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“Flora’s Tulips” by Roberta Goschke.

The addition of Roberta Goschke to Sylvan Gallery’s roster represents more than a simple expansion of represented artists – it signals the gallery’s continued commitment to painters who understand Maine’s landscape as both subject and collaborator. Goschke’s impressionistic approach to the state’s working harbors and coastal scenes offers viewers a chance to experience familiar places through the lens of artistic interpretation.

What distinguishes Goschke’s work is her commitment to completing paintings in single sessions, a practice that preserves what she calls “the spontaneity and immediacy of the moment.” This approach requires both technical confidence and emotional openness, qualities evident in works like “Trade Wind Afternoon,” where broken reflections rendered in dots and dashes create a visual rhythm that mirrors the actual movement of water against boat hulls.

Her sailing vessel paintings, including “Angelique at the Dock” and “Trade Wind Afternoon,” demonstrate her ability to capture not just the physical presence of these iconic Maine vessels but their cultural significance as symbols of the state’s maritime heritage. The spontaneous, impressionistic handling allows viewers to experience these familiar sights with fresh eyes.

Goschke’s floral still lifes, particularly “Flora’s Tulips,” reveal an artist equally comfortable with intimate interior subjects as with expansive coastal vistas. Her sensitivity to light playing across foliage and blooms creates paintings that, as she notes, capture “the essence of the flowers” rather than mere surface detail.

Her background – including a 20-year military career and continuous life drawing practice since 1984 – informs an artistic approach that values both discipline and spontaneity. Her numerous awards, including “Best of Show” at the 2022 Paint Wiscasset & Beyond plein air event, reflect recognition within Maine’s competitive plein air community.

Sylvan Gallery is located at 49 Water Street, Wiscasset. Hours: Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4 p.m.; Monday and Tuesday by appointment. For more information, call Ann Scanlan at 207-882-8290 or go to www.sylvangallery.com. Find Sylvan Gallery on Instagram and Facebook.