Have you been hunting for seashells at the beach? Seen any mermaids lately? August at The Green Phoenix gallery brings you both, with a wide array of whimsical beach and mermaid- themed creations by artist Maggii Sarfaty.

According to Maggii, “I have always been an artist. My mother and grandmother were as well. They taught me to appreciate beauty and nature. As a little girl I played by the river, swam like a fish and painted and drew daily. I’d spend hours crafting little treasures from my beach combing finds. I studied at the Maryland Institute College of Art. In 1990, I started my decorative painting business, specializing in murals, trompe l’oeil and painted furniture while simultaneously raising my three wonderful children with my husband Dave. The past seven years, I have been the Art Director for Talbot County Schools’ musical productions, where twice a year I enjoy the challenge of creating Broadway-worthy sets, props and costumes on a shoestring budget.”

She adds, “Recently, health issues have led me back to fine art. Now, I paint both in plein air and in studio, and work in oil, watercolor, gouache, paper-mâché, fiber art and mixed media assemblage. I still search for treasure at the beach. I see a boat hull in a piece of driftwood, a mermaid’s tail in a scrap of silk. Those early childhood lessons in observation were invaluable and have made me the artist I am today.”

In addition to Maggii’s very popular large and small mermaids, beautiful seashell boxes and tiaras, and one-of-a-kind driftwood boats with sails made from maps of the Chesapeake Bay, she will have a special First Friday display of her Seashell Doll House – completely covered in hand collected shells – a prize winner in the 2018 Sanibel Shell Show in Florida.

“Our world is full of wonder and beauty,” says Maggii. “I am making my mission to capture all I see. If the viewer feels some of the joy I felt during the process, I have done my job.”

Gallery owner Andi Tassencourt invites the public to The Green Phoenix on First Friday, August 3, from 5 to 8 p.m., to meet Maggii, see her newest works, and to enjoy some wine, finger foods, good company and conversation.

Says Andi, “The inspiring qualities of Maggii’s creations are a wonderful complement to the international flavor of hand crafted works by our Fair Trade artisans, in combination with our eclectic mix of fine, artisanal crafts by local artists, and oil paintings by Diane DuBois Mullaly. All come together to offer an environment with a full range of creative arts for the community to enjoy.”

And Frivolous Fibers Yarn Boutique, located inside The Green Phoenix Gallery, adds even more interest, featuring a new collection of its own line of gorgeous, hand-spun, and hand-dyed yarns.

The Green Phoenix Gallery is located at 31 North Harrison Street in Easton. It is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 410-822-7554 or visit www.facebook.com/greenphoenixgallery.