PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – Westfield painters Lisa Desjardins and John Holub return in December to the Aroostook Agency on Aging at 260 Main Street with some never-before-seen watercolors and more.
Father and daughter will be in attendance and available to discuss their work during the Dec. 2 First Friday Art Walk from 5-8 p.m. in the Artists for Aging gallery.
For December’s month-long display, Holub has hand colored many of his pen-and-ink prints depicting scenes of Aroostook County and beyond.
“Come and enjoy images of long-gone potato houses, farm scenes that are now just distant memories, a Baxter State Park vista, and coastal scenes. You will see the hypnotizing gaze of a mountain lion cub, ruffed grouse, and waterfowl,” he said.
Self-taught, Holub first started creating from his Westfield studio offering pen-and-ink renderings. Now, he paints in watercolor, gauche, and oil with an occasional pen-and-ink in the mix. Many of his originals are offered in print form. Holub has painted in Italy, the Caribbean, Georgia, and Florida to name but a few locations. And, of course, he continues to paint Maine’s woods and waters.
Desjardins has been painting for some 30 years, beginning in the medium of watercolor and expanding into pastel and oil. Also self-taught, she first began her painting journey while living in Maryland. Her move back to Aroostook County fueled her desire to paint.
Her works include various County scenes from farm to flowers, beloved pets to wildlife. “I find it very rewarding to paint a portrait for someone and see the love and joy in their eyes at the unveiling of the finished piece,” she said.
“Another love I have is to capture the glow of a sunrise or sunset on an Aroostook County landscape. The play of sunbeams and shadows in the clouds and across the ground are a fascinating thing to paint, and the feeling of peace one feels when viewing such a scene – you can’t beat it!,” Desjardins added.
Both artists see the Artists for Aging program as a way to connect people in the community who have a spark in their hearts for creativity. “It is an outlet for presenting that creativity in a meaningful way, through it furthering the mission of Aroostook Agency on Aging,” Desjardins said.
Those exhibiting works as part of “Artists for Aging” have generously donated 20 percent of their sales to support programs and services offered by Aroostook Agency on Aging.
For more information, please call the Agency on Aging at 207-764-3396 or 1-800-439-1789.
