In honor of our 30th anniversary, we have been inviting significant artists from our past to participate in exhibitions throughout the year. Our September show, “The Eastern Shore,” is one of these showcases, with returning artists highlighting how their work has evolved over the years. From August 29 to September 27, Carole Böggemann Peirson, Lynne Lockhart, and Kirk McBride will display artwork inspired by the DelMarVa region, presenting the area through their artistic eye. While each artist has their own technique and subject matter, their painterly style and sense of light unify the collection. These paintings aren’t realist or abstract; rather, they use impressionistic methods and tactile elements to give the beauty of our environment an aesthetic flair.

    Dutch artist Carole Böggemann Peirson has been a professional oil painter since 2005 and is known for her East Coast landscapes. Her ethereal works in oil and cold wax are inspired by the idea that all living things are connected and that we are spiritual beings having a temporary physical experience. She enjoys creating harmonious abstracted landscapes on cradled boards that invite the viewer to explore the intricate layers of colors and textures. The process of applying layers of oil paint and wax and then uncovering previous layers results in an interesting balance between surprising effects and deliberate design. The paintings are meant to evoke emotions and memories through the use of intentional surface texture and a hazy, dreamlike finish. 

    The quiet observation of the natural world, both wild and tame, provides endless inspiration for Lynne Lockhart. Her work focuses on animals and landscapes, often combining the two. She lives on Maryland's Eastern Shore with a mutt and her husband, painter Kirk McBride, and she is a 14-year Signature Member of the Society of Animal Artists. For this exhibition, Lynne has provided a variety of images featuring animals specific to our region, such as horses, cows, goats, and more. Her fauna are presented in both traditional portrait style and candid location-based scenes. The habitat works see friendly critters engaging with their natural environments — chickens roaming a yard, sheep being herded, dogs protecting their houses — while the portraits are emotive, showcasing the personalities of the different breeds. 

    After winning “Best in Show” at his first local art show while attending the University of Maryland, Kirk McBride decided to pursue a life as an artist. He has been at it since the 1970s, part-time while teaching and raising a family, and full-time since the early 90s. He has participated in many exhibitions and painting events and is a Signature Member of the Mid Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association and the American Society of Marine Artists. Kirk is represented by nine fine galleries along the East Coast, and he lives in Berlin, MD with his wife, Lynne Lockhart. Kirk is known for the interaction of light and shadow in the images he portrays. The fleeting light of early morning or late evening creates a mood that unifies paintings of a variety of subjects. Viewers can see this on display in the 10 oil paintings featured in “The Eastern Shore.” McBride’s beach scenes are brought to life with the help of loose brushstrokes, giving an impasto that creates dimension and movement within the oceanscapes.