Staff Writer

Kennebunkport transformed into the canvas for a free art show Sunday as 50 local artists went outdoors to paint, draw and color their favorite scenes in town.

The event, Paint the Port, is the longest running outdoor art event and auction in Maine. This marks its sixth year, according to Barry Kramer, president of Heartwood College of Art.

After artists spent six hours working during the day, the finished products were auctioned at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport to raise money for Heartwood College of Art.

“We really – aside from needing to raise funds – wanted to keep artists involved in the school,” said Susan Wilder, dean of admissions for Heartwood.

Kramer said 50 percent of the money raised will go to the artist while the rest to the college – the same split an artist could expect if the work was sold through a gallery. She described the daylong effort as part fun, part work and part “sporting event” because she said it can be extremely difficult.

Wilder agreed.

“The light changes, the water changes, you have to merge everything,” she said.

The event drew 54 artists, although they were allowed to hand in a project up to a week in advance because of a scheduling issue and the always-present chance of inclement weather.

Artist Janet Ledoux experienced difficulties while painting at Cape Porpoise Pier, but it wasn’t the light – or lack thereof – it was the parking.

“There tend to be rapidly changing conditions of weather, extremely challenging and unexpected surprises, like someone parking in front of your spot and your lack of control,” Ledoux explained.

Ledoux said she participated in at least the last four Paint the Port events, and while she couldn’t remember every painting, she certainly remembered her first.

“The first one was horrible, I scraped it off and I started another one. Normally with a bad painting you can just do another one,” she said.

Ledoux wasn’t happy with the second painting either, and almost didn’t go to the auction. The painting did sell that year but she learned to take the pressure off herself by just accepting what happens during the day – like the parked cars.

It was the commonly fickle Maine weather that challenged three Heartwood College students sitting in Dock Square as dark clouds began rolling overhead.

“We did this last year, it was horribly rainy” said Joanna Plante, sitting on a bench next to where her mother, Ann Plante, painted the mid-section of the square.

Joanna Plante said aside from just learning to sketch fast in case of rain, she also learned not to be too intimidated painting alongside other artists who had been doing it for years.

Jenette Ross, another student, said she was not worried about the weather or the constant line of people looking over her shoulder.

 “I’m planning on enjoying every minute of this. I love how it brings artists of the community together,” she said.

Heartwood College focuses on making a community of artists throughout Southern Maine and invite those artists back into the college to teach classes or host galleries.

Currently, 14 students are enrolled in the school’s master of fine arts program and 16 undergraduate students attend the college. All are guided by a revolving door of full-time artists turned professors. including Shirley Kent, DeWitt Hardy Jayne Adams and Wade Zahares.

“Every one of our professors is a working artist. That’s how they make their living,” Kramer said.

The private, nonprofit school relies on fundraising events such as Paint the Port to make up 10 to 15 percent of the budget. Donations, tuition and grants make up the rest. 

While Kennebunkport will have to wait another year to see a slew of artists outdoors painting the town, local artists, including Kramer, spend hours outside surveying and painting the scenery even when it’s not for charity.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.