Sylvan Gallery is proud to present an evocative new exhibition featuring the masterful landscape paintings of Paul Batch, on view July 1 - 31. The public is invited to a reception to meet the artist on Thursday, July 31, from 4 - 7 p.m., coinciding with the evening of the Wiscasset Art Walk. In conjunction, the gallery will also be displaying new work from its regular roster of contemporary fine artists.

Renowned for his captivating depictions of sunrises, sunsets, and moonrises, Batch's paintings illuminate nature’s quiet beauty or its dramatic atmospheric effects. In “Still Waters, Rising Moon,” at 20 x 24 inches, Batch depicts a grouping of tall, slender trees with lush green foliage standing along the edge of a body of water. The distant moon, observed through the trees, hangs low on the horizon, and there is a soft glow of light to the muted marsh grasses in the foreground. The sky transitions down from warm to cool pinks to violets with a warm grey-violet haze extending along the horizon. The water mirrors the trees and sky, and the overall feeling that Batch achieves is one of tranquility and peace.

Patches of snow interspersed with browns, greens and ochres of grasses, suggest the transition of winter to spring in “Spring Thaw,” at 18 x 24 inches. Distant bare trees are silhouetted and warmed by the richly vibrant amber hues of the setting sun, as low grey and violet clouds move in. These colors contrast beautifully with the vibrant cool blues of the snow, and it’s this dynamic interplay of light and shadow, warm and cool, that makes it an exciting tour de force of color - and profoundly moving.

“Light on the Rising Tide,” at 30 x 40 inches, is one of Batch’s two largest paintings in the exhibition and stands as a testament to his poetic approach where one central motif evokes a transcendent calm and exemplifies his deep connection to nature. The point of view is from a rocky ledge looking out over the ocean at sunset. The colors of the sky inform the surrounding environment - its palette of rose, gold, and lavender is reflected in the gentle waves of the quietly rising tide. Through Batch’s extraordinary ability, we are witness to a world in harmony where ordinary moments are forever captured and turned into a symphony of color and light, emphasizing atmospheric effects over naturalistic detail.

“The Turning Season,” at 24 x 30 inches, stands out as a notable departure from Batch’s usual focus on the golden hours of sunrise and sunset. In this painting, he depicts an autumn landscape under the bright clarity of a crisp blue afternoon sky. It is striking that he is able to maintain a sense of poetry, even during the clear light of the afternoon, by focusing on an expansive sky, calm water, and fall foliage with subtle nuances of color rather than dramatic contrast. The painting, illuminated by the brightness of the hour, has a contemplative stillness and is imbued with emotion and grace.

He has gained significant recognition: a Signature member of the Oil Painters of America, award-winner in the Portrait Society of America.  He was spotlighted as one of “Three to Watch” by Fine Art Connoisseur in February 2021. Beyond painting, Batch is a dedicated educator. For more than a decade, he’s taught online workshops, Zoom demos, and mentorships covering techniques of palette selection, brushwork, light, and composition. For more on the artist: https://www.paulbatchpainting.com/.

A selection of new work by the gallery’s other contemporary fine artists is also on display, including Peter Layne Arguimbau; Joann Ballinger; Al Barker; Angelo Franco Jr.; Roberta Goschke (Waldoboro); Susannah Haney, Neal Hughes, Heather Gibson-Lusk, Stan Moeller, Robert Noreika, Crista Pisano, Ann Scanlan, Polly Seip, Laura Winslow and Shirley Cean Youngs. Paintings from the estate of the late artist Charles Kolnik will also be on view.

For more information, call Ann Scanlan at 207-882-8290 or go to www.sylvangallery.com. Also, find Sylvan Gallery on Instagram and Facebook. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m to 5 p.m. and Sunday, 11 a.m to 4 p.m. at 49 Water St., Wiscasset, corner of Main (Route 1) and Water streets, next to Red’s Eats.