Wouldn’t it be fun to see what career artists could come up with for tree ornaments? That’s the idea behind the centerpiece of Gleason Fine Art’s “Art for the Holidays” show running Thursday, Nov. 29 through Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. A beautiful Christmas tree will be decorated with ornaments made by the gallery’s artists. A celebratory open house, to which everyone is invited, from 3-6 p.m., on Saturday, Dec. 1, to coincide with Harbor Lights Festival. Refreshments including wine and craft beer will be served.

For his ornaments, Southport summer resident Ed Parker has carved and painted two pieces with his characteristic folksy nautical themes. Ed’s delightful “Lighthouse Dog” is decked out in his holiday finest.

Lani Havens has made a series of gorgeous blocks collaged with delicate red, orange, and pink poppies. Maine realist Janice Anthony has created a tiny double-sided painting of yellow and orange lilies.

Folk artist Jeff Barrett’s whimsical carvings have been purchased by collectors ranging from those with surnames like Rockefeller and Marcus (as in Neiman-Marcus) to tourists just back from visiting the Botanical Gardens. For the gallery’s tree, Jeff has netted us an entire school of his “happy fish.”

Besides the tree ornaments that are arriving daily, the gallery’s showrooms have been hung with a bounty of seasonal paintings by gallery favorites Mitch and Kathleen Billis, Kevin Beers, and Tom Curry. East Boothbay artist Andrea Peters’ sumptuous snowscapes are a feast of color.

East Boothbay summer resident, and newly minted Gleason artist, Don Demers, has given the gallery several new oils, including a little beauty titled “Winter Tide.” Roger Dale Brown, who joined the Gleason roster just this year, is represented by several glowing, snow-covered paintings of Maine coastal villages and harbors.

Not interested in paintings? The gallery has so much more: a new batch of George Pearlman’s porcelain jars, vases, and pots in cobalt and emerald green; rings, necklaces, and bracelets by Christine Peters, our former gallery manager who has become a jewelry rock star; and a luscious selection of Moroccan rugs from that indomitable duo, Diana Kerr and Kathleen Jones.

Gleason Fine Art is open year-round, Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended evening hours and Sundays during Gardens Aglow.

We invite you to come in, fill your eyes with beauty and fun, and maybe find that perfect gift for that special someone - or for yourself. For more information, call the gallery at 633-6849; email us at info@gleasonfineart.com. View the gallery’s inventory of contemporary and estate art on our web site, www.gleasonfineart.com.

 Gleason Fine Art is at 31 Townsend Avenue in downtown Boothbay Harbor.