Houlton artist celebrates 50 years of painting

Houlton Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
CREATING — Roger Morin of Houlton works on a painting at his Court Street studio. Morin has been making artwork for 50 years.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Roger Morin, owner of Houlton Art Studio on Court Street, is celebrating a personal milestone of five decades as a visual artist.
    Morin, who was born in Auburn, started doodling at a young age and became more interested in drawing when he was 14 years old. With encouragement from a teacher, Morin was able to pursue art.
    “She paid for my courses out of her own money,” he said. “She thought I had talent, so she devoted some money to letting me go to school.”
    Morin attended an Indianapolis arts institute before studying at a university to “learn how to paint well and here I am,” he said.
    Nine years ago, Morin and his wife Lois relocated from Wells to the Shiretown, opening the Houlton Art Studio.
    “We never thought we’d end up this far north,” he said.
    The couple had lived in Florida and New York, but after Morin took his first trip to New Hampshire where his father was born, the couple kept following Route 1.
    “We noticed houses were fairly inexpensive compared to Wells,” added Morin.
    The couple took another trip for about a week — really stopping and looking at each town and what it had to offer.
    “We noticed many of the towns we liked, a lot of them smelled of paper companies,” he said. “We were able to buy a house on Route 1, which was close to town and a hospital. We could retire comfortably here.”
    After purchasing his Court Street home, Morin added on a gallery for his art and business has been steady.
    “Twice as good as in Wells,” he said. “And, it was good there. People in this area like art.”
    Though tourists are not as plentiful as on the coast, Morin’s business has developed to year round.
    “In Wells, I would have a busy season in the summer and then nine dry months,” he explained. “Up here it is constant. It works out nicely.”
    Morin instructs one-on-one art classes. Currently he has five students and he charges $10 per hour.
    “All adults who come to me want to paint better. Most of them can paint a little and some just want to start and that is fine. I have the equipment and they relax for two hours even though they are tense,” he laughed. “People get older, they want to start painting again, especially if they had taken art in school 20 years earlier. That’s where I come in.”
    Morin doesn’t usually keep a student one-on-one for more than 15 to 20 weeks.
    “It is time for them to go on their own,” he said. “They need to try it for a while by themselves.”
    As far as younger students, Morin notes that they have their parents’ support in their art.
    “I don’t push them as hard,” he said. “I try to go in a direction they like. I teach everyone to draw properly so they can use it later on.”
    Since Morin is at the high school each Monday, he has seen the students’ artwork.
    “They are very talented,” he said. “There is a lot of good art in Houlton.”
    Morin’s pieces have been shown in art galleries, but now he features his own paintings at his own studio.
    “I used to show different places, but it is a lot of work,” he said. “I have had a gallery for about 25 years wherever I lived.”
    Paintings range in prices, with Morin selling between 15 to 30 paintings a year. He has art collectors in North Carolina, Connecticut and Wells, who specifically purchase his pieces for their collections. But, it is not the income that draws Morin to his art.
    “It’s the joy of it and almost every painting I do is joyful, whether a quick painting or slow one, I just love it,” he said.
    His art has always been a supplementary income for his family.
    “I drove tractor trailer, worked in steel foundries, shoe shops and have even driven cab in Boston,” he said.
    In the past, Morin painted abstract and surrealism. Now, he mostly paints portraits or figures.
    “I never thought I would be a portrait painter,” he said. “But, I just fell into it.”
    If a client gives Morin a clear photograph, he can have a portrait painted as soon as the client wants it, within reason.
    “Depends on the quality the client wants,” he said. “I can spend as long as a month on a painting.”
    Morin hones his skills by painting quite a few self portraits.
    “It takes me more than three months to make a good, good painting of myself,” he said. “But, I will do what the client wants. I sort of like it when someone wants a portrait and they let me do what I want with it. Sometimes, it’s a surprise.”
    Morin, a two-time state chess champion, also teaches the game at Houlton High School each Monday.
    “That’s what I do. I paint and I play chess. It’s a perfect life,” he said smiling.
    About five years ago, Morin’s artwork came full circle when he was asked to a restore a painting.
    “I can help people restore an old canvas,” he said. “If they need it cleaned or if it is torn, I can fix it. I can sand it, fix broken parts and paint it for restoration.”
    Many people are driving Route 1 and happen to see the Houlton Art Studio sign.
    “Many stop in out of curiosity,” Morin said.
    But for those who are inspired by art or would like to learn how to paint, stop in and talk to Morin at his studio on Court Street. Morin’s studio is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or call 521-0435.
    “I have paintings for everyone’s taste,” Morin said. “I am happy here and the people are great.”