Tom’s artistic ability goes far beyond painting. He is a lifelong artist, award winning wood carver, children’s book author and illustrator, storyteller, poet, and musician.
A Maine native, Merriam began carving at the age of 12, and worked in the family business carving log benches. He graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music as a Piano Technician, and began working as a piano repairman and tuner. Carving in his spare time, Merriam began creating commissioned carvings.
Merriam is also a self-taught watercolorist who studied under George Carpenter, the last member of the Whiskey Watercolor Association. Nature inspires much of his art- Maine’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife department has even commissioned art of Tom’s.
Watch him create and tell his magic tales while enjoying the gardens and the amazing collection of American art at the Harvest Gold Gallery. For more information call (207)925-6502 and check the website www.harvestgoldgallery.com Located on route 5 just north of the Center Lovell Market.
Join us for another spirited plein air on the lawn, with the special addition of a silk batik (silk relief painting) demonstration from Megan Reiniger of Maple Sugar Studios!
In a slight departure from our usual shares of paintings and jewelry (though is it? Harvest Gold has it all...) we have a wonderful new artist in the gallery to share with you: Arlene Tift!
Arlene Tift was born in Montreal to artistic parents and was early on immersed in the world of Quebec artisans. After moving to Ontario, she learned to weave and created numerous tapestries.
In the 1970s, her journey took her to Hong Kong, where she helped design and produce knitwear and outerwear, a practice she continued in Ireland, working with traditional Donegal tweeds.
In the 1980s, Arlene relocated to New York, her passion for textiles led her to study Textile Technology at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), where she learned to work with knitting machines. In 2018, Arlene discovered rug hooking when she encountered hooked rugs on display at Northern Westchester Hospital.
We have four brand new pieces of hers in varying sizes and color palettes, so come on down to Harvest Gold to take a peek at these cozy scenes. And who knows... bring one home?