Lynne and John M.T. Seitzer’s new exhibition “By the Land and By the Sea” invites us to revel in the natural beauty of the rural landscapes and seascapes of the region, as well as the “dreamscape” that is Monhegan Island. Upon accepting that invitation, the effects of the magical play of light on each subject will have its affect on us.

The Seitzers have been painting together for well over 20 years and established their gallery, Joy to the Wind, 18 years ago.

“Sometimes the best paintings happen when you let your spirit or self take over,” said Lynne. 

“They’re almost channeled sometimes,” said John. “Paintings paint themselves somewhat, and you have to recognize that. Sometimes the interaction of the paint and color to the other colors is better than you thought to create. That’s when you have to allow the painting to paint itself.”

This new series of 25 (now 19 or so — they are selling like hot art!), evolved after a trip to Monhegan last fall during which they took photographs, sketched, and experienced the island. On the mainland, Lynne was inspired to do three paintings depicting rural scenes, particularly a white house that sits up on a hill on Route 27 N, that she says she always wanted to paint. The house led to real and imagined fields with hay bales and a fence. In these three paintings, “Hilltop Perch,” “Hay Bales and Fence Post” and “Tucked In,” Lynne experiments with bolder color using oranges and peach, applying the oils with a knife adding depth and texture. The texturization used in these three paintings is like a magnet drawing the viewer closer to the canvas; whether the sky or the land, the effect is arresting.

After viewing all three paintings, viewers may experience a wistfulness for those long ago days when technology was but a character in the old TV show, “The 21st Century;” a time when more people worked the land and enjoyed simple pleasures — like lying in a field and looking up at the sky after a full day’s work finding shapes hidden in the clouds. “Tucked In” shows us another house from above. The blue of the skies with whimsically shaped whispers of clouds, the greens of the trees and defining of the leaves ... the simple dwelling in the painting ... how truly rich the person is who lives there.

John looked toward the harbor, the water, sun and lobster boats. His new works are deliciously impressionistic, particularly in the way he captures the play of light on the water in colors. Looking at “First Light,” two lobster boats float side by side on water dancing with light. The movement in the water almost seems as though it will cause the boats to move right before your eyes.

His largest painting, “Dignity,” is an enchanting work — the light reflecting off the boat from the water, the color; and the morphing of the gray sky background into water ... tricky. John said this was the first time he’d used an all gray background — but what artist doesn’t want to take up brush or blade (knife) and accept a challenge? Take time to explore the paint strokes and drip effects ... the detailing on the other side of the windshield. This is a beauty.

They both painted the fish houses on Monhegan. Lynne’s “All Quiet on Fish Beach,” is in muted colors, save for pops of color -white, red and yellow of boats and lobster traps  ... the roughed up ground conveyed in darker browns. leads you to believe there was much activity going on, perhaps moments before you stopped by ... 

John’s treatment of water, land and stone in his “Fish Houses on Fish Beach” is bolder, the drips of paint and brush strokes, particularly in his depiction of the ground, are mesmerizing; the colors brighter - that blue fish house, red skiff, and that earth ... His painting and Lynne’s hang side by side and complement one another beautifully.

This is the first show in which their paintings are not separated with John’s work on one side and Lynne’s on the other — because their painting styles were so different. It seems, for this show at least, the Seitzers’ art has been married.

Lynne says she and John are “following their bliss.”

And so are we, through every brush stroke and every show. Together.

“By the Land and By the Sea” runs through Aug. 15. Joy to the Wind Gallery is located at 34 Eastern Avenue in Boothbay Harbor, just a few feet up from the historic footbridge. For more information, call the gallery at 633-7025.