The Maria Boord Gallery, formerly located at 10 McKown Street in Boothbay Harbor, will now be located on Commercial Street in the smaller half of the old Village Market location.

This move will more than double the floor space in the gallery, and give owner Maria Boord the opportunity to expand her classes, as well as her sale space.

“This is a premier location,” Boord said. “When it came up I seized the opportunity, because this is as good as it gets.”

Boord has taught in workshops at her studio for years, often with the same clients coming back.

“I have people who arrange their entire vacation around my classes,” Boord said. “I have a lot of repeat students, and I get more every year.”

In the winters, Boord has needed to teach off site due to problems heating her old location. Now thanks to this new location, she can be open year-round.

With the extra space Boord has decided to start a series of intense, hour-long daily skill-based classes in addition to her three- and four-day workshops. These classes will focus on the technical details involved in art, such as color mixing, shadows and light, edging and layering.

“I don't teach people how to paint, because everyone has a different style,” Boord said. “My way of painting might not be right for someone else, and I don't want to influence them and make them go a different direction than they should. However, there are thousands of technical skills every artist needs to know no matter what medium they work in, and I can teach those without influencing the students.”

Boord will also have her work displayed this year at the Cuckolds Lighthouse Inn. Paul Coulombe, current president of the Cuckolds Council, approached Boord about hanging six to eight paintings at the Inn. These painting would be for sale, with proceeds going towards the Cuckolds restoration project.

“It's wicked exciting,” Boord said. “And this was a great way to concretely contribute to the cause. The people involved with Cuckolds are all very passionate, and it's a very cool project.”

Boord is planning to have a print collection of all her work available for sale along with many original paintings. She will be open Fishermen's Festival weekend with her first workshops held in June.