Seacoast Artist Association awards ‘By The Sea’ theme show winners
EXETER — Sea vessels won the month at the Seacoast Artist Association in downtown Exeter. The SAA has announced the two winners from this month’s theme show, “By the Sea.” The show received a record-breaking 85 entries.
“I love boats and I love water,” says Best in Show winner Stephen Emery Carr about his oil painting Sloop HAWK (circa 1892). “I particularly like older boats with gaff rigged mainsails made of traditional sail cloth, and long low hulls with bowsprits that show the beautiful curves and shadows. I have not been trained as a painter. I was an Art and Architectural History major at Harvard College and looked at thousands of works by others. I also took drawing courses from Paul Rotterdam and William Reimann.” When he is not painting in Newburyport or at his camp in Maine, Carr is an Assistant Boy’s Crew Coach at Phillips Exeter Academy.
At their monthly Second Friday reception, attendees chose Michael Sconce as the People Choice award winner, for his painting Gloucester Boats #2. “I like to paint outdoors on site and I generally do my best to create a nearly finished piece before I leave,” says Sconce. “However with a more complicated design like this one, I often finish up using a photo at home. I am inspired by the vibrant community of artists here in the Seacoast and the incredible history of painting in New England, from Cape Ann to Monhegan. I have been fortunate enough to study with Todd Bonita and Dennis Poirier over the last couple years during the summer and I share the passion for oil painting with my wife, Kaitlin."
The SAA September theme show is “Autumn Splendor.” Drop off is Saturday, Aug. 28, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and all are welcome. Find the entry form, which can be filled out ahead of time, and more information at seacoastartist.org.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Seacoast Artist Association awards ‘By The Sea’ theme show winners
