The walls at the Damariscotta River Grill transform to summer colors and images, exploring a number of themes and capturing the light and beauty of Midcoast Maine. Three artists capture the essence of summer in Maine in three distinctly different styles and viewpoints, through pastel, oil, acrylic and watercolor in a show running through Sept. 11.

Meet artists Kimberly Skillin Traina, Susan Tilton Pecora and Doug Houle at the “Art at the Grill” opening reception, Wednesday, July 26, from 4- 5:30 p.m.  Stop in and enjoy beautiful art while savoring light summer hors d’oeuvres.

Skillin Traina is a graphic designer, photographer and pastel artist living in Edgecomb for whom studying the color of light and its ability to transform the ordinary, evoke memories, moods and emotions is an endless source of fascination.

“I am drawn to capture the essence of those moments, which to me, inspire joy, serenity, power, calm, delight, gratitude,” said Skillin Traina. “Painting reminds me I have a choice of how I look at things. As an artist, it is my hope to ignite a spark, stimulate a response, and convey my passion for this beautiful place I call home.” For more on this artist, check her out on Facebook.

Susan Tilton Pecora was raised in Marblehead, Massachusetts. In this seashore community she grew to appreciate the quality of light and the intrinsic beauty of New England, painting the streets and seaports of New England since she was a child.

“I synthesize the world through drawing and painting, always have.  It began at about four, when my parents gave me blank pads on which to draw while living on our small boat that cruised up and down the New England coastline during the summer months,” Tilton Pecora shared.  “I take a sketchbook with me wherever I go, then work the sketches into finished paintings in the studio.  I have always been attracted to the wildly diverse nature of Maine.”  For more information on the artist: http://susanpecora.com.

Doug Houle lives in Augusta, Maine and has been traveling and painting in northern New England  since earning his bachelor of fine arts degree in painting in 1998. His focus has always been painting New England's buildings and landscapes, creating dramatic images of these ordinary buildings using light and color.

“Through my painting I have chosen to highlight the architecture of small town New England. I am drawn to the charm and nostalgia around old homes and barns, store fronts, and light houses. Whether the places are frequently visited or passed by, they surround a town’s people, giving recognition to the historical relevance they have in our communities,” Houle said. “ I like to create a mood in my paintings that will remind you of a time gone by, and light and color are crucial for these pieces. I want you to live in every one of these rooms, within each window, and behind every possible door.”

Call the Damariscotta River Grill for more information, 207-562-2992. The Grill is located at 155 Main Street, Damariscotta