Jill Langdon
Artscapes
Thomaston Maine

 

 

I was born and raised in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, to average middle class parents. Our home was a cottage at the top of a hill at the end of a quiet street called Swan Avenue. Our acre of land was surrounded by woods. There were paths and fire-roads that wound through the woods, and Cogshall Park, which was on the other side, was my usual destination. There was a man-made lake with a gazebo that jutted out into the center. There were playground and picnic areas on the opposite side from the gazebo. My first finger paintings were of the woods, the park and my pets. I drew constantly as a child and had my first formal lessons at the Fitchburg Art Museum at the age of nine. I was exposed to pencil, conte crayons, charcoal, and pastels. My favorite subjects to draw were of the landscapes around our home and a camp where I spent my summers with my grandparents.

 

I was sent to the best high school in town to prepare for college, but not art. During my teenage years, I perfected my drawing skills through self-tutelage. Once in college, I met my husband, married, moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, and had two daughters. I didn't continue more formal instruction until I returned to college for Fine Art 10 years later. An entire new world opened up for me. I then began showing my paintings, and teaching children how to draw. I was also selling my art and being commissioned to paint other works for clients while trying to raise a family. 

 

In 1996, we attended a wedding in Rockland, Maine. As a family, we camped at Camden Hills State Park, and the rest, they say, is history... I loved the views, the woods, the hills, the ocean; everything about this area and decided to relocate here. We rented a house in Warren for two years, then a duplex in Thomaston before finding our present house.

 

I plan to show my latest paintings more extensively in the coming years and to continue teaching others the joy of painting.