Artist Kathleen Billis has spent her time capturing scenes, both locally and internationally, for over 20 years.

A plein air painter, Billis relishes her outdoor “studios,” whether on a mountain top or along a shoreline. On August 2, 12 new paintings and several 6 by 8-inch studies were unveiled at COCO VIVO Fine Art on Commercial Street in Boothbay Harbor. Works capturing the beauty of Boothbay Harbor, Bristol, Waldoboro, St. John's in Canada, and Lake Cuomo, Italy. The show runs through August 31.

This exhibition is remarkable. As is the case with all of Billis' works, the viewer is able to experience the scenes captured on the canvas: the sound of the gulls; the sound of the water as a lobster boat motors across the bay; the sound of the wind carrying a sailboat across the water.

In the 16 by 22-inch “A Northern Farm,” the viewer can feel the cold air and the cold rising up from the ice on the road. The single golden light in the downstairs windows adds the tiniest bit of warmth needed to “go back outdoors.” The ice hanging off the branches and on the ground looks so real, one might think if they reached out to touch it, their hand would recoil from the cold. Billis said she remembers the night she did the study for this painting well — it was as cold as it looks! It is one of the artists' favorite pieces in this show.

One of my favorites is “The Skoal,” another 16 by 22-inch, depicting a Boothbay Harbor scene. A green hulled lobster boat, “Skoal” has just tied up, several other boats are coming into the harbor behind it, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church is on the left in the background and in the far right corner is a group of sailboats.

Billis not only captures the light through her use of color and brush stroke, she captures her viewer. One can hear the sound of the other boats as they approach the “Skoal,” hear the sound the water makes as they move through it. So much activity, and yet, in the distance there are the graceful sailboats bringing a serenity to the life in the forefront.

The Lake Cuomo pieces are delightfully romantic. While looking at “Lake Cuomo Sail,” I ended up lost in a reverie. I was on the sailboat that is gliding past the castle-like structure and I was wearing one of the pink flowers in my hair … a remarkable trip.

What might be most remarkable of all about this particular exhibition is the fact that Billis was able to return to painting after being mugged in the parking lot of Trader Joe's in Portland last April. The “incident” as Billis refers to it, resulted in a complete right shoulder replacement and months and months of physical therapy.

After the surgery, she was told she probably would not be able to raise her right arm up very high; harsh news for a right-handed painter.

“I couldn't have done this without (physical therapist) Jim Stevens,” Billis said. “I was told there wasn't enough rotator cuff left to raise my arm very high. But Jim is a master physical therapist and motivator. Thanks to Jim's faith that we could get my arm moving again … here I am.”

It wasn't easy on Billis, physically or emotionally. As the months went by, she wondered if she would ever paint again, which led to depression.

By February of this year, despite the enormous strides she had made due to physical therapy and religiously performing her exercises, she still couldn't paint.

“In April, Mitch (Billis, her husband, also a painter) and I were in South Carolina and I tried some plein air, but it was hard going,” Billis said. “When Mitch and I got back here in May, I thought it's now or never. But, it was hearing my Aunt Ila saying, 'Cowgirl up!' that really got me going. It was very inspirational!”

Billis had several studies, 6 by 8’s of future paintings stacked up in her home studio space as well as unfinished paintings.

She had meditated, she was motivated, she had promised Mary Phelps of COCO VIVO a show in August 2013 last year.

But, could this plein air painter complete the paintings indoors? Would they be different than all of her other works?

“If you are used to painting outside, it's a whole different way of painting, a whole different lifestyle,” Billis said. “Outdoors you're in a completely different dimension. You're lost in the moment, vibrating with nature. You just get into this zone. All artists, musicians, writers do it.”

From the responses of those attending the opening reception, Billis was successful.

Somehow, after spending two decades plein air painting, she was able to recreate the place and atmosphere in which she completed the studies through her five senses.

“It's a kind of joy. That special joy you feel in your soul. And when that came back, I was so grateful, I am so grateful,” Billis said.

Billis painted from May to late July: a week and a half before the show was to open.

The show is entitled, “Feels Like Home.”

“I was back in my own skin again,” Billis said. “I had come back around full circle and it felt good. It felt like home.”

COCO VIVO Fine Art is located at 129 Commercial Street. Gallery hours are daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, call the gallery at 207-633-0671.