Woodneck Beach, in the Sippewisset area, is a sandy bay-side beach backed by grass-covered dunes and thousands of Rosa Rugosa. At high tide the beach is very narrow, but sandbars and shallow tidal pools make this a lovely safe place for children when the tide is out. Woodneck Beach in West Falmouth on beautiful Cape Cod is a sight to behold. June brings an abundance of fragrant blossoms of beach roses (rosa rugosa) and welcomes back locals and visitors to this peaceful little beach . There is a marsh behind the beach where you will see many of the local birds. I was inspired to paint this wonderful view by the wind blowing off of Buzzards Bay, throwing a blanket of scent of our beloved beach roses.

Classic yachts sailing on an azure sea is the visual highlight and sailor's delight of the Mediterranean sailing season between Cannes and St. Tropez.

Squeteague Harbor Beach is tucked into a quiet corner of Cataumet village in Bourne. Splash in the harbor’s calm waters with your children, or launch a small boat or kayak from the beach and explore the area by water. Either way, if you’re seeking a tranquil day by the Bay, try this town-owned hidden gem.

The wind blowing off of Nantucket Sound, the smell of salt air, and a sunny day is the perfect combination to satisfy all of the senses of every sailor fortunate enough to find themselves out on the great blue that surrounds Cape Cod.

Several years ago, I planted three Peony bushes for somebody that I deeply cared about at the time. The relationship with the person hasn’t lasted but the Peonies have. Every spring I look forward to their magnificent blooms in varying shades of fuchsia that are a signal of the coming summer season. They are short-lived but lovely while they last, a synonym of sorts that applies to both peonies and many times, the people in your life.

After a perfect day spent on one of Cape Cod's beautiful beaches, it's time to relax and unwind on your patio with the one you love. It’s cocktail time on Cape Cod!

Swans are natures true romantics. They only have one partner for their whole life and if their partner dies, they could pass away from a broken heart

Classic wooden yachts bunk side by side with newer vessels of equal beauty. But the real jewels in the crown of this local treasure are the perfectly balanced Herreshoffs anchored there. Quissett Harbor is one of my favorite places to go in the early morning while both locals and visitors alike are still tucked in their beds. The harbor water at this time of day is like glass with just a faint indication of the tides that roam in and out. The absolute peace of this setting is a creative balm that I regularly use to start my day on just the right note.

When visitors think of flowers that represent Cape Cod, Hydrangeas and Beach Roses come immediately to mind. But, one of my favorites are the lovely water lilies found in many of our local ponds. It is a sure sign of summer when you stroll through Heritage Gardens and find these beautiful aquatic flowers in bloom.

Quissett Harbor is one of my favorite places to go in the early morning while most locals and visitors are still tucked in their beds. Early in the morning you'll find a robust crew of sailors getting their gear ready for a day of sailing and hanging out on the dock at Quissett Harbor Landing. If you want to know where the fish are biting, who has just purchased a new sailboat, and the tiniest bits of local gossip, I highly recommend that you arrive at the landing around 6 AM. Bring coffee and doughnuts and a great sense of humor as you'll need them when you're chatting with the local Cape Codders that you will find there.

A painting of one of my gardens that is filled with hydrangeas. This year I was thrilled to see many hummingbirds who stopped by to feast on these lovely blue mopheads. Hydrangeas are a favorite plant on Cape Cod that blooms throughout the summer. Those of us who are fortunate enough to live on Cape Cod year-round, wait in excited anticipation for the gorgeous blooms to appear in our hydrangea gardens. We all know that it is truly summer when these multicolored sentinels of the season gift us with their lush green leaves and blooms of purple, blue, and pink.

As you drive down the back road to Woods Hole, on the right-hand side of the street, you’ll see the entrance to The National Academy of Sciences. This idyllic setting includes magnificent views of Quissett Harbor. Originally a private summer home, the land was purchased in 1884 by James Marshall, a stockbroker who lived in New York City. Now, this stunning example of 19th Century architectural design is used as a location for meetings that include some of the most brilliant scientific minds on the planet!

As much as I love the ocean, sailing, and the northeast coast, I'm also drawn to figurative painting, more precisely dance. The two young dancers that you see in this painting are best friends and have been dancing together since they were toddlers. They are both working hard towards a career with national ballet companies in the future. The inspiration and idea for the composition of this painting was apparent while I was visiting this particular ballet company and saw these two young dancers, one with her hand on the other's shoulder and quietly talking together.

