Since artist, Esther Garcia Eder, joined the gallery roster in September of 2023, I have had the opportunity to spend time with her at both of her studios - in Maine and in Massachusetts. In September I made the journey out to the island of Vinalhaven where Esther has maintained a home and studio for decades. This spring brought along a chance for me to visit Esther in her South End studio in Boston before she heads back up to Vinalhaven for the summer and fall seasons. Esther’s Vinalhaven Studio Esther’s studio on Vinalhaven, an island located twelve miles off the coast of Maine, is in the mo ..read more

Jeanine Sobell Pastore’s Orange and Red Pear “I find it both curious and compelling that the moments of our lives are punctuated by visual images that, over time, become permanently embedded in the experience.”  As a former photographer and someone who has spent their life immersed in visuals, this line that I read recently from a Debbie Millman essay (“Hello Dolly” in Millman’s book, Look Both Ways) really resonated with me. Similar to the way in which she describes these “visual mementos” in her essay, I have a catalog of my own pictorial moments that I can recall easily or that unexpe ..read more

The Picnic is a collection of contemporary paintings by Diana Forbes offering glimpses into sun-drenched landscapes and vivid still life scenes, all honoring life as it unfolds by the river on a summer’s day during the Henley Royal Regatta. The collection is a celebration of life, nature, and the quintessential British summer, captured in a palette of illuminated colors and atmospheric compositions.  “Living in the timeless town of Henley-on-Thames, we are ultimately intertwined with the spirit of the regatta, an annual spectacle which transforms our quaint town into a vibrant w ..read more

When it came time to plan our trip down to visit gallery artist, Anne Darby Parker, at her studio on Sullivan’s Island, there was really no question where we would stay while we were in South Carolina. We’d been keeping up with the design & hospitality brand, Basic Projects, for years and had followed along when they opened the Post House Inn in Mount Pleasant’s Old Village in 2020. Our expectations for our stay were exceeded the moment we walked through the doors of the historic property on Pitt Street. Thoughtfully designed details abound at the Post House, inside and out, that elevated ..read more

After working with artist, Anne Darby Parker, for over two years now, I finally had the chance to meet her in person at her studio & home on Sullivan’s Island, just outside of Charleston, South Carolina. Anne & I have FaceTimed on occasion throughout the past two years, but nothing compares to getting to visit and see her work (and her beautiful studio space!) in person. Anne is preparing for a big solo show in Charleston this May, perfectly timed for right at the beginning of Charleston’s Spoleto Festival. Visiting her with just another two months to go before the show meant that the ..read more

We were so excited to see these incredible photos that photographer, Courtney Elizabeth, recently captured for our friend and interior designer, Samantha S. Pappas. The two worked together for multiple days shooting this exceptionally beautiful Falmouth Foreside home that Samantha spent the last couple of years designing in collaboration with Waltman Architectural Design and Brush & Hammer Builders. The end result is a stunning home full of thoughtful details, fantastic color, and charming character. Samantha sourced a variety of art for this home, including works from eight of The Willard ..read more

Earlier this spring I had the opportunity to make a day trip up the Maine coast to visit gallery artist, Heidi Daub, in her Blue Hill studio. It was wonderful to be immersed in Heidi’s creative world for an afternoon. Not only does she spend her days painting in her charming two-story studio just steps away from her home, Heidi also writes, journals, and plays music there as well. I love being able to now picture Heidi at the piano (one of her instruments that graces a corner of the studio) surrounded by her paintings on the wall, journaling or playing while she takes a break from pa ..read more

What a delight it was to drive down to the Melrose studio of gallery artist, Ellen Rolli, for a visit this spring! Ellen’s studio is full of vibrant color, joy, and personality - much like the paintings she creates there. It’s a happy place to spend a little extra time - Ellen has a fantastic collection of art books and it’s impossible not to be lifted up by all of the color bursting from her work hanging on the walls. Plus, Ellen speaks so eloquently about her work, that of others, and the journey she’s taken so far in life - you’ll easily leave feeling lighter and more inspired than when you ..read more

It is thrilling to once again be included in Decor Maine’s annual Art Issue as a part of their Gallery Guide! Seventeen art galleries from around the state are listed in this visually striking, comprehensive feature on the Maine art scene. In addition to highlighting each gallery’s unique offerings, writer Jennifer Wolcott also collected travel tips from gallery owners so that readers can round out the day with other culinary or cultural activities when planning their art-inspired road trips. We were happy to share that no summer visit to The Willard Gallery is complete without either a stop a ..read more

We have loved spending the last few days up close with a set of brand new joyful arrivals from artist, Julie Bowers Murphy. The majority of these new paintings from Julie make up her Mainely Speaking collection featuring seasonal Maine landscape paintings and other inspired vistas from around the state. The other accompanying paintings are a bit more spirited and fanciful in nature - we couldn’t resist asking her to send those along with her new collection of Maine paintings. On her work, Julie notes: “I feel obliged to present an alternate, more beautiful world through my art that allows an e ..read more