Quiet Witness: Watercolors of Maine Life

In Quiet Witness, watercolorist Susan L. Johnson offers a vivid and intimate look at the animals that sustain Maine’s rural and coastal communities. From iridescent mackerel shimmering in aquarium light to the expressive faces of sheep and gulls, Johnson’s paintings explore the gesture, rhythm, and presence of her subjects through a balance of realism and abstraction. Stripping away detailed environments, she places animals in softened, open spaces, inviting viewers to focus on the emotional resonance of each form and the quiet tension between movement and stillness.

Drawing on her background in life sciences and her deep love of nature, Johnson captures scenes that are both scientific and poetic. Each painting stems from hands-on field research—photographing alewives mid-migration, sketching sheep on pasture, or observing gulls overhead. This exhibition celebrates not just the animals themselves, but the human connection to place, labor, and ecological interdependence. Her luminous watercolors bridge art and observation, encouraging a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of Maine’s working landscapes.