Martha Quigley Paints Seashells From the Seashore.

Marblehead, Massachusetts artist, Martha Quigley, makes her living from the sea. Not fishing or lobstering, but instead she finds inspiration for her paintings from the colors of the ocean and the shore.

“These new watercolors are created from shells I’ve collected over the years. Each one holds a special memory of the place it was found, or from whom it was a gift! Lately I’ve been playing with more and more underwater themes. I love the idea of seeing shells on the sandy bottom through crystal clear ocean water. “

Martha has always felt a real connection with the ocean. She started painting seaside subjects from the time she picked up a brush as a young child. “I was born under a water sign and as a 5-year-old, I told people I wanted to be a mermaid when I grew up.”

Shells are among Martha’s favorite subjects because of their repetitive nature and endless variety. She’s tried many times to expand her palette, which favors cool sky and ocean colors, into earth tones, but keeps coming back to the colors she prefers of the sea!  Martha works in either oil or watercolor depending on her mood. "Watercolors are so immediately rewarding, while an oil painting can take much longer but is a very forgiving medium."

People often send Martha their favorite shells for a custom painting. Her artwork is collected by lovers of the sea all over the U.S. (O.K., mostly coastal U.S.!) as well as in Europe and Asia. She participates in several juried Art Festivals each year in the coastal New England area and will soon post a schedule on her virtual gallery website. You can visit Martha’s website and see her work at http://www.landfallgallery.com/