SARA GRAYBefore becoming a painter I was a professional photographer for 20+ years shooting for regular clients including Down East, Yankee and Coastal Living Magazines. I began studying at The Maine College of Art in their Continuing Studies Program eight years ago and began taking workshops with various artists who I admired.My photography foundation has been a great asset to my painting process. It has allowed me to appreciate and to create an image with a strong composition and to understand the importance light plays in the success of an image. The landscape has always been my main source of inspiration both in my photography and painting. For me painting has become an exploration of form, color, value and texture. When photographing I respond to the light and subject matter and then the composition becomes the main consideration. This is also true when beginning a painting but then the painting becomes about so much more. Decisions are constantly being made about mixing colors, representing values, brushstrokes, composition, drawing, perspective¦ My hope is that these decisions seem effortless, that they are made and executed in a way that the painting becomes a cohesive work that engages the viewer and communicates the beauty I see and appreciation I feel for our natural landscapes.I have been fortunate to study with Diane Dahlke, Janet Manyan and Dietlind Vander Schaaf at The Maine College of Art's Continuing Studies program. I have also taken workshops with Caleb Stone, Bjorn Runquist, Tollef Runquist, Kim Bernard and most recently Mark Boedges, Margaret Gerding, Tim Horn and Jon Redmond.I recently completed a 6 month mentorship with Lori Putnam.