Through the month of December, River Arts is featuring the work of Maine artist, Kerstin Engman, in the River Arts’ West Gallery. The public is welcome to the opening reception for this special exhibition, Saturday, Dec. 7 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., and the 6 p.m. artist's talk.

Engman’s paintings are a study of the Midcoast Maine landscape with still lifes that demonstrate her unique use of color, composition and application of paint. The 50-plus works in the show are primarily small oil paintings, which bring the viewer in tune with her intimate and sensitive interpretation of the world that surrounds all of us who call Maine our home.

Engman offers a variety of intensive workshops throughout the year at River Arts: “Color Theory in Painting,” “Figure Drawing and Anatomy,” and “Nature Drawing,” in addition to her teaching schedule at the University of Maine in Orono.

Join us for this festive opening with the artist, and River Arts' current, main gallery exhibition, through Dec. 12, “Celebrating Color.” Images of the works can be viewed on the River Arts Facebook page.

River Arts is located at 241 US Route 1 N in Damariscotta. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m to 2 p.m.

For more information, visit www.riverartsme.org.