Inspired by the “elemental beauty of the land and seascape” of Coastal Maine, Sally Loughridge’s painting, “Light’s Descent” is on view at the Pemaquid Art Gallery
Inspired by the “elemental beauty of the land and seascape” of Coastal Maine, Sally Loughridge’s painting, “Light’s Descent” is on view at the Pemaquid Art Gallery

Two long-time members at the Pemaquid Art Gallery who return this season are well known in the Pemaquid area. Sally Loughridge of South Bristol and Marlene Loznicka of New Harbor are both skilled in oil painting and enjoy painting on Monhegan Island.

Sally Loughridge remembers a painting experience at a Viking site in Newfoundland over 30 years ago, and is still inspired by the “elemental beauty of the land and seascape” found on the coast from far north to coastal Maine.

Although her work, in both oil and pastel, is recognizably landscape, Loughridge is following her emotional response to a more abstract and simplified interpretation. The light and shadows of the coastal islands, such as the dramatic Monhegan cliffs, inspire her. She works both in studio and on location, where she can work more intuitively and with less detail. Although she acknowledges the importance of skilled technique, she is most pleased when a viewer is stirred by the emotional component.

She has written and illustrated two books and also participates in many area shows and galleries including Port Clyde Art Gallery, Mast Cove Galleries, Kennebunkport, and Archipelago, Rockland among others. Visit her at www.sallyloughridge.com.

Marlene Loznicka, who studied at North Carolina School of Design, La Romita School of Art in Italy and the Vermont Studio School, had the advantage of painting with her artist father in her youth. She is a Maine native and returned after teaching painting in North Carolina. She has also taught at the Farnsworth Museum and conducted workshops on Monhegan, her favorite place to paint.

With many awards and exhibitions to her credit from California to Maine, she is now content to focus on her beloved Monhegan, and her Pemaquid peninsula home. Like Loughridge, her interpretations in oil paint, and sometimes ink, reflect her emotional response to the island and seacoast with lush brushstrokes and textures, in both color and neutral tones. The wide range of her work shows her long experience and dedication to her art. Also see her work on www.marleneloznicka.com, at the Lupine Gallery, Monhegan, the Landing Gallery, Rockland, and her home studio in New Harbor.

Visit the Pemaquid Gallery of Art this season to see the work of the following member artists: Barbara Applegate, Debra Arter, Bruce Babb, Julie Babb, Stephen Busch, Midge Coleman, Trudi Curtis, William Curtis, Dianne Dolan, Peggy Farrell, Sarah Fisher, Bill Hallett, Claire Hancock, Kay Sawyer Hannah, Kathleen Horst, Hannah Ineson, Will Kefauver, Jan Kilburn, Barbara Klein, Patti Leavitt, Sally Loughridge, Marlene Loznicka, Nancy MacKinnon, Judy Nixon, Paul Sherman, Cindy Spencer, Liliana Thelander, Ernest Thompson, Bob Vaughan, Steve Viega, Bev Walker, and guest artist Jane Bowman.

Artists all reside within the Lincoln County area. The Gallery is situated within Lighthouse Park at Pemaquid Point, Bristol and online at www.pemaquidartgallery.com. The gallery is open daily through Columbus Day, from 10 AM until 5 PM.