Nantucket as Art

Nantucket artist Edwin Rudd describes himself as “an artist on Nantucket” rather than an artist painting on Nantucket.  Seems like a very fine line until you think about the difference between depicting a place you’ve visited and one with which you’re intimately familiar.  Rudd has enjoyed a relationship with Nantucket all his life, and for the past seven years has called the island home.

“I explore and find new subjects to paint, trying to have a fresh view...” Rudd explained.  “I walk around early in the morning before much is happening—it’s my thinking time—and see what captures my interest...Last year I did a housepainters series.”  This housepainter series was one of the most talked-about of the season.  Each piece featured a common sight on Nantucket painted with studies of light and shadow, “light against dark, warm color against cool, detail against no details,” Rudd said as he described his watercolor paintings.  “Harmony between the people and the surroundings...I like the spontaneity and looseness of watercolor.”

His style is part representational and part impressionistic.  Rudd tried to capture in words what he so beautifully captures on canvas: “I strive for [my painting] to be a piece of artwork... I try to move away from the polished and capture the feeling of the moment... try to make people see a little differently.”

This year, Rudd painted a mural for the Nantucket Life Saving Museum and is working on paintings inspired by “every day occurrences from the top of Main Street on a long line past Coatue.”  In each piece, the setting is real, but many of the details are from Rudd’s memory and imagination. 
Rudd’s work will be exhibited at The Gallery at 35 Main through September 6th, with an opening reception from 6 to 8 pm this Friday, August 19.  In addition to Rudd’s watercolors, this exhibit includes the work of Peter Layne Arguimbau. Both artists will be present to meet guests and discuss their work.