Maine: Portland & Falmouth

2012–2024

Selected paintings

I painted Portland’s streets, waterfront, and the Maine coast.

Salt marsh in pale blue and green — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Green masts and angular sails — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Portland alley with fire escapes and overhead wires — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Maine city panorama — Erin McGee Ferrell. Oil on canvas, 20 × 50 inches.

Angular pilings and water in blue, white, and red — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

The Press Hotel, Portland, Maine — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

View more paintings and photographs

Erin McGee Ferrell painting on location in Portland, Maine, 2015. Photograph © Victor Salvo.

Erin McGee Ferrell with community members during Across Franklin, the Whole Foods Market-sponsored urban garden project in Portland, Maine.

Rooftops and architecture — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

An architectural painting beside the rooftop view that inspired it, 2014.

Erin McGee Ferrell painting from a parking garage, 2014. Photograph: TwoInfiniteThings.

Erin McGee Ferrell painting on a cobblestone street.

Erin McGee Ferrell at her outdoor easel.

Working directly on a large architectural painting outdoors.

Coastal panorama — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Sailboats — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Harbor boats and pilings — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Pilings and reflections — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Erin McGee Ferrell working outdoors on a large canvas beside the waterfront.

Erin McGee Ferrell in conversation at a gallery gathering.

Erin McGee Ferrell in conversation at an outdoor gathering.

Back alleys and fire escapes — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Parking garage in ochre, grey, and blue — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Cruise ship and waterfront buildings — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Water through pilings — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Sailboat masts and rigging in orange and blue — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Sailboats in blue, green, and white — Maine painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Aerial view of Portland, Maine, and its harbor — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Portland back-alley view in green and ochre — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Wharf Street, Portland, Maine — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Thanksgiving imagery with an American flag — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell from her Maine years.

Snow-covered alley and fire escapes in Portland, Maine — painting by Erin McGee Ferrell.

Erin McGee Ferrell painting at a street corner in Portland, Maine.

Erin McGee Ferrell painting an architectural scene in Portland, Maine. Photograph © Victor Salvo, 2013.

Brushwork in progress — a close-up from Erin McGee Ferrell’s Maine painting archive.

Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration

Across Franklin · Portland, Maine · 2015–2016

I painted Boyd Street Community Garden through 2015. Most paintings measure 3 × 4 feet, with some at 4 × 5 feet.

I exhibited the garden paintings in the Whole Foods café across Franklin Street. The project was supported by Whole Foods Market Portland, The Root Cellar, and Artist & Craftsman Supply.

Exhibition in Jasper, Indiana

I exhibited the series at Krempp Gallery, Jasper Arts Center, Indiana, May 3–29, 2016.

Jasper exhibition invitation Exhibition dates and reception details Artist’s exhibition announcement

Urban Community Garden May, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Urban Community Garden May*
Oil on canvas

Garden September, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Garden September*
Oil on canvas

Garden painting displayed in the Whole Foods Market café, Portland.

View garden paintings and project photographs

Backyards off Franklin, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Backyards off Franklin*
Oil on canvas

March Garden off Franklin, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *March Garden off Franklin*
Oil on canvas

Urban Community Garden June, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Urban Community Garden June*
Oil on canvas

Garden July, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Garden July*
Oil on canvas

Garden August, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Garden August*
Oil on canvas

Garden November, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Garden November*
Oil on canvas

Winter Garden, oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell for the Whole Foods Urban Garden Collaboration — *Winter Garden*
Oil on canvas

Ferrell with a community member at Boyd Street Community Garden. Photograph: Adam Birt.

Boyd Street Community Garden, Portland. Photograph: Adam Birt.

Painting and conversation at Boyd Street Community Garden. Photograph: Adam Birt.

Community visit during the garden painting project.

Drawing during the community garden project.

Original project display for the Franklin Street garden series.

Ferrell sharing artwork with community members.

Brushwork on location. Photograph: Adam Birt.

Franklin Street winter painting by Erin McGee Ferrell — Franklin Street in winter
Oil on canvas

Architectural painting from Erin McGee Ferrell’s Franklin Street project — Franklin Street architectural study
Oil on canvas

Garden painting in progress on location.

A drawing beside the garden painting on its easel.

Erin McGee Ferrell painting on Franklin Street, Portland.

