Kathleen Horst grew up in Florida where she developed a love of nature's luxurious colors. As a child, sketching and drawing were important to her.  Later her first professional artistic endeavors were as a studio potter. Horst taught high school for many years, retiring a few years ago, allowing her the time to pursue her love of watercolor.  She says, “Having been a summer visitor to the Damariscotta area for almost 20 years, I  dreamed of being here year round to paint, and relish the opportunity to live in the area permanently.  My love of coastal Maine encompasses it’s seacoast, quaint villages, scenic coves, trails and gardens. Capturing the depth of colors in a roadside lupine may be my challenge. A second love is village architecture.  Often my artwork can include the lines and details of historic homes and buildings. It may be a downtown landmark or a  rustic cottage by the sea that inspires me to include them in a scene. My vision is to combine nature and architecture so that they can become extensions and complements of each other in my art.”

 

Will Kefauver returned to painting after many years in the publishing industry as an illustrator, graphic designer, art director, and executive.  These days Will can often be found in a field or on a rocky beach — painting in oils, en plein air. His work depicts the moods of the landscapes of Maine and New England, from the rugged barns and roiling waves of the Midcoast, to the silver birches of a Vermont river. His first love is the landscape and the colors and shapes defined by the changing light. Of particular fascination is the abstraction found in nature — whether in the forms of clouds doused by light or the reflections playing on Maine’s water. Oils are Will’s preferred medium, as they are flexible, viscerally satisfying to work with, and with versatile consistencies from soft butter to that of a watercolor. Will instructs teen and adult students painting in oils and acrylics in his Damariscotta studio, and plein air workshops.

 

Candace Vlcek was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, has lived in several parts of the United States, and in Costa Rica with her husband for several years. Their love of  Midcoast Maine brought them back where they have established a new home and Candace a new studio. Loving drawing and painting from an early age, she has pursued her passion full time since 1993 after leaving the 9-to-5 business world. Initially, she concentrated on color pencil drawing before discovering a love of pastel painting.  She has since expanded to oils and acrylics. She describes her work as” in the style of”  the Impressionists, preferring to capture the “essence” of her subject matter through the use of colors both seen and felt.

 

‘The Grill,’ at 155 Main St., Damariscotta is open Monday through Saturday at 4 p.m., closed Wednesdays and Sundays. Happy Hour is 4:00-5:30 p.m. in the bar upstairs. To make a reservation, please call 207-563-2992.