There is nothing more fun when you visit Cape Cod than a day trip to Provincetown. The village is known for its diverse population and beautiful views. Bring your bicycle and take a ride on the bike path through the dunes; it's a delightful way to spend an afternoon. Five-star restaurants and unique shops abound. In the late 19th century Portuguese fishermen started to settle in the village along with a sizable community of artists who still live and paint there. I know that you will enjoy the many art galleries that feature all genres of art.

Bourne Farm, an authentic 1775 farmhouse, is listed on the National Historic Register. This beautiful property was once privately owned and a working farm. The morning light washes over the pond located to the left of the property and lights up the many trees and stone walls. The flower gardens are meticulously maintained and the farmhouse has been completely restored to its original beauty by the Falmouth Historical Society. Bourne Farm is the chosen site of many local couples where they celebrate their marriages and the start of their married lives on beautiful Cape Cod.

Teatro La Fenice is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of "the most famous and renowned landmarks in the history of Italian theatre" and in the history of opera as a whole. Especially in the 19th century, La Fenice became the site of many famous operatic premieres at which the works of several of the four major bel canto era composers – Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi – were performed.
Its name reflects its role in permitting an opera company to "rise from the ashes" despite losing the use of three theatres to fire, the first in 1774 after the city's leading house was destroyed and rebuilt but not opened until 1792; the second fire came in 1836, but rebuilding was completed within a year. However, the third fire was the result of arson. It destroyed the house in 1996 leaving only the exterior walls, but it was rebuilt and re-opened in November 2004.
It is extremely rare that one is able to gain entry to the wardrobe rooms of any opera company but in particular. Teatro La Fenice and the opera companies who perform there guard its wardrobe closely as a way to maintain a bit of surprise for the attending audiences. My good luck of access came from a dear friend of mine who is an enormous opera fan and a notable individual as he is the son of Otto Preminger and Gypsy Rose Lee. Otto and I became very close in the late 1960s while I was living in New York City and introduced me to his son Eric who has been a dear friend of mine ever since.

Sailing regattas are a New England summertime tradition. From July to early September, thrilling sailboat races take place from Nantucket to Newport every weekend. No other region quite compares to New England’s yachting community. And of all sailboat races, classic regattas – featuring vintage, wooden and Spirit of Tradition sailboats – are some of the most exciting to watch.

Classic wooden yachts bunk side by side with newer vessels of equal beauty. But the real jewels in the crown of this local treasure are the perfectly balanced Herreshoffs anchored there. Quissett Harbor is one of my favorite places to go in the early morning while both locals and visitors alike are still tucked in their beds. The harbor water at this time of day is like glass with just a faint indication of the tides that roam in and out. The absolute peace of this setting is a creative balm that I regularly use to start my day on just the right note.

Woods Hole Golf Club is a true Cape Cod classic. From its stunning new clubhouse and pro shop to the perfectly manicured greens, this private golf club is a hidden gem on the back road to Woods Hole. The 17th hole is their signature hole, as well it should be. Overlooking Buzzards Bay and "The Knob" at the entrance to Quissett Harbor, it is a stunning view on any day but especially as shown in this painting of a perfect sunny Cape Cod afternoon.

On the way to The Chartroom Restaurant, just before the turn on County Road in Cataumet, there is a beautiful and historic horse farm on the right-hand side. During the day time, you'll see a number of horses grazing peacefully and enjoying their pristine surroundings. The horse depicted in this composition is my favorite of the herd and has been featured in a number of my paintings.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez plays host to some of the most beautiful yachts from both the era of elegance and the modern-day. First run twenty-six years ago as La Nioulargue, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez gathers together modern sailboats alongside traditional yachts during the first week of October. Racers and sailing enthusiasts come from all over Europe to do battle in the bay of Saint Tropez. Tuiga, a well known classic yacht, began her long life in 1909 when she slipped into the cold Scottish waters at the boatbuilder William Fife’s yard. She had been commissioned by the Duc de Medinacelli, a close friend of the King of Spain, Alphonse XIII. William Fife designed Tuiga as a twin to the Fife-built Hispania so that the two 15-meter JI vessels were equally matched for racing purposes.

