Franklin resident wins LRAA art drawing

TILTON — The January Free Art Drawing held by the Lakes Region Art Association Gallery was won this month by Marie MacMartin, a resident of Franklin. Marie was at the gallery on Saturday, Feb. 10 to pick up her prize, an acrylic artwork entitled, “Greenwing Macaw” that was donated for the drawing by LRAA Artist Acacia Rogers. Marie is a frequent visitor to the gallery and has purchased a few pieces of artwork at the gallery since it opened. She said that she has always appreciated art and was happy to see a gallery that features only area artists open nearby. She visits often to see what new artists have joined the gallery as well as to check out new artwork additions. Marie mentioned that she especially likes the fact that you can talk with the actual artists who display in the gallery as they all participate in operating the gallery during its open hours. She highly recommends that people visit the gallery, not only to enjoy the different art styles and great artwork but also to be able to talk to the artists who staff the gallery.

Acacia Rogers, the artist who donated the artwork, is a long time New Hampshire resident and an avid painter who is greatly inspired by the state’s beautiful scenery and abundant wildlife. Acacia started feeling out a potential artist career some years back by painting pet portraits. The positive response led her to expand her artwork to include still life, landscape, wildlife, and portraiture as well and she is now painting full time, with an intense determination to make this passion work as a career. Her mediums of choice are acrylic, watercolor, and oils. Acacia was voted as the top artist at the Lakes Region Artists of the Month program in November.

The current piece of artwork being offered in the monthly drawing, an acrylic titled “Poppies,” was donated by Bev Shanley of Gilford. Over the past forty years, Bev has studied charcoal portraits, watercolors, acrylics, and hand building with clay. Bev enjoys working with each of these media to express her love of local New Hampshire lake scenes as well as still life. Anyone interested in art, as well as a chance to win free art, should stop by the gallery not only to view Bev’s artwork which is displayed just inside the gallery doors, but also to see the various other artworks on display. One of the gallery’s front windows is also dedicated to Bev’s other works. Registration slips for the drawing are available on the display; no purchase is necessary to register, however you do need to be eighteen years or older to enter. One registration per person, per drawing. The drawing is held at the end of the month.

The LRAA Art Gallery is located in the Tilton Tanger Outlets (across from the Chocolate Factory) and is open Thursday thru Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Lakes Region Art Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding art education and appreciation in the Lakes Region.

Franklin resident, Marie MacMartin (right), who won the gallery’s January free art drawing, is presented the artwork by New Hampshire resident and  LRAA artist, Acacia Rogers. (Courtesy photo)