Virginia Forrest, whose recent watercolors are on view at Miles Memorial Hospital in Damariscotta until February 1, said she hopes her paintings will speak to people who appreciate our natural beauty in New England, especially here in Maine. 

Several of the paintings were painted from her Monhegan Island experience.  The peaceful village of Sheepscott and other country scenes are represented.  

Coastal views can be seen throughout. These areas include Boothbay Harbor, New Harbor, Pemaquid, Cozy Harbor and Stonington. 

The walls of this hospital is a perfect venue for her work.  Virginia hopes the paintings will please patients, visitors, doctors and all hospital workers who are in this healing environment. 

Each year in July, she joins other like-minded artists on Monhegan Island for a week of painting with Jan Kilburn. Kilburn continues to be a constant source of support for her.  Other local artists continue to influence Virginia’s work.

Forrest feels that local galleries are very encouraging with respect to her work.  Recently she has been in shows at Tidemark Gallery, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, the Harlow Gallery, Boothbay Region Art Foundation, the Maine Art Gallery, the Waterville Public Library and the Chocolate Church.

Local member galleries have been helpful to her in many ways since she retired from teaching in public school. She said she believes that volunteerism will help to keep these nonprofits healthy so that they will always be there for beginning and established artists.  

Forrest continues to encourage artists and those who just have a strong interest, to give of their time and talent.