Max's story:

 I love my hometown, and when I was 10 I started drawing the landmark images that make Hingham home to me.  In 2019, I started painting landscape and animal pieces. I was inspired to draw/paint by a dear family friend, Diana Coyle.  Mrs. Coyle used to make beach calendars of her summer home in Marshfield MA.  I loved Mrs. Coyle like a grandmother and sadly she passed away from brain cancer in 2016.  

I wanted to honor her by painting and drawing beautiful images and turning them into calendars and notecards like she did. I have been fortunate enough to sell my stationary around Hingham at many retailers, and from the money I made I have been able to make a donation towards cancer research in Mrs. Coyle’s name every year.  

Still wanting to do more good with my art;

•  I was able to make a donation to Boston Children’s Hospital in memory of my friend who passed away from cancer in 5th grade. 

•  I have donated numerous packs of my cards to Hingham soldiers that are serving overseas.

•  I created a custom card for Jack Connors and Camp Harborview that they used to thank families for donating to those in need at the holidays.  

• I started a "love letter" writing project during March of 2020 to spread love and hope to all those in isolation and feeling stress during quarentine.  I hand wrote over 200 letters to complete strangers telling them to stay strong and that they are loved and appreciated.  Many of the "love letter" recipients have become pen pals with me, and I cherish that! 

• in the summer of 2021 I was nomiated and recieved the Kurt Giessler award for achievment.  I was so honored to be even considered for this award! 

• In 2022 I was a recipient of the Rob Cunningham Foundation Scholarship, I was so proud to recieve this award in memory of a fellow BC High man of others.

• Fall of 2022 I donated an auction item of a custom painting to help raise money for The Trustees of Reservation (Weir River Farm) in Hingham.  My item helped to raise hundreds of dollars.

• Winter of 2022 I designed a custom religious holiday card for Boston College high school.  It was sent to hundreds of alumni and donors to the school.

• In 2023 I started a penpal project in my hometown.  The residents of a memory care facility in Norwell (The Cordwainer) are writing to 5th grade students at Plymouth River School (my elementry school).  They are exchanging letters on a special stationary that I designed for the project. I am hoping that many happy memories are created through the power of letters.

You see I feel as though my artwork has allowed me to make a small difference in the world…it has allowed me to connect with people all over the country and the world.  I am only 16 years old, but I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I have been given through art.

It brings me joy to think people smile when they see my art , I have been told that in this “world of electronics” people love how unexpected it is to receive a personal hand written note card….maybe I am helping to reconnect people in some small way.