Autumn Fog by Cheryl Sager

Day at Fish Beach by Carol Poitras

Carol Poitras: Whimsy in Watercolor
and
Cheryl Sager: Meandering Through the Seasons

Carol Poitras: Whimsy in Watercolor

Star Island by Carol Poitras

“Watercolor painting has become a passion of mine over the last few years,” says artist Carol Poitras. With a lifelong ambition to paint, upon retiring in 2016 Carol joined her neighbor Cricket at a watercolor class with Doris Rice in at the Seacoast Artist Association in Exeter NH and loved it! “She presents humor, skilled drawing and shakes it up for a blend in her paintings,” says Doris. “With every concept challenge presented in classes, Carol gives an accomplished solution. She has skill in using the watercolor to its best. And she is very fun to paint with!” Carol has traveled with Doris to Tuscany, New Mexico, and Monhegan Island Maine. She has attended many of the Seacoast Summer workshops days with Doris as well as Veterans Count Events at Runnymede Farm in North Hampton NH.

Pink High Heels by Carol Poitras

“The love of outdoors and travel has influenced me to paint in many locations close to home and away. I enjoy painting and photographing locations near and far. What better way to experience life and the ‘moment in time’ than to paint it!” Carol often find inspiration for her “whimsical beings” while out wandering and painting in groups, with friends and in class. “My whimsical designs began only two years ago after buying an empty mug box at the SAA Y’Art sale. It was designed with two birds in winter attire and LL Bean style boots (art by Scott Church). This inspired me to paint a limitless variety of animals with clothing and accessories in colorful seasonal attire.” One of these paintings won her a People’s Choice Award at the SAA. “Through these whimsical beings I want to bring laughter and a calming influence on the often crazy world we live in.”

“The love of outdoors and travel has influenced me to
Carol is a member of the Seacoast Artist Association where she serves on their board and scholarship committee. She is also the founder and coordinator of their plein air group. She paints and exhibits with the Seacoast Open Studio in Exeter, NH and is an organizer of the plein air meetings at the Kittery Art Association where she is also a member. In addition to studying with SAA’s Doris Rice, Carol has also taken sketching with Carol Jowdy in Holderness, NH, drawing with Revelle Taillon (who also teaches at SAA), and watercolor with Jan Kilburn in Damariscotta, Maine. She has attended two Saturated Watercolor Workshops at the Kittery Art Association. Carol meets with a small artist group run my Melanie Lovering and is a member of the Wednesday Night painters, both in Dover NH. Carol runs a small home business cutting custom mats since 2018. Past art and crafting pursuits include quilting, sewing, rug hooking, tole painting, stenciling, drawing, cross stitch, knitting and ceramics.

Carol has called the Seacoast home for the last 36 years – living in Newmarket with her husband and 3 daughters – now grown. Before moving to the Seacoast, she lived in Milford and Lyndeboro and grew up in Melrose Mass. Prior to her art career Carol enjoyed a career in nursing.
“I love to create and play with new ideas and techniques. I am only beginning to explore all that art has to offer.”

Cheryl Sager: Meandering Through the Seasons

Signs of Spring by Cheryl Sager

Cheryl Sager has always loved to create. Because watercolor painting had long been at the top of her bucket list, she began lessons with North Hampton artist and teacher Doris Rice in 2015 and continues to paint around the seacoast.

“Cheryl has creative talents in many fields: music, cuisine, gardening, and most of all, painting! says Doris. “Her sensitive watercolors depict her personal interests; she always takes concept to an individual level. Skilled with watercolor as a medium, she experiments with size and technique and…voila! A beautiful work of art!”.

Cheryl loves painting from nature and most of her subjects embrace the natural beauty of Maine and New Hampshire. “Some paintings are done plein air, but most are from my own mind with suggestions from images I have seen or photos I have taken,” says Cheryl. Her four signature paintings in “Meandering Through the Seasons” illustrate the four seasons of birch trees, and these are mostly from her imagination. “My spring birch is based on a tree next to my house. Those from winter, summer, and autumn are from my head but resemble many lake images in NH, Maine and VT.” Other paintings like “The Barn” are inspired by photos but are not copies. Cheryl adds her own feelings and style to the paintings. One unique feature of Cheryl’s work is her signature, which is usually hidden within the painting.

Summer by the Lake #2 by Cheryl Sager

Cheryl does garden and rock work for several of her fellow artists and this relates to her painting. “I am totally absorbed when singing or writing music, painting or gardening. The three are very ‘zen’ for me; the world disappears. As I garden or work with rock, I am absorbed and can begin to notice the structure, design and color. I lose all track of time when doing any of those things. Hours become minutes. I find each relaxing, but each activity is also very intense and I am highly focused.”