Loading ...Joan Purcell
Joan Purcell is a versatile artist of exceptional talent. Her most recent innovation is painting on ancient coral slabs,re-creating beautiful underwater scenes on the actual substance that once formed the reefs.Joan is a master etcher and lithographer, producing prints of lyrical quality with delicate lines or powerful patterns. Her sense of color is influenced by the Gauguin-gaudy tropical hues of the Florida Keys and the cool subtle tones of the Maine coast.
One of a kind oil paintings that vibrate with colorful marine life…brightly-patterned tropical fish,graceful sea fans, fascinating forms..all realistically detailed in uniquely-designed underwater reef scenes for indoors or outside
ABOUT GICLEE PRINTING?
Giclee is french for “to spray”,(pronounced “jhee-clay”). Images are high resolution digital scans printed with high quality ink onto archival art paper or canvas.
About Joan’s One-of-a-kind Oil Paintings on fossil Coral:
Coral is a very special gift from nature. Tiny sea creatures,called polyps, build colonies of stone-like dwellings in myriad shapes. Over millions of years they have formed the offshore reefs and the foundations of the Florida Keys. Joan uses these fossilized remains as stone “canvases” to create a rare blend of ancient archaeology and contemporary art. They are individually shaped and each scene is painted with her own artistic expression.
As I sculpt, I am patiently mindful of contours. I want to bring them out in their flowing and complex ways. I find curves and often my pieces end up looking
cathedral-like, quiet, coherent, confident and grand. The pieces feel good to the touch. I take a finger and follow the contours. They are smooth and sensual, vital. If I pause, I can feel the contours speak to me. If I pause, I can listen to what my piece of wood tells me to do with my chisel and scraping tools. 
Most of my pieces, “Woogwood,” come from my own woodpiles, such as oak, hicory and other woods I don’t know. Some other woods include myrtlewood from the Oregon coast, cedar from the Adirondacks and Bermuda, and dense birch from New Brunswick, Canada.
I try to bring out the best of what is inherent in the piece of wood. I only have one over-arching rule in this endeaver; don’t violate the grain of the wood. Don’t go against the grain of the wood. To do so would destroy the integrity, the dignity, the soul of the wood.
Carl Abell is a soft spoken resident of Pembroke, Maine. Many of his works depict his quaint New England surroundings. His quiet, self-depricating personality has concealed his artistry for years. Visitors to the Cappuccino Gallery and Gardens are frequently overheard saying, “Carl, I didn’t know he paints! He’s quite good!” His studies of the Maine landscape are captivating.
Artist’s Statement
The Cappuccino Gallery and Gardens is pleased to present the freeflowing impressions of Paula Dougherty. Her passion for life, nature and the human form are evident in both her watercolor and pastel works. Paula has studied with prominent, internationally-known artist/teachers throughout her career and has generously shared her experience with her own students. Her works have been the subject of more than a dozen solo exhibitions and featured in several distinguished publications. 