Painting on location at the community garden.

Whole Foods Market, Portland Artist’s project announcement, May 2016

Cellardoor Winery

Iron Gate Artist Series label and Portland showroom commission · 2015–2016

I made the Iron Gate wine-label painting and two 4 × 6 foot oil paintings for Cellardoor Winery’s Thompson’s Point showroom in 2016.

Cellardoor acquired both gate paintings and chose one for its Artist Series label. The label’s 2013 date is the wine vintage.

Erin McGee Ferrell, industrial gears painting commissioned by Cellardoor Winery, 2016 — Industrial gears — Erin McGee Ferrell, 2016. Oil on canvas, 4 × 6 feet. Cellardoor Winery, Thompson’s Point, Portland.

Erin McGee Ferrell, locomotive wheels painting commissioned by Cellardoor Winery, 2016 — Locomotive wheels — Erin McGee Ferrell, 2016. Oil on canvas, 4 × 6 feet. Cellardoor Winery, Thompson’s Point, Portland.

Iron Gate 2013 Cellardoor Artist Series wine label featuring a painting by Erin McGee Ferrell — The selected gate painting reproduced on the complete Iron Gate label. The label credits Erin McGee Ferrell by name.

View installation, original gate painting, label details, and press

Both Erin McGee Ferrell paintings installed above the bar in Cellardoor Winery’s original Thompson’s Point Portland showroom — Installation view: both 4 × 6 foot paintings in Cellardoor Winery’s original Portland showroom at Thompson’s Point.

Second original iron gate oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell submitted to Cellardoor Winery — Second original gate painting submitted for the commission and purchased by Cellardoor. Oil painting; documented in 2015.

Detail of Iron Gate label clearly showing the artist credit Erin McGee Ferrell — Label detail: ERIN MCGEE FERRELL, Cellardoor Artist Series, Iron Gate, 2013 vintage.

Cellardoor wine bottles with Erin McGee Ferrell’s Iron Gate label on the left — Iron Gate with Ferrell’s artwork is at left. The other bottles are Pinot Noir (center) and Cielos with artwork by Allen Bunker (right).

Iron Gate wine bottle with Erin McGee Ferrell’s label beside a Cellardoor wine competition display — Iron Gate bottle and winery display. The sign refers to the wine’s competition recognition.

Brush with grapeness, Portland Press Herald, June 24, 2015, featuring Erin McGee Ferrell and the Iron Gate label — “Brush with grapeness,” Portland Press Herald, Food & Dining front page, June 24, 2015. By Bob Keyes. The online headline is “Cellardoor taps artists with Maine ties for wine labels.”

Press Herald: Ferrell’s Cellardoor wine label Cellardoor’s artist credit (PDF)Iron Gate at Cellardoor Winery Erin McGee Ferrell · ArtistAmerican.com

Lobsters

I painted hundreds of lobsters in Maine, from small studies to 4 × 6 foot mixed-media works.

I exhibited through galleries across Maine and the Maine College of Art and Design fundraiser.

Red on teal, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Red on teal

Patterned pair, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Patterned pair

Blue and gold, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Blue and gold

View more works from the Lobsters collection

Red on a geometric ground, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Red on a geometric ground

Red lobster, checkered ground, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Red lobster, checkered ground

Red on blue, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Red on blue

Red and rose, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Red and rose

Pink gestural study, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Pink gestural study

Pale blue ground, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Pale blue ground

Pink lobster, horizontal composition, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Pink lobster, horizontal composition

Blue plate and stars, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Blue plate and stars

Lobster with lemon, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Lobster with lemon

Red with blue brushwork, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Red with blue brushwork

Pink and blue, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Pink and blue

Butter and lemons, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Butter and lemons

Pink on a checkered plate, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Pink on a checkered plate

Patterned plate, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Patterned plate

Red lobster with lemon, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Red lobster with lemon

Twin lobsters, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Twin lobsters

Abstract claws, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Abstract claws

Curled red lobster, from the Lobsters series by Erin McGee Ferrell — Curled red lobster

Lobster I, an oil painting by Erin McGee Ferrell — *Lobster I*
Oil on canvas, 20 × 16 in.
Image and work record: Venn + Maker.

