Nautical

The ever-changing mood of the Atlantic inspires the artists of this region to create works that reflect the rugged beauty of our rocky coastline. “Nautical New England” will be on view at the Kittery Art Association from June 26 through July 20. An opening reception was held on June 29.

Also on view are works by spotlight artist Wendy Welton.

“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 breath 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

The Kittery Art Association is at 2 Walker St., Kittery. Learn more at www.kitteryartassociation.org, or call 207-451-9384 or email info@kitteryartassociation.org for more information.