Both islands and clouds abound along the midcoast of Maine. In a visual way, islands are like clouds as they appear to float on a reflected sky blue ocean. With a whimsical take or view, artist John M. T. Seitzer offers a series of playful renditions of clouds floating above a solitary island. An assemblage of simplified shapes portray the solitary island trees, shrubs, rocks and shore. In the sky, puffy popcorn clouds drift overhead. Tall updraft cumuliform clouds resemble huge slices of toast hovering above the horizon. The series was painted with strokes of bright color intending to activate the surface of the paintings. The strokes are often painted onto a solid background of a contrasting hue.

One painting “Three Clouds On A Yellow Sky” creates an optical illusion. A “negative after image” also called an “after effect” can be seen after focusing on the ultramarine dashes of color painted on a yellow background at the bottom of this artwork. While still staring at the bottom of the art your eyes will start to see the same size bright yellow dashes dancing around the ultramarine ones. These bright yellow dashes are “false images” and are the complementary color or hue to the ultramarine painted dashes. Stop by the gallery and see for yourself.

Exhibit will be on display through September at Joy To The Wind Gallery, 34 Atlantic Ave, Boothbay Harbor. Open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.  joytothewind.com