About the Arts
Leslie Doherty's York Corner Studio-Gallery opens
By Rose Safran
"On-Line," pictured here, is an oil painting by York artist Leslie Doherty. Doherty's studio gallery opened on Saturday, Aug. 19. Courtesy of Leslie Doherty
This past weekend, York artist Leslie Doherty had a well-attended gala opening at her York Corner studio-gallery.
For years, space in her antique house at 501 Route 1 has served as her studio. Most recently, however, she decided to convert her space into a walk-in gallery to sell her paintings directly at the same time she continues to offer them through art associations with which she is connected.
For her opening, she has mounted an exhibit of extensive work created during the past two years. In her well-lit spacious studio - a place many artists would envy - as well as in the expanded house's stairwells, hallways, kitchen and dining areas, Doherty's admirable creative concentration of art can be enjoyed.
This is a comprehensive oeuvre the artist can be proud of - the culmination of a lifetime of dedication to and immersion in a craft as well as of professional, classic training reflected in the scope of projects tackled and completeness inherent in each work.
Consisting of a variety of media - principally oil paintings, pastel works and watercolors with some pencil and charcoal sketches - the range demonstrates adeptness in figurative studies, landscape painting, genre, still life, intricate village and harbor scenes.
The Connecticut-born artist trained at the Museum School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, as well as under coastal Maine artists such as Elyot Henderson and George
Carpenter. Additionally, she was, at one time, a student of the well-known portrait painter Robert Brackman (1898-1980), who painted art patron Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and many other notables. He was a National Academy of Design member who successfully managed to ignore the fads and "isms" of his time. Not a bad mentor to have happened on in one's studies.
Doherty has exhibited in Connecticut as well as locally at the Ogunquit Art Association in a recent juried show and at the Kittery Art Association, the Newburyport Art Association and York Art Association, where she has won awards. Also including her work in exhibits have been Rockland's Farnsworth Museum and Kennebunk's River Tree Center for the Arts.
Visitors to the Leslie Doherty Studio/Gallery will enjoy seeing representational, technically skilled delightful views of town and harbors of Portsmouth, York Harbor, York, Newburyport and other destinations, including that artist's Mecca, Monhegan Island. Realistic action-packed images such as of fishermen hauling in bait as well as a large number of excellent figurative paintings are included, both framed and shrink-wrapped.
Not to be overlooked, either, is a series of fine woodland scenes in oil, a medium the artist states she is concentrating on at the present time. Too, there are atmospheric images, with brilliant sunsets reflected. This is a versatile artist who shifts around as many creative people tend to do; yet, she remains respectful of and solidly grounded in her serious early training which has stood her well.
Importantly, her paintings are accessible, that is, affordable, nicely framed, ready to grace homes.
The Leslie Doherty Studio/Gallery on the north side of the lights at York Corner on Route One is open daily. For further information, call 363-0033 or 363-4392 or e-mail ldoherty@maine.rr.com.
