An artist with a 50-year relationship with the Boothbay region saw his painting be the top item sold on July 30 during the Points of View Art Auction.

Long-time East Boothbay summer resident Donald Demers’ painting, “Reaching Along Mount Desert,” was sold for $16,000. The auction’s organizer wished to keep the top donor’s name anonymous, according to Skye Wood, development and outreach manager of the Boothbay Region Land Trust.

The auction is held every four years and all proceeds go to the Boothbay Region Land Trust. This year, 62 artists donated works, and along with three private donations, BRLT raised $62,625. The auction included paintings, sculptures, jewelry and photography. The auction drew 200 patrons to the Spruce Point Inn in Boothbay Harbor who each paid the $75 ticket price. In total, 72 donated items were sold, according to auction organizers.

Demers’ piece was the auction’s main attraction. The Massachusetts native now lives in Eliot. He first came to East Boothbay in the 1960s to spend summers with his grandparents. This is the fourth painting he has donated to the auction. Two pieces are what organizers describe as “significant works.”

This year’s donation was a 24 by 36-inch framed oil on linen painting. Demers painted three International One Designs (a 1930s style boat) sailing into Mount Desert Island.

Demers’ connection to the Boothbay Region Land Trust began in 1970 through his friendship with Ruth McKee, one of the organization’s founders.

“I had that initial connection to the land trust through Ruth,” Demers said. “I’ve also been around the area a lot. I’ve wandered around the landscape for years, so I kinda know how important preserving the land.”

Demers was also this year’s auction honorary co-chairman. A professional artist since 1980, he began his passion for painting marine art as a child, By the time he was 9, Demers began painting the schooners arriving during Windjammer Days.

“After that I was hooked and became fascinated with marine art,” Demers said.

The auction was co-chaired by Kathleen Jones and Kathleen Kennedy. The pair, along with six or seven committee members, began preparing for the auction in January.

Jones was also pleased with the auction’s preparation and turnout.

“We had a goal of selling 200 tickets and that’s what we did. It shows that people really love the Boothbay Region Land Trust and local art,” she said.

The auctioneers were Kaja Veilleux and John P. Bottero, who own the Thomaston Place Auction Gallery in Thomaston.

Founded in 1980, BRLT is a nonprofit organization working to conserve the natural beauty and character of the region. The trust provides over 30 miles of pet friendly hiking trails open year round in the towns of Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Edgecomb and Southport.