Casting the Eye Beyond: Plein Air Maine Landscapes by Matthew Russ

In this luminous exhibition of contemporary Maine landscape painting, Matthew Russ presents a series of plein air oil paintings that celebrate the vast, contemplative beauty of New England’s coast and interior waters. Working from life and often backpacking into remote locations, Russ captures protected lands and iconic vistas including Muscle Ridge Islands, Casco Bay from Wolfe’s Neck, Great Pond, View from Flying Mountain, and View from Wonderland. Painted in oil on canvas and framed with restraint, these works emphasize long-distance views, atmospheric light, and the quiet poetry of Maine’s islands, ridgelines, marshes, and open water.

A Colby College trained painter with a foundation in traditional oil painting and international study in Ireland, Russ approaches landscape as both observation and meditation. His compositions invite viewers to project themselves into the horizon line, engaging with the mystery of distance and the emotional resonance of place. From Penobscot Bay and Owl’s Head to Richmond Island and Ship Harbor, these contemporary coastal paintings embody the spirit of Maine plein air tradition while offering collectors refined, museum quality fine art rooted in conservation, natural beauty, and immersive perspective.