Holly L. Smith: The Light of Maine

In her 2025 exhibition, Rockport-based painter Holly L. Smith brings the natural beauty of Maine to vivid life through luminous oil paintings inspired by plein air experiences. Drawing from decades of painting and teaching, Smith captures the ephemeral qualities of coastal light, island wildflowers, and ocean vistas in works like Summer Sailing Past Owls Head, Sunset Over Rocky Shores, and Glimmering Waters. Her compositions are grounded in authentic encounters with place—meditative moments translated through brush, canvas, and an intuitive sense of color and composition. Each painting serves as a tranquil window into Maine’s rugged charm and timeless atmosphere.

As a Maine native and lifelong art educator, Smith channels a deep understanding of her environment into each landscape. Her coastal Maine oil paintings, including Morning Light in Stonington, Ever-Changing Tide, and A Golden Hour in Acadia, reflect a romantic yet grounded appreciation of the region’s visual poetry. This show will appeal to collectors of New England seascapes, plein air oil painting, and traditional Maine landscape art. For those seeking fine art that offers serenity, connection, and a sense of place, Smith’s work is a glowing tribute to the enduring allure of the Maine coast.