Rugged beauty, both textural and smooth, are woven into the harbors and deep waters of the timeless coastal views. The ever changing mood of the Atlantic feeds the creators of this area to make art that is both familiar and unique. Nautical New England is on view at The Kittery Art Association from June 26th through July 20th, 2025.
Opening Reception: Sunday, June 29th from 5-7pm.
Also on View: Works by Spotlight Artist Wendy Welton
“Hi, I'm Wendy. As the youngest child of an artist/sculptor and carpenter father and a photographer/journalist mother, the creative impulse was ingrained from the start. Architecture provided a very satisfying outlet (and a roof over my head) for many many years, for which I'm exceedingly grateful. But Fine Art always called my name. I took my first step in that direction in 2016 - with a week long workshop. I was instantly hooked. I’ve recently transitioned to pursuing art full time.
Painting is my free passion, where I don't need permission to express a strawberry sky if that's what I see, or imagine. And the way I see that is often in my dreams. My most satisfying practice is to paint en plein air. That painting has a life. Then I paint again using that painting as a source. The act of re-seeing it simply from the painting embeds it in me and then I wait for the dreams. If I'm patient (and eat my vegetables), new paintings show up in my dreams, waiting for me to give them life.
My Art is about the essence in between what some think of as the "subject" of a painting. Not the thingness of things, but all the intangibles that knit life together. A color can remind you what the temperature was that day. A texture can evoke the feel of the air. I'm looking to communicate that moment when you first glance and something makes you catch your breathe in wonder. In that moment you don't have time to analyze this form, that detail - any specific Thing. You can only absorb the mood of the whole. That's what I'm looking to capture.” - Wendy Welton
Awards:
BoldBrush - Top Ten Finalist (out of 2552 entries) August 2022
Rockport Art Association Quick Creations (a plein air competition) First Place - May 2021
BoldBrush "Fav15" (the top 15% as selected by staff ) June 2020, October 2023, April 2024, March 2024
Art Intake for Exhibiting Members: Monday, June 23rd from 2-6pm in the gallery. Please read our 2025 All Member Exhibit submission guidelines and download your artist contract here: www.kitteryartassociation.org/submission-guidelines