BELFAST — A ten-by-five-foot oil painting of Belfast Bay now sits just inside the second floor entry-way of the newly opened Waldo Judicial Center in Belfast.

The painting, titled “The Day Begins,” by Searsport artist Peter Yesis is one of several works of art commissioned by the Maine Arts Commission as part of the One Percent for Art program to adorn the new building.

The Commission sought imagery that would inspire reflection and renewal. Yesis chose the view of Belfast Bay at sunrise from the upper bridge.

“The confluence of the Passagassawakeag River and the Penobscot Bay has been the centerpiece and lifeblood of Belfast and surrounding Waldo County for centuries – for indigenous nations, settlers and modern residents,” said Yesis, in a news release. “Belfast Bay is a point of pride, history and sustenance for the community and an icon for Waldo County where people are drawn to work, to rejuvenate and to relax.”

The artist made the painting large to allow the viewer to feel part of the scene.

“I hope that people will be able to imagine themselves in it, and find it familiar and comfortable,” he said.

Yesis is a professional fine artist working from his home studio in Searsport. He paints seascapes, landscapes, wildlife, still-lifes and figuratives in oils in a soft realistic style and exhibits his work in Maine and throughout New England.  

His work can be found at www.peteryesisart.com.