Sylvan Gallery is pleased to present new works by Neal Hughes and Crista Pisano, on view from Aug. 19 through Sept. 28. Both artists are celebrated for their plein air mastery, and together they offer contrasting yet complementary visions of the landscape - from expansive coastal views to intimate studies of light and atmosphere. Whether in Hughes’s richly rendered harbors or Pisano’s award-winning nocturnes, each painting invites the viewer into a distinct moment in time.

Join us for the Wiscasset Art Walk on Thursday, Aug. 28, from 4 to 7 p.m., when both artists will be in attendance. In conjunction, the gallery will also be displaying work from its regular roster of contemporary fine artists.

In “Rowboats, Monhegan,” at 24 x 36 inches, Hughes captures a timeless scene on the rugged island 10 miles off the coast of Maine, long cherished by artists. Two weathered boats rest quietly on a sunlit patch of grass, their detailed textures drawing the viewer in before the scene softens into a hazy blend of buildings and golden sky. The painting glows with harmonious violets, greens, and rose tones. Hughes’s combination of brush and palette knife captures a sense of quiet stillness - a lazy slope of grass, the luminous warmth of late summer, and the soft geometry of sunlit rooftops. The light cascading toward the water beyond is especially striking, pulling the eye gently through the composition and inviting a long, lingering look to a place that feels both real and remembered.

In “Old Wharf,” at 16 x 20 inches, Hughes presents a richly layered view of Portland’s Custom House Wharf - capturing the unpolished beauty and enduring spirit of a working waterfront. The south-facing facade of the row of 1930s-era buildings, their clapboards dulled by time and salt air, lines the historic wharf, one of Portland’s still-active commercial piers. Subtle shifts in the water’s green-hued surface are rendered with Hughes’ characteristic care and painterly confidence. Along the dock, boats, fishing gear, bait barrels, and scattered debris add to the authenticity of the scene, evoking the steady rhythm of daily labor by the water. The palette leans into cool coastal hues - muted violets, sea greens, and soft brick tones - punctuated by dashes of brighter color that catch the light. With its contemplative quality, the painting invites the viewer to linger and absorb the quiet, hardworking atmosphere of the place. It’s not simply a record of a moment, but a layered visual narrative of Maine’s working harbors - one told with Hughes’ hallmark clarity, restraint, and deep appreciation for the living history of the coast. In addition to these works, viewers can look forward to seeing new Maine coastal subjects as well as recent paintings created during plein air competitions on the Eastern Seaboard. A consistent thread throughout is Hughes’s remarkable ability to strike that perfect balance between capturing reality and expressing it in a poetic, evocative manner. For more information about Hughes' career, including exhibitions and awards, visit  - Neal Hughes Fine Art.

Crista Pisano’s “Calm Night on the Hudson,” at 4 x 20 inches, is a nocturne of quiet sophistication. In this jewel-like panorama, Pisano distills the vastness of the river into a graceful strip of darkened hills, reflected lights, and glassy water. The soft glimmer of distant towns draws the eye gently across the panel, suggesting depth, serenity, and solitude. Pisano has earned wide acclaim for her nocturnes - often awarded for their subtlety and precision - and this new piece is a perfect example of her ability to create intimac through restraint. It’s a painting that invites pause, and rewards close looking.

“Skyward,” at 10 x 2 1/2 inches is a striking vertical painting of a solitary pine rising against an atmospheric blue sky. Based on one she observed in Owl’s Head, Pisano accentuates the towering elegance of the weathered tree as it stretches upward, its sparse limbs shaped by wind and time. Her refined brushwork and nuanced color palette give life to the textures of bark and blue-green foliage. There’s a resilience in this tree, sculptural in form yet full of character, standing sentinel over the landscape. Pisano invites the viewer to pause and look up - to notice strength in solitude and beauty in simplicity. Pisano, who travels extensively for prestigious plein air competitions across the United States, brings her keen eye for light and atmosphere to scenes far beyond her familiar Maine coastline.

In “Florida in March,” at 1 7/8 x 5 3/4 inches, she distills the essence of the Sunshine State into one of her signature small yet expansive panels. The intimate scale draws the viewer in close, rewarding careful observation with incredible detail - the sway of palm trees, the shimmer of blue water, and the crisp silhouettes of sailboats moored along the shore. It’s a perfect example of how Pisano captures both a specific place and a universal sense of beauty in her work. In addition to these featured paintings, Pisano will also present a series of new nocturnes, paintings of rocks and crashing surf, and distant ocean views from her favorite painting locations along the Maine coast. For more information about the artist, visit  Crista Pisano Fine Art.

A selection of new work by the gallery’s other contemporary fine artists will also be on display, including Peter Layne Arguimbau, Joann Ballinger, Al Barker, Paul Batch, Angelo Franco Jr., Susannah Haney, Heather Gibson-Lusk, Stan Moeller, Robert Noreika, Ann Scanlan, Polly Seip, Laura Winslow, and Shirley Cean Youngs. Work from the estate of the late artist Charles Kolnik will also be on view.

For more information, call Ann Scanlan at 882-8290 or visit www.sylvangallery.com. The gallery, at 49 Water St. in Wiscasset, next to Red's Eats, is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday is by chance or appointment.