The second Artist Reception and Sale from Harbor Fest 2017’s A Stroke of Art series was held on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Harborfields Boat Barn Gallery. The gallery featured new, original art as well as paintings featured at Tuesday’s reception.

Artists Sharon Allen and Sandra Garrigan spoke to the Boothbay Register about the event and the inspiration the Maine coast provides them for their art.

“We’re treated really well,” said Allen. “It’s fun. It’s well-organized.”

“I think what I really like is all of the crowds of people that are so interested, interacting and talking with us,” said Garrigan. “When we’re out painting, we’re all alone. So, here, you can’t get through a day without 30 people chatting with you. It’s kind of nice.”

“And there’s a lot of nice scenery provided it’s not raining,” Allen laughed.

Both artists are from New Hampshire— Allen from Derry and Garrigan from Sandown. Harbor Fest 2017 is Allen’s first participation in A Stroke of Art, but this is Garrigan’s second time. Allen is the founder of the New Hampshire Plein Air Artists group and Garrigan is one of over 300 members of the group.

“The most that ever come out are six at a time, but we go all over the place,” said Allen. “We go up to the White Mountains to paint a lot, but, from where we live, this is the same distance and time. So I said, ‘Why don’t we ever go there?’ New Hampshire does not have ocean like this. We have beaches and rocks, but no coves. It’s completely different.”

Allen posted Harbor Fest’s event to her group early this year and a handful of the members are present this year.

Said Allen, “Bob Williams is a part of the group, Rollande Rousselle is a part of the group, Diane Dubreuil is a member, so we’ve got some representation here! There’s also somebody else here from the group — when you reach 300 members, it’s hard to remember everyone’s names.”

The two artists said they were happy with the event, the art coming from the plein air sessions, and all the crowds the event was drawing.

“It tells us what people are liking, what people aren’t liking,” said Garrigan. “It keeps us in touch.”

“I like the quality of the art, here, too,” said Allen. “It’s good quality art. Sometimes it can be a big, well-organized paint-out, but the quality of the art just isn’t there. Then the buyers don’t come. After one or two years, the buyers won’t come anymore because there’s nothing worth buying. This is definitely—”

“Top-notch,” Garrigan said.

“Yes,” Allen said. “Top-notch.”