A new art exhibit by Maine artist Léa Peterson opens this week at the Miles Memorial Hospital Hall Gallery in Damariscotta. This show runs through March 18.

Petersonʼs paintings have been inspired by years of living on the Maine coast. The show features oil paintings that capture the spirit and gestures of working lobstermen from Five Islands and Boothbay, puffins from East Machias Seal Island, moose from Mount Katahdin, and shoreline scenes of gales and riptides.

“My paintings are usually part of a series,” Peterson said. “Something in the landscape will strike me as particularly stunning or interesting, and I will then explore it through my art. When Iʼve exhausted my emotion on that topic, I move on. There is always another exciting idea waiting for a canvas.”

In 2016, Léaʼs artwork will be featured on all publicity for the Yarmouth Clam Festival. In addition, her new collection of dinghies will appear in late spring in a solo show at the Elizabeth Moss Gallery in Falmouth. Her Puffin collection has been displayed over the last year both at Maine Audubon in Falmouth and the Puffin Project in Rockland.

She is a Juried Associate Member of the Oil Painters of America and the Pastel Society of America (PSA).

“Life is full of stress,” Peterson said. “I try to make an oasis of my art where viewers can linger and refresh, feel revitalized and soothed. My goal is to convey the extraordinary beauty in ordinary places, objects and events. When people look at my work, I want it to strike a chord — evoke a positive memory or emotion and in some way resonate with and reinforce something good in their lives.”

Léa Peterson's work has appeared in many juried exhibits and is now owned by collectors throughout the U.S. and internationally.

Additional paintings may be viewed on her website: www.leapetersonart.net.

All work is available for purchase and part of the proceeds will benefit the Miles Memorial Hospital.