The rugged beauty of New England is found from harbor to mountain, in mighty pine forests to rolling fields and farms. Beautiful New England is on view at the KAA from June 18th through July 5th, 2026.
Opening Reception: Sunday, June 21st from 5-7pm
Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Deena S. Ball
Deena's passion for nature, science, and art converges when she paints outdoors. Intrigued by the natural world, she is a perpetual student of nature. Through her paintings, she aspires to make others see, appreciate, and preserve the beauty of our environment.
Deena is nationally renowned for her landscape paintings, which are known for their innovative use of watercolors in combination with textured ground and specialized surfaces. Recently, She has also started painting in oils on copper panels. The majority of her work is painted Plein Air or derived from sketches and observations while she is immersed in nature. Her goal is to create simple but expressive paintings inspired by nature, capturing a moment in time and striking an emotional chord with the viewer.
Deena earned her BA in Art History and Studio Art from Colby College in Waterville, Maine. She furthered her studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and Tyler School of Art. After her formal education, Deena participated in numerous workshops and studied under the late Domenic DiStephano.
Deena was represented by the Richard Boyd Art Gallery in Portland, Maine and North Light Gallery in Belfast, Maine. She has had two solo shows at Richard Boyd Art Gallery- 2024, Maine Moods and in August 2025, Natural Forces. In April 2023, she concluded her Falmouth Land Trust Project with a solo show at the Falmouth Memorial Library.
Recently, Deena has won several awards. “Power” a watercolor of Giant’s Staircase in Harpswell was selected for the International Exhibit FabrianoInAcquarello 2026. She was designated as one of eight USA “ New Talent Artists.” Her painting "Exuberance" was selected as the Floral Honorable Mention recipient for the 2024 August Plein Air Salon Art Competition. She received the Jurors Award for the painting “Rushing In” at the Maine Art Gallery event Paint It! Wiscasset 2024.
Furthermore, her paintings have been showcased in several esteemed juried watercolor society shows, both online and in-person. These include the Philadelphia Watercolor Society, New England Watercolor Society, Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, Green Mountain Watercolor, National Watercolor Society, and the American Watercolor Society.
Deena's work has also been part of exhibitions at the Randy Higbee Gallery in California, the 35th Northern National Competition in Wisconsin, the Maine Art Gallery, and Northwind Fine Arts in New York. Other notable showcases include the "Back to Nature 2021, A Landscape Painters Invitational" in Wayne, PA, the "Great American Paint In - Cero Gallery" in Florida, and the American Impressionist Society Member Exhibition.
As an engaged teaching artist for both adults and children, Deena seeks to share her passion for creativity and nature. She is frequently invited to lead workshops and presentations for artists' groups, non-profit organizations, and public schools. These engagements take the form of both online presentations and in-person classes. Additionally, through her studio, she offers a series of online classes that draw participants from across the country.
Deena served as the former president of the Philadelphia Watercolor Society and co-founded LandArt Events, a non-profit organization where she also acted as the Artistic Director. This organization hosted Farm to Table Plein Air events. Deena has dedicated herself to fostering connections among artists, providing opportunities for them, and facilitating public interaction with the artistic community. She founded the Falmouth Open Studio tour which is going into its’ fourth year in 2026.
Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, June 15th from 2-6pm.
Please read our 2026 Submission Guidelines and download your artist contract HERE.