of an image from a clean, un-worked surface results in a quality that is open and free. The monotype is a singular image and cannot be replicated.
For a sampling of Annick's work, launch the Photo Browser below:
John Hauschildt - April through May 2009
Our current featured artist is John Hauschildt of Rum Doodle Studios. Check this website's gallery and come by our Water Street gallery to see John's display of framed and unframed photographs along Black & White, Landscape, and Abstract themes. His work will be displayed through April and May.
For a sampling of John's work, launch the Photo Browser below:
