Title: Stories from the Working Coast

Rick Hamilton’s latest exhibition brings together a lively collection of mixed media paintings that celebrate the people, places, and everyday moments that define Maine life. From 3 Hearts Fishing Crew to Lobster Boat Races and Portland Town, his subjects range from hardworking lobstermen to whimsical coastal scenes, each rendered in bold color, loose line, and layered texture . The works feel immediate and unpolished in the best sense—alive with movement, humor, and the small, unexpected details that reward a closer look.

Entirely self-taught, Hamilton approaches painting with an intuitive openness, allowing each composition to evolve through revision, play, and chance. His scenes often carry a narrative quality, blending memory, imagination, and observation into images that feel both personal and widely familiar. Titles like It’s a Maine Thing and Take Me Sailing in Maine and Tell Me You Love Me underscore the emotional core of the work—rooted in connection, joy, and shared experience . Together, these paintings form a vibrant, story-driven portrait of Maine, where labor, landscape, and community come together with warmth, humor, and heart.