Beginning July 31, artists Henry Isaacs and Jessica Lee Ives open new one-person shows at Gleason Fine Art, 31 Townsend Ave. in Boothbay Harbor. Both Henry and Jessica will be present at the opening reception for the shows on Friday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 7 p.m. Henry's show, "Harbors and Islands," runs through Tuesday, Sept. 2, as does Jessica's show, "Immersed." 

At first glance, the paintings of Henry Isaacs and Jessica Ives could not seem more different. Henry's brilliantly colorful broken brushwork reminds one of the great French impressionists, while Jessica's sleek, smooth panels speak to a modern take on realism. But Ives and Isaacs do share a couple of characteristics in common--they both love painting water and using all of the shades of blue imaginable.

Henry Isaacs grew up on Long Island in a cultured, artistic family. As many artists do, Henry spent his early career years teaching while spending as much of his free time as possible painting. By the time Henry and his wife at the time moved to Little Cranberry Island off Mount Desert Island in Maine, he was making a living painting full time. Delighted with his new environment, Isaacs began painting the watery world all around him. The islands, harbors, hills, and fishing villages of downeast and midcoast Maine became his focus and have remained so ever since.

Over 15 years ago, Isaacs first approached Gleason Fine Art to represent him. It has been an ideal relationship ever since, with strong friendships forged and many paintings finding homes. 

Late last fall, however, Isaacs underwent a major health event. In Henry's own words: "During my months of recuperation, I had plenty of time to plan and paint for my annual show at Gleason. I lingered over these works much more than I did on previous works. The resulting paintings display a kind of intensity that I had not seen before. Lights are lighter, and darks are richer. I'm looking forward to sharing this new work beginning Aug. 1."

Jessica Ives grew up in a tight-knit family in Camden, Maine. Encouraged by her parents, she pursued both art and athletics. After excelling in the local high school, Ives earned her B.F.A in fine arts at the prestigious Cooper Union School of Art in New York City. In the aftermath of 9/11, her work as an artist-in-residence at Ground Zero earned her the Clark Foundation Fellowship with which she pursued her self-directed M.A. at New York University.

After New York City, Ives returned to Camden, first to work with her mother in a family store in downtown Camden and then to pursue her fine art in greater depth. Along the way, she got married, earned a degree in massage therapy, and, with her husband, began to build a cabin by hand on a plot of land deep in the New Hampshire woods.

Through it all, Ives's desire to be a painter never wavered. It was only natural that Ives's athleticism would begin to show up in her paintings, and it did. First in her paintings of fly-fishing and hiking, and later of herself and her friends swimming.

The swimming paintings evolved to become gorgeous, dreamy snap-shots of people, herself and her husband Jonathan included, swimming, diving, gliding, and playing in and under water. Jessica's full-on use of blue in all shades is an indication of her love of water and her fearless approach to color. Ives's blues are intense and immediate. The splashes made by figures diving into or leaping out of the sea are creamy, delicate, and effervescent. The viewer is tempted to reach out and touch these paintings to feel the cool, exhilarating water.

Please join us on First Friday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 7 pm for the opening reception for both "Henry Isaacs: Harbor and Islands" and "Jessica Lee Ives: Immersed." Refreshments will be served.  Please visit our new, easy-to-use website gleasonfineart.com to see both shows and our inventory of contemporary and estate art. Call the gallery at 207-633-6849, or email us at info@gleasonfineart.com.