Every month or so the Central Lincoln County (CLC) YMCA features a new artist in its facility near the seating areas between the front entrance and Farms at the Y. This new installation will be installed for your viewing pleasure on Dec. 15 and will be up until mid-February. 

This month our new artist will be classically trained representational artist, Laura Darnell who specializes in portraits and figurative works. 

Whether working in the studio or in nature, Darnell captures her subjects using a sensitive eye towards mood and detail. Primarily working with oil on canvas, her brush strokes are described as bold and purposeful yet evoke a magical quality.  She utilizes primarily natural light whether it’s working with children for a portrait or in nature. Darnell works to convey her subjects’ personalities highlighting their subtleties through her extraordinary eye to detail and color.

Darnell finds inspiration from her faith and family.  She is a graduate of UCLA and has studied at ateliers from Florence to Los Angeles.  Spending many years studying the masters and embracing their classical techniques, she can work in everything from a painterly, impressionistic style to classic portraiture.  Her works cover subjects from her travels throughout Europe, South America and the U.S. 

Laura Darnell currently residing on the east coast and can be found painting from Maine to Florida.

The CLC YMCA, at 525 Main St., Damariscotta, is a key collaborative leader improving the quality of life for all by being the champion for youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. For more information about any of the Y's programs and events, visit clcymca.org