Desiree Dubois

41 South Factory St.

Skowhegan, ME

I have been drawing and painting since I was three years old. Art is as important to me as breathing. People and horses were the subjects of my early work. I preferred sketching in pencil or charcoal, then moved on to painting when I started working as a scenic painter at Lakewood Theater in 1999. I learned a lot about texture and painting on a larger scale. I used a dry brush technique which I learned from an old school technical director. I worked in the summer at Lakewood Theater off and on until 2013, painting for such shows as 'The Secret Garden', 'Wuthering Heights', 'Sarah Plain and Tall' and 'Bye Bye Birdie' just to name a few. I also worked as the scenic painter for the Waterville Opera House's productions of 'Jekyl and Hyde', 'Scrooge' and 'Spamalot'. For now, I have left the theater but hope to return someday when time allows.

My work with stone began as a spiritual journey back in 2004. Growing up, my parents allowed me much freedom to explore the woods and wild fields of Cornville and Athens both on foot and on horseback. I felt such a connection to nature, so at peace when I was alone in the woods or a field. My love of the outdoors continued into adulthood and on one spring day in 2004 as I walked my dog on a trail behind my house I noticed a rock that seemed to call to me. It had a very distinct shape that echoed the silhouette of a human face. I ignored it at first and decided to pass by then spotted it again on my way back through the trail. I stopped, picked it up and brought it home. Later that evening I examined it and truly saw the features of a human face in the rock. I proceeded to set up my paints and painted the face I saw onto the stone.

My first 'stone person' was quite crude but it sparked what would become a 12-year spiritual connection with rocks. I began to travel the state of Maine hunting for more stones with facial features that I could bring to life with paint. Over the years I have strived to make the paint and stone blend in a way that creates the illusion of a three dimensional realistically humanoid 'being'. Many people have to touch my work to believe that it isn't carved stone. I enjoy being able to bring out the essence, the spirit of the stones I work with. It is wonderful and humbling to take something directly from nature and to accentuate its beauty so that others may cherish it. I feel very connected to the earth both when I paint and when I search the beaches and woods of Maine for the stones. I collect only the stones that call to me, trusting my gut instinct.