 Mimi Gregoire Carpenter received a degree in Art from the
University of Maine at Gorham in 1969 and taught until 1975 and
the birth of her daughter Tessa . Mimi painted while Tessa napped,
but the paint dried . The hardened palate, the use of black and
white paint and the tiny brushes used to create the detail, became
part of the signature of her "opaque" technique. With
Tessa and their frequent visits to any coastal area from Pemaquid
to Islesboro, she worked on illustrations for several children's
picture books. The first to be published was During this time and continuing now, Mimi has visited schools from Van Buren to Kittery as an "Artist In Residence" working with children to create their own picture books covering her love of Medieval Dragons, Gargoyles, Illuminated Manuscripts, and Castles as well as her Environmental themes of Maine Shell Identification,Tidal Pool Trolls, Beachbots and Sandcastles. She has designed fabrics, note cards, and paper products as well as cups and magnets.You may wish to play with a made to order, hand-cut puzzle created from Mimi's work by ELMS PUZZLES in Harrison, Maine.
Mimi's move to her home near Goose Rocks Beach in 2001 was a dream come true. Living near the ocean she now joins her muse, her passion and her work altogether. The colors in her palate have evolved from her early paintings (from which there are still several lithograph reproductions no longer shown in this website). "My early paintings were muted - a bit bleak, but now I use hot pinks, the bluest of blues and bold golds and oranges. I paint with the wetness of the sea still on the shells." Being able to beachcomb and gather any day of the week and in every season, changed her compositions as well. Although negative space is very important to her, her "Bach" compositions leave no negative space, but several layers of detritus consisting of urchins, mussels, razors, periwinkles, moon shells, crabs, etc. atop driftwood, pebbles, and seaweed. A widened matte separates the the swirling compositions, which though it separated the artwork from the space in which it hung, something was missing. The problem was solved by choosing an archival matte with a hot press surface just like the paper she painted on. Breaking the rules (matte is meant to absorb dampness and keep water away from the paint) Mimi broke out of the box of the composition and added a Remarque or bit of original painting, allowing a shell or strand of seaweed to flow out onto the matte. The highlights of Mimi's year include a photo shoot in her studio/gallery and on Goose Rocks beach with La Vie Claire Magazine (Claire Murray rugs and a Claire Murray coffee table book) Summer 2009 as well as Coastal Living Magazine. She has been previously features in :
The UNIVERSITY OF MAINE'S SEA GRANT program has used her paintings to promote the sale of Scallops and Oysters in Japan. This work has also resulted in a CALENDAR of 12 Images of Maine "Sea Products" from Shrimp and Scallops to seaweed and Salmon for Maine fishermen (which will be available as Giclées in the spring of 2009). She has also worked with the Mount Desert Island Labs, and The Institute of Oceanography on Mt. Desert Island and Lobster grants in Wells. When it was time to decide on giclée reproductions, Mimi chose HUNTER EDITIONS in Kennebunk. The quality of the paper and the color and the expertise and attention to detail, produces a reproduction difficult to distinguish from the original. Mimi does add a Remarque onto most of the Giclées, which makes them one of a kind - if not completely original. One new Giclée or series is produced per year. Mimi's Original Opaque Watercolors are available for Sale : Through this Website (mimigregoirecarpenterstudio@gmail.com) and
ARTWORK IS ALSO AVAILABLE: Giclées only - from the NONANTUM RESORT - Ocean Ave. Seasonally in Kennebunkport, Maine  Original Opaque Watercolors and Giclée Reproductions - from Hurlbutt Designs in Kennebunkport, Maine |
