As Sylvan Gallery celebrates its 25th anniversary season, it is pleased to present Exploring Light: New Paintings by Paul Batch on view July 18 through August 15. This new collection celebrates Batch’s enduring fascination with light and atmosphere across the Maine landscape, expressed through his distinctive blend of observation, memory, and painterly interpretation. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet Paul Batch during an artist reception on Saturday, July 18, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served, and the public is warmly invited to meet the artist and view his newest paintings.
Whether depicting Maine’s rugged coastline, iconic landmarks, or quiet inland scenes, Batch’s work is unified by a remarkable sensitivity to color and light. His paintings capture not simply a place, but the feeling of being there. Among the featured works is “Radiant Cadence,” at 24 x 30 inches, a luminous painting of sunrise along Maine’s rocky shore. Waves surge through the foreground as the first warm light of morning washes the scene in glowing golds, roses and soft violets. Reflections shimmer across the rocks and water, creating a composition that is both energetic and contemplative while celebrating one of Maine’s most enduring coastal subjects.
Batch reflects: “Maine continues to inspire me with its endless variety. The power of the ocean, the timeless character of its rocky shores, the quiet beauty of its inland woods, and the ever-changing seasons all find their way into these paintings. Some explore sweeping vistas, while others focus on quieter, more intimate moments. Together they reflect my ongoing pursuit of light, atmosphere, and the enduring spirit of the Maine landscape.” Additional works include “Morning at the Point,” at 8 x 10 inches, a charming study of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse bathed in crisp morning light. Golden autumn grasses glow beneath a brilliant sapphire sky while the familiar white tower stands as a timeless symbol of the Maine Coast. In “Majestic Evening,” at 16 x 20 inches, Batch turns to a quieter landscape, where a small stand of trees is silhouetted against a radiant winter sunset. Layers of soft greens, violets, rose, and glowing amber gradually dissolve into one another, demonstrating the artist’s exceptional command of atmosphere while inviting the viewer into a moment of quiet reflection.
Batch’s creative process combines plein-air studies, photographic reference, and an extraordinary visual memory, refined through years of dedicated studio practice. His work has earned widespread recognition, including Signature Membership in the Oil Painters of America, awards from the Portrait Society of America, and features in The Artist’s Magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur, International Artist, Plein Air Magazine, and American Art Collector. In 2021, Fine Art Connoisseur recognized Batch as one of its “Three to Watch.” Beyond his painting career, Batch is a respected educator who has spent more that a decade teaching online workshops, live demonstrations, and mentorships covering palette selection, brushwork, light, and composition. Also be on view will be works by Sylvan Gallery artists Joann Ballinger, Al Barker, Roberta Goschke (Waldoboro) Susannah Haney (Wiscasset), Neal Hughes, Stan Moeller (York), Robert Noreika, Crista Pisano, Ann Scanlan (Bristol), Polly Seip, Erin Spencer, Laura Winslow, and Shirley Cean Youngs, along with paintings from the estate of Charles Kolnik
For more information, call Ann Scanlan at 882-8290 or visit www.sylvangallery.com. Follow Sylvan Gallery on Instagram and Facebook for exhibition updates. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 11:00 a.m – 5:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m – 4:00 p.m. Monday is by chance or appointment. Sylvan Gallery is located at 49 Water Street in Wiscasset, at the corner of Main (Route 1) and Water Streets, next to Red’s Eats.
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