FOF artist  Naomi Lees-Maiberg is giving away "For My Love," a luxe print of her original oil painting. Enter to win by answering in the comments below: What was the last piece of art you purchased?

Six years ago, FOF artist Naomi Lees-Mailberg and her husband left their frenzied metropolitan lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, for an abandoned farm house in coastal Maine.

For 25 years, Naomi was an illustrator for major magazines and newspapers in Israel, all while she raised three children, taught drawing at a college and showed her art in galleries. "It was a crazy life--deadlines until 2 in the morning, two cell phones, two land lines." Now, she spends her days painting from her quiet, scenic studio, which has breathtaking views of Acadia National Park. Here we chat with Naomi about her major move after 50 and what inspires her and her now. (See more of her pieces in the FOF Shop!)

What did your friends  say when you decided to leave Israel?
It was shocking--no one believed we were going, but we plunged into it, thinking Maine would be a nice place to grow older. It's dead silent out here but it's really beautiful. I totally recommend doing something like this to people living a crazy life.

Why did you choose to move to coastal Maine?
My children were going to college in the United States. Also, my sister and her husband moved to Maine, and I'd visit every summer. Each year, it became harder and harder to leave. Finally, my husband and I bought a 1830s farmhouse on 16 acres. Much of the house is built from old ships.

What inspires your work?
My surroundings--the landscape. For the items that I sell such as "For My Love," (a painting of rose petals) I look for things that would be universally appealing. These were painted from roses in my own garden. I have also done more abstract paintings, and I've even done performance art.

What mediums do you paint in?
A lot of watercolor, but I also do acrylic and oil.

What kind of paper do you print on?
I use the best paper I can--Entrada. It's really soft, so the prints look like originals.  I can also print on canvas and have them stretched on a frame.

Where do you sell?
A local gallery, and now, the FOF Shop.



Enter to win "For My Love," a print from Naomi's original oil painting, by answering in the comments below: What was the last piece of art you purchased?

One FOF will win. (See all our past winners, here.) (See official rules, here.) Contest closes February 16, 2012 at midnight E.S.T.

Thank you for entering. This contest is now closed.