John Puiia has lived these scenes his whole life. He takes rainy, nighttime ferry rides to the islands around Portland and later paints what he sees from memory. He finds inspiration in the conceptual side of the Hudson River School, particularly their focus on sublime nature. The first paintings in this series were created as album art for one of John's bands. According to John, "the music was all about reverb, subtlety, and honesty. Think Chopin nocturnes meets electric guitar."

John grew up in two towns in Maine - one known for its mills and one for its beaches. He now calls Portland home and savors the city's community of talented and friendly creatives. He will soon graduate from the University of Southern Maine with a BFA. His work has been shown in New England, including at a juried show on the USM campus. His piece received a purchase prize as well as best in show.

The original "Portland Pier" is a 16" x 12" oil painting on canvas.

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