Lobster I at Venn + Maker Original lobster series announcement, 2014 Maine College of Art and Design

Exhibitions & press

The Art of Narrative

Greenhut Galleries, Portland · November 4–27, 2021

I exhibited my Coppélia paintings in this six-artist show. I began the series after finding an illustrated ballet book at Portland Ballet.

Exhibition and my artist statement

Convergence

Erin McGee Ferrell and Tim Beavis, Portland Art Gallery. May 4–28, 2017. Opening reception: Thursday, May 4, 5–7 p.m.

Philadelphia/Maine Urban Architectural Artist

My solo exhibition of Philadelphia and Portland paintings at the Pace Galleries of Art, Fryeburg Academy, Maine. November 8, 2014–March 13, 2015.

Selected documents. Open a thumbnail to read the full scan.

Ones to Watch

Maine Home + Design, January 2017. Edited by Brittany Cost.

Read article

Foster Children

Art Collector Maine advertisement. Old Port, January–February 2017, p. 68.

Artist interview

Art Collector Maine, p. 106. Publication date not printed on the supplied page.

Convergence invitation

Portland Art Gallery, May 2017.

Dates and reception details

Artistic Journeys

Cynthia Melendy, The Conway Daily Sun, January 31, 2015, pp. 6–7.

Read page 7

Pace Galleries invitation

Philadelphia/Maine Urban Architectural Artist, 2014–2015.

Additional articles and documents

Falmouth Small Work Holiday Sale invitation — November 7–8, year not printed.

Ones to Watch title page

Maine Home + Design, January 2017 cover

Old Port, January–February 2017 masthead

On the Job: Urban painter at easel in the city — Portland Press Herald, September 29, 2015.

Further context

Galleries, teaching, research, and community work

Painting the city and coast

I painted Portland’s alleys and fire escapes, then worked outdoors along the coast.

I often painted beside SailMaine, The Press Hotel, and the U.S. Custom House.

I participated in Paint for Preservation and the Castine Plein Air Painting Weekend. I received Best of Show at the Boothbay Harbor Fest Quick Draw in 2015.

I exhibited these paintings at Thos. Moser and Greenhut Galleries.

Galleries, exhibitions, and commissions

I worked with galleries across Maine. Current representation

Portland Ballet

I collaborated with Portland Ballet and held a solo exhibition there in 2014.

Museums and cultural service

I served as board president of the African Museum of Art and Culture in 2013. The museum added my work to its collection that year.

I was a visiting artist at the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine in 2014.

Teaching in Falmouth and at UNE

I taught drawing and painting to adults and children in Falmouth and mentored artists through the University of Southern Maine.

I developed online art courses and led workshops for Rett’s Roost and the Mitchell Institute.

I taught two-dimensional design at the University of New England from 2020 to 2023, combining AI image exercises with drawing and painting.

I continued studying painting, color, and digital media at Maine College of Art and Southern Maine Community College.

Art in health and community settings

I received a Maine Arts Commission grant in 2017 and painted at New England Cancer Specialists in 2018.

I co-authored a study of live painting during chemotherapy in 2019. I also developed the Ms. Mastectomy paper dolls and spoke at Witches Wear Pink.

I led interactive art projects with Rett’s Roost.

Painting, participation, and technology

I taught Arduino art at Portland Open Bench Maker Space and spoke at the Maine International Arts Conference in 2018. I presented at UNE’s Art and Science Symposium in 2020.

I led workshops on embedded technology and thermochromic pigments and spoke at UNE about AI in the classroom.

I continued these experiments during my Columbia University residency in December 2023.

Selected coverage

Art professor Erin McGee Ferrell isn’t afraid of AI — yet — Alan Bennett, University of New England, November 30, 2023.
UNE instructor explores cancer systems through art and science at Columbia University — Emme Demmendaal, University of New England, January 24, 2024.

Further press and features:

“Cellardoor taps artists with Maine ties for wine labels”, Portland Press Herald, June 24, 2015.
“On the Job: Urban painter at easel in the city”, Portland Press Herald, September 29, 2015.
“Ones to Watch: Five standout artists to keep your eye on”, Maine Home + Design, January 2017.
“A Healer While Healing,” Maine Sunday Telegram, April 7, 2019.
Artwork featured in Maine Home + Design, May 2021, page 68.