Two new member artists of the Pemaquid Art Gallery, John Butke of Boothbay and Gwendolyn Evans of Walpole, share a few similarities: extensive and impressive professional careers in teaching and creating art, their own local galleries and a deep love of the beauties of coastal Maine.
What is fascinating, however, is how differently these two career artists and art educators express this inspiration in their art.
Butke received his art education as an undergraduate at Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, with an MFA in painting and printmaking from Cranbrook Academy in Michigan. He continued his studies in New Mexico and California, working with well-known artists at each location. Following a stint in the Peace Corps in Western Samoa, he taught art at the University of Wisconsin-Stout for two years and subsequently returned to Worcester, where he taught art in the public schools. Early summering in Maine brought him to Sawyer’s Island in Boothbay and inspired his work we see today.
Expressing “the beauty and allure” of Maine is Butke’s goal.
His landscapes and seascapes in oil and acrylic reveal great sensitivity to color, often complementary colors placed next to each other that subtly create gently luminous, atmospheric effects or shapes that interlock or react next to each other and soften as they recede into the distance. Value differences add to the dynamic in his work and can be quite dramatic.
The realism of his scenes from a distance becomes quite abstract on closer viewing, built with abstract forms and broad, flat brushstroke application. There is also a stability and solidity to his compositions expressing a calm, all-encompassing appreciation of his chosen subject. But at the same time, there is a strong sense of the abstract pattern as it relates to the two-dimensional canvas and a beautiful balance in the overall result. He captures the essence of the moment, almost a spiritual appreciation of the action, the light and time of day.
Evans has created and exhibited her art for decades among the 35 places she has called home. With a master’s degree from Rhode Island School of Design and undergraduate degree from Principia College, she has loved working in a variety of mediums and has exhibited in over 100 juried regional, national and international shows, receiving numerous awards. She has made numerous painting excursions in the U.S. and internationally. She has taught art in private college-prep and public schools in Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee and Pennsylvania and in four public studio/galleries in which she has offered courses and workshops in watercolor, drawing and life drawing, pastel and portraiture. She is presently offering drawing courses at her studio in Walpole, where her art is on view.
Besides creating visual art, Evans has many other creative focuses, including writing inspirational articles, poetry, women’s studies, writing a cookbook, gardening and a lifelong interest in spirituality, all of which influence her painting.
The watercolors she is showing are large, bold and take wonderful advantage of the watercolor medium’s transparent qualities. They depict local scenic views, the sea, the coast, charming historic buildings and, although the works on view are realistic, they are restless and expressionistic, with strong, light-and-dark patterns and rich shadows and lights. Many of them tend to feature simple color combinations, with ranges of dark greens, blues and grays in short, juicy, impressionistic, transparent strokes and a masterful use of the leaving the white paper exposed to contrast with the overall pattern of short, dark paint strokes. She occasionally uses complementary colors as glazes in abstract washes over landscape details to pull elements together in a glowing light.
Pemaquid Art Gallery is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Columbus Day. COVID safety precautions will be in place, and masks are encouraged for guests who are not fully vaccinated. For more information, visit www.pemaquidartgallery.com.
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