Search
Close this search box.

Brush with Nature

Brush with Nature 2023

The Gallery Exhibition and Benefit Sale ran from October 6 through November 12, 2023, both online and in the Gilsland Farm Gallery.

This year, we invited some of Maine’s finest creators to be inspired by nature at our sanctuaries and create art outdoors to engage visitors in the artistic process. The paintings will be sold with proceeds benefiting Maine Audubon’s education, conservation, and advocacy programs.  To purchase art, you can visit the gallery to browse and shop, or you can view the art online (below), and purchase online for pick up in Falmouth. The gallery is located at the Visitor Center at Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, 20 Gilsland Farm Road, Falmouth. The center is open seven days a week, 10 am to 5 pm.  (Note: All artwork will be available for pick up once the show closes on November 12.) Click on any image below to see more about each work.

The 2023 show is now closed.

Brush with Nature: 2023 has taken on a different format this year! It includes: Maker Days at three centers (Gilsland Farm in Falmouth, Fields Pond in Holden, Scarborough Marsh) where the public was invited to come get creative outside; art-focused workshops at each center; and a juried art show and sale. 

Featured Artists in the 2023 Brush with Nature Art Show/Sale

These outstanding Maine artists have each created one new work inspired by Maine Audubon’s sanctuaries, mission, or conservation work that will be for sale in the Gilsland Farm Gallery in October.

This year’s juried show was open to Maine artists, but not exclusively plein air painters. We accepted a wider range of media including painting, mixed media, drawing, photography, recycled materials etc. Artists were invited to apply (online applications were accepted April 24 through May 8). Decisions were announced late May. Accepted artists must create a piece that is connected to and created at (fully or in part) a Maine Audubon sanctuary between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and delivered to Gilsland Farm between September 8 and 15.

We strongly encourage artists to take part in one or more of the art creation days. Artists will receive more details about the art days if they are accepted.

Brush with Nature Maker Days

  • Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center, Saturday, July 29, 10 am to 4 pm. More info > 
  • Fields Pond Audubon Center, Saturday, August 12, 10 am to 2 pm. More info >
  • Gilsland Farm Audubon Center, Saturday, August 19, 10 am to 2 pm. More info >

Open to all! Come visit and be inspired by nature! We’ll have simple sketchbooks and materials for you but you are encouraged to bring your pencils, cameras, sketchbooks, easels, weavings, or whatever moves you to create art inspired by wildlife and habitat. Some of our Brush With Nature featured artists will also be creating on site that day.

 

Brush with Nature 2023 Application Details

Brush with Nature 2023 FAQ

Size: 20” x 20” maximum including frame.

Mediums: Open to all mediums as long as they can safely be used at a wildlife sanctuary. Plein air painters are welcome, as are all forms of drawing, printmaking,  creative use of recycled materials, and whatever you can dream up. Must be ready to hang on a wall (framing not required, but no gallery clips please). We are unable to accept sculpture or freestanding 3D art work. Relief sculptures that can hang on the wall without extra reinforcement are acceptable.

Who: Open to all full-time and part-time residents of Maine

Benefit: Participating artists donate 50%, 75% or 100% of the selling price of the art to Maine Audubon. The proceeds fund Maine Audubon’s education, conservation, and advocacy programs.

Price range: $200 – $2000, sales not guaranteed. Any unsold art will be returned to the artist at the end of the show.

Location: Art creation will take place at and/or be inspired by the eight Maine Audubon sanctuaries between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Take a look at our visit pages for information about each one, including directions, descriptions of the habitat, flora, and fauna, and an aerial tour. Artists can choose their preferred locations. Maine Audubon will not be able to cover any expenses for travel and lodging. 

Brush with Nature 2023 FAQ

Read about Brush with Nature 2022

Read about Brush with Nature 2021