Vacation with An Artist: Massachusetts to Maine Edit

New England has historically been home to several art colonies. This treasured region was where several artists, musicians, writers and makers would retreat to pursue their creative endeavours. This creative belt continues to be home to renowned  artists - artists who have deep expertise in  their craft, and hold the key to wisdom, tradition and innovation of their communities. We think artists are the fingerprints of humanity and culture, the ultimate ‘local creative guide'. 

1. Your offbeat guide to Boston with a Photo Etching & Storytelling Artist

Stay : At a sun filled, spacious apartment in a lovely Victorian house in a quiet Boston neighbourhood.

Surround : Step out onto streets lined with charming coffee shops, small cafes and shopping, as well as a beautiful glacial kettle pond.

Explore : Trace the iconic Freedom Train, idle time in Boston Common (where both Martin Luther King Jr. and Pope John Paul II gave speeches) and wander the historic brick-line cobblestone streets. Spend time around a Boston fixture, your neighbourhood kettlehole pond formed by a natural glacier. As locals do, enjoy this piece of nature by rowing, boating, running or biking with a view of lush greenery and soothing water, home to countless geese, ducks and turtles.

Your local creative guide : Liz is a renowned Bostonian artist and teacher from whom you will learn photo etching and silkscreen printing in her bustling, collaborating studio.

Fun fact : Liz is a printmaker, sculptor and painter best known for her traditional etchings on copper plates, photo plate etchings and silkscreen prints. She prints on non traditional methods including wood, metal and card board! 

Click here for more details on photo etching and silk screen with Liz.

2. Your offbeat guide to Atkinson, Maine as you Handbuild a Canoe  

Stay : At an 1880’s farmhouse turned B&B in this quaint Maine town in the heart of Maine.

Surround : Take in the surrounding serene lakes, rivers and hidden waterfalls. 

Explore : Take a trip down Piscataquis River, explore the lighthouses scattered across the coast of Maine, hike the Appalachian Trail, which makes its way through the county to its majestic end at Mount Katahdin, Maine’s tallest peak. For a relaxed evening, wander around the numerous galleries, canoe shops, restaurants and breweries in town. 

Your local creative guide : Master craftsman Rollin is synonymous with the art of building wood and canvas canoes. He will guide you through every step of this time honored artform which dates back to the 19th century, and is modeled after the birchbark canoe-building perfected by the native tribes of the local Penobscot indigenous people

Fun fact : With little recorded wooden canoe history or guidance on building techniques, Rollin researched and co-authored The Wood and Canvas Canoe – the first book to go into painstaking detail on the matter. Incredibly well received, the book included Rollin’s original research and some of his own designs.

Click here for more details on handbuilding a canoe with Rollin.

3. Your offbeat guide to Lincolnville, Maine with the Seaside and Ceramics  

Stay : At a beautiful colonial-style home B&B built in 1832, with ocean views from every room.

Surround : Enjoy this vibrant, well connected artist community where you’ll find ocean beaches and freshwater lakes and ponds.

Explore :  A variety of hiking and biking trails, and many wonderful bakeries and restaurants. Don’t miss the town’s secret 

Your local creative guide : Award-winning artist Siem who will take you on an exploration through the craft of clay with natural patterns as your inspiration. You will go home with your own handmade ceramic pieces.

Fun fact : Siem isn’t bound by any one medium. Skilled in drawing, printmaking, sculpting, goldsmithing, carpentry, painting, and ceramics, he explores the themes of home, family, and our relationship with nature in his work.

Click here for more details on Ceramics with Siem.

Click here for our Vacation Edits for further down the East Coast!

Written by Kimsuka Iyer

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