Local artist Jon Luoma recently finished a productive and enjoyable week-long artist in residence program at Hidden Valley Nature Center (HVNC). His work was displayed at Hidden Valley Nature Center’s recent open house.

“It was an enjoyable challenge,” Luoma said. “HVNC is large and contains diverse habitats, forest, creeks, ponds, lakes, beaver marshes, a kettle bog, many rocky ledges and outcrops. I decided to capture some of this diversity by painting in many different HVNC areas and environments.”

Luoma produced 10 paintings during his stay, three of which are complete and now on display at Mac’s Place in Wiscasset.

Louma hiked much of the 25 mile trail system, identifying prospective painting sites before the residency began. He then hiked into these sites with his easel, paper, paints, and supplies.

“One of the residency's challenges was going beyond trying to paint only what I could see directly from a given point. When choosing a scene, I edit details and combine angles and viewpoints to give a stronger impression or sense of the place,” Luoma said. “I get excited (or tense) and involved when painting directly from nature — very different from working from sketches or photographs in the studio.”

His time studying painting technique and philosophy also contributed to each painting.

“By standing in one place and working quietly, wildlife come and go. I sometimes include this wildlife in paintings the idea being, in the Chinese way, to ‘paint what you know’ about a place, not just what can be seen at any particular moment.”

According to HVNC's Director Andy McEvoy, due to the success of this first artist in residency, the program will now become a regular part of the HVNC's programming.

McEvoy encouraged interested artists to apply.

“The success of our first artist in residency means this will now be a regular part of our programs. Contact us if you are interested in applying,” said McEvoy.

For more information, call 207-200-8840, email codey@hvnc.org or visit the organization's website, www.hvnc.org.