Colin Page displays Ken DeWaard’s work, “In the Shadow of the Mercantile,” as auctioneer Kaja Veilleux calls out bidders. Photo courtesy of the Camden Public Library
More than 200 people gathered in the Camden Amphitheatre July 23 for a live auction of paintings that had been created that weekend during the third annual Camden on Canvas event.
Proceeds of the auction were split between the artists and the Camden Public Library. The library announced that Camden on Canvas raised more than $60,000 for the library’s Campaign for the Future, which will go toward strengthening the library’s long-term ability to create young readers, foster lifelong learning, and sustain the historic building and parks.
Camden on Canvas collaborator Colin Page of Page Gallery paints the Schooner Mary Day from Harbor Park. Photo courtesy of the Camden Public Library
The auction capped a full plein-air weekend, featuring 22 New England landscape artists. For two days, locals and visitors could meet the artists and watch them paint on location outdoors.
A passerby watches Eric Jacobsen paint the waterfall from Harbor Park. Photo courtesy of the Camden Public Library
Each painter, with their own unique style and perspective, brought familiar views of Camden and Rockport to life in new ways. The following day, the public browsed the freshly created paintings in the historic Amphitheatre during an outdoor exhibit.
Participating painters included Charles Fenner Ball, Daniel J. Corey, Ken DeWaard, Carol L. Douglas, Cooper Dragonette, Diane Dubreuil, Stephan Giannini, Roberta Goschke, Alison Hill, Tina Ingraham, Jill Hoy, Eric Jacobsen, Leo Mancini-Hresko, Jonathan McPhillips, Nathaniel Meyer, Alicia Mordenti, Bjorn Runquist, Matthew Russ, Janet Sutherland, Michael E. Vermette, Peter Yesis, and Camden on Canvas collaborator Colin Page of Page Gallery.
Artist Jill Hoy chats with fellow artist Nathanial Meyer and Camden Public Library Trustee Kristen Smith next to her painting “Down the Slip to Camden Town,” which earned the top bid of $8,500. Photo courtesy of the Camden Public Library
Those who wish to contribute to the library’s Campaign for the Future may donate at librarycamden.org/future or at 55 Main Street in Camden.
Most of the works during Camden on Canvas were painted with oil paint, but Michael Vermette depicted Schooner Mary Day with watercolor, on a rare 1958 handmade Whatman watercolor paper from England. Photo courtesy of the Camden Public Library
Artist Tina Ingraham paints with an audience behind her. Photo courtesy of the Camden Public Library
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