A rt is sometimes thought to imitate life, but what happens when art and life meet on the canvas of one man’s passion?

Maine Film & Video Association continues its Maine Film Screening Series at Frontier Café Sunday, Feb. 10, at 3 p.m. with two films, a feature, “Canvasman: The Robbie Ellis Story,” and a short, “Two’s a Crowd.”

The series began Nov. 18 as a multi-pronged approach to promote Maine films and filmmakers, Mark Ireland, a MFVA board member said. “We completely filled the theater — 80 seats — at the first show, and we expect a good turnout for this one, too,” he said.

“Canvasman: The Robbie Ellis Story,” is directed by Portland filmmaker Gary Rominov. At first glance, Rob Elowitch is the epitome of high culture: He runs Barridoff Galleries, along with his wife of 50 years, Annette Elowitch. He is a family man, immersed in art and culture who is well-respected within the Jewish community in Portland. Nobody would have guessed Elowitch lived out a completely secretive other life as a professional wrestler: a life about as polar opposite as one can get from selling Winslow Homer and Thomas Eakins master works to art collectors all over the world.

The film explores the “bomb” Elowitch dropped on his community and the results are both humorous and very touching.

“The way in which the secret comes out makes for great dramatic tension,” Ireland said.

A short film, “Two’s a Crowd,” will precede the feature. Directors Jim and Tom Isler are brothers from Maine. They have made their way to New York, where they found a very colorful NYC couple and set out to make a film about their story.

For Allen Sheinman and Collette Stallone, the answer is separate apartments, 20 blocks from each other in New York City, where the couple has lived happily for the first four years of their mid-life marriage. But when the economic downturn takes a toll on their finances, Allen and Collette are forced to cohabitate.

“Both films are quirky and funny and family-friendly. We want to show Maine films to a Maine audience. Plus there’s the value-added chance for the audience to meet the directors,” Ireland said.

“Canvasman” director Rominov and the lead character Elowitch will be on hand to introduce the film and answer questions.

The next screening in the series is planned for June. “Essentially we’re doing (one) every four months,” Ireland said. The screenings also offer an opportunity for MVFA members to meet and catch up prior to the films.

Tickets for the show are $8 for the general public and $5 for MFVA members.

For more information, visit www.mainefilm.com.

rshelly@timesrecord.com