Kerrin is a multidisciplinary artist who focuses on “fresh air” painting, studio works and murals. Her work explores concepts of space, time and memory. Kerrin grew up in the small town of Sterling, Massachusetts where she spent much of her childhood outdoors. Creating art and spending lots of her time outside has shaped Kerrin’s artistic vision. Similar to the natural world, her work is often layered with color and texture. Kerrin regularly makes work in both oil and water based paints.
Kerrin attended The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth and graduated with a BFA in Art Education. She taught public high school in Massachusetts for several years before moving to California to pursue her graduate degree. Kerrin received her MFA from The Academy of Art University in San Francisco. She moved to New York City and became a member of The Society of Illustrators in New York and she was also represented by Agora Gallery in Soho. She moved to Maine in 2006 to live and work by the ocean. Kerrin loves public art and she has collaborated on public mural projects around the Portland area. She continues to paint in her studio and plein air along the coast of Maine and beyond.
Kerrin loves teaching and has taught intermittently over the past 25 years. She most recently taught Painting and Drawing within The Continuing Studies Program at Maine College of Art and Design.
K e r r i n P a r k i n s o n
Artist and Educator
1995 BFA in Art Education, The University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth
2000 MFA in Illustration, MFA Valedictorian, The Academy of Art University, San Francisco, CA
Experience
1995 -present Freelance Artist
Clients: Eco Maine, Lawson's Finest Liquids, Nada Brama Records, The City of Portland, Britt Connors Music, Henry and Fran Brewing Company, High Fives Foundation, Environomics Co., South Portland Public Schools, Sonic Explorers and many private collectors
2012-2019 Painting and Drawing Educator
Maine College of Art Continuing Studies, Pre-College and Youth Programs
classes taught: Perspective in Painting, Beginner Painting, Quick Studies: Drawing and Painting, Painting the True You, Basic Drawing, Figure Drawing, Portfolio Drawing, Painting Exploration, Painting Portland Plein Air, Painting Wildflowers: Plein Air workshop collaboration with Maine Botanical Gardens, Learning to Love to Draw, Observational Drawing and Narrative Painting
1995-1999 High School Art Teacher and Art Director
developed and taught curriculum: Acrylic Painting, Color Theory, Drawing, Ceramics, Illustration and Portfolio Development
Gallery Shows and Projects
2024 Ocean House Gallery, Holiday Show, (Opening: November 23rd from 2-5pm)
2024 Taking Flight, Maine Audubon Group Show, Falmouth, Maine, (November 20-January 6th)
2024 Maine Needs, Art for Opportunity Auction, Portland, Maine
2024 Gisland at 50, Maine Audubon Group Show, Falmouth, Maine
2024 MECA Collect, Group Exhibition and Fundraiser for student scholarships, ICA, Maine College of Art
2023 Artescope: Plein Air Festival and Wet Paint Auction, Yarmouth, Maine
2023 Brush with Nature Auction Gisland Farm, Falmouth, Maine
2023 MECA Collect, Group Exhibition and Fundraiser for student scholarships, ICA, Maine College of Art
2023 Vacationland, Group Show at Ocean House Gallery, South Portland, Maine
2023 82 Parris: House Warming, Group Show, Portland, Maine
2022 12: A Small Art Show, Maine Audubon, Gisland Farm, Falmouth , Maine
2022 Holiday Show, Ocean House Gallery, South Portland, Maine
2022 Brush with Nature, Plein Air Auction, Maine Audubon
2022 Mural Project: Flowers for Ukraine, Portland, Maine
2022 Summer Collect, ICA, Maine College of Art and Design, Portland
2022 Solo Show at The Maine Audubon, July/August, Falmouth, Maine
2021 New Systems Exhibitions, Laundry Day, Portland, Maine
2021 Maine Audubon, Brush with Nature Plein Air Auction, Maine
2021 The You Are Not Alone Public Mural Project, Portland, Maine
2021 Harlow Annual Juried Exhibition, Hallowell, Maine
2021 Summer Collect, ICA, Maine College of Art, Portland, Maine
2020 “Let Equality Shine” Public Mural Project, Portland, Maine
2020- 2021 Ocean House Gallery, Holiday Show, Cape Elizabeth, ME
2020 New Systems Exhibitions, Laundry Day 2 Auction, Portland, ME
2020 River Arts, Storm Show, group Exhibition, Midcoast, ME
2019 Solo Show: Autonomy at The Francis Hotel, Portland, ME
2019 Utility Box Project, Pearl Street, Portland, ME
2019 Ocean House Gallery, Holiday Show, Cape Elizabeth, ME
2019 New Systems Exhibitions, Laundry Day Auction, Portland, ME
2019 Yarmouth Arts Festival, Yarmouth, ME
2019 Harlow Gallery, Women and Environment, Hallowell, ME
2018 Painting Westbrook: Plein Air Show, Westbrook ME
2018 Ocean House Gallery, Holiday Show, Cape Elizabeth, ME
2018 Yarmouth Art Festival, Yarmouth, ME
2017 2 Person Show with Patricia Ritzo at Lifeworks, Falmouth, ME
2017 Ocean House Gallery, Holiday Show, Cape Elizabeth, ME
2017 October: Yarmouth Arts Festival, Yarmouth ME
2017 Continuum for Creativity, Plein Air Exhibition, Westbrook, ME
2017 MECA Continuing Studies, Create VI, Portland, ME
2017 Kathryn Townsend Gallery, Recent Days, Solo Show, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
2017 Ocean and D, ongoing works in the shop, South Portland, Maine
2016 Ocean House Gallery, Holiday Show and ongoing small works in the gallery, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
2016 River Arts Gallery, Small Works Show, Damariscotta, Maine
2016 Utility Box Project, Maine Arts Commission, Congress Square, Portland, Maine
2016 Yarmouth Arts Festival, Yarmouth, Maine
2016 Continuum for Creativity, Plein Air Exhibition, Westbrook, Maine
2016 Norway Arts Festival, Exhibition and Plein Air Demonstrator
2016 MECA Continuing Studies Exhibition, Create V, Portland, Maine
2016 University of Maine, Group Exhibitionwith the Plein Air Painters of Maine, Presque Isle, Maine
2015 Space Gallery, Free for All Exhibit, Portland, Maine
2015 Ocean House Gallery and Frame, Holiday Show and ongoing small works in the gallery, Cape Elizabeth, Maine
2015 Boothbay Regional Art Foundation's "Art in Maine" Exhibition, Boothbay Harbor, Maine
2015 University of New England and Greater Portland Landmark's Plein Air Demonstration and Auction, Portland, Maine
See Kerrin's "Artist Statement"