Back in the 60's, classic yachts in English Harbor had begun chartering, and the captains and crews challenged each other to a race down to Guadeloupe at the end of the charter season. From this informal race, Antigua Sailing Week was formed in 1967 and in those days all of the yachts were classic. However, over the next 24 years, the classic yachts were slowly outnumbered by the faster, sleeker modern racing yachts. A small number of classics still racing in 1987 found themselves grouped with cruising Class 3 which was less than ideal for these hard-to-maneuver full-keeled vessels. And so it came about that captains Uli Pruesse and Kenny Coombs hosted a meeting with other classic skippers onboard the magnificent schooner Aschanti of Saba and, several rums later, the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta was born.

Bordering the back road that goes by Nobska Lighthouse and into Woods Hole, you'll find a wonderful bike path with stunning views of the sea and wooded areas. A little past the turn on Surf Drive, on the left-hand side and right in front of the bike path, there is a pond. At different times of the year it is teaming with flocks of birds. I waited for days to capture this swan, part of a couple that has visited for years at the same location. On the last day, late in the afternoon that's famous for its golden light, he spread his wings and voilà! The perfect image.

The Connecticut ballet was kind enough to allow me access to their dancers during practice and rehearsals. These are incredibly talented young men and women who adore dancing and everything about it. They are committed to the beauty, discomfort, and everything else that goes along with being a professional ballet dancer. They work incredibly hard to perfect their craft and many of these dancers have gone on to dance with famous international ballets. Their love of dance and insistence on perfection was the inspiration for this painting.

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez plays host to some of the most beautiful yachts from both the era of elegance and modern-day sailing yachts bound to be classics of their time. First run twenty-six years ago as La Nioulargue, Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez gathers together modern sailboats alongside traditional yachts during the first week of October. Racers and sailing enthusiasts come from all over Europe to do battle in the bay of Saint Tropez.

Pollera is the traditional costume and folk dance of Panama. The Pollera is worn by women during festivals and the yearly competition at the Teatro National in Panama City. I lived in Panama for a number of years. While I was there the focus of my paintings became centered on the national traditional Panamanian dance called Pollera. I was commissioned by the Panama Canal Authority to create 15 paintings of their national dance form for their corporate offices in Panama City. It took me nearly five years to complete these paintings as they are highly detailed, and every aspect needs to be exact as there is a specific meaning to every detail of Pollera costuming. The headpiece decorations include tortoiseshell combs known as Peinetas and seed pearl with 18-carat gold hair decorations which are called Tembleque’s. There are 18 solid gold chains with each carrying a specific medallion around the dancer’s neck. I spent another year traveling to jewelers who only create this traditional jewelry. Another number of months was spent with women in the village of Ocú located on the Azuero Peninsula, very close to my home when I lived in Panama. For generations, the village women have created the most exquisite embroidery in the country.

Always surrounded by the sea, with a family heritage of sailing, writing, acting and painting, the O'Malley-Keyes clan of eight children were expected to choose a creative endeavor. Their father, Nial O'Malley-Keyes, was a published author and world traveler. A man who brought a feeling of zest for life to an art form, he demanded that each one of his eight children choose their creative expression. It could be acting, writing, painting, sculpting, weaving, or whatever creative endeavor that interested them; Ms. O'Malley-Keyes embraced painting. Starting in the late '60s, the artist lived in Provincetown during the summer. She spent winters in New York City, studying at the Art Students League. During her time in Provincetown, she studied with Henry Hensche, honing her skills and studying color theory. Although Ms. O'Malley Keyes is known for her highly detailed oil paintings, it is her understanding of color theory that she credits to her study with Henry Hensche. She opened her first art gallery in Provincetown in 1970 at the age of 22. The artist states that she owes the success that she has had in her artistic career to her studies with noted masters here in the United States, Europe and Shanghai. Julia has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Central America seeking out painting masters to study with and expand her knowledge of fine art. She travels yearly to study with noted Marine and Figurative painters to further hone her skills and to find continued inspiration in painting the historic yachts, local vistas, commissioned portraits and paintings that are at the center of her artistic career. "My choice of painting in the genre of contemporary realism, using an old master's technique of transparent layers of color, reflects my desire to simplify what an individual is looking at and through my work, feel that they are in the moment and a part of the painting." It is color, her intense emotional connection to the sea and her fascination with elegant sailing yachts coupled with her deep desire to "know" the people behind her highly detailed portraits that inspire her. "I want the viewer to feel the rush of water, the smell of salt air, and the joy of being on the ocean. I have chosen to paint some of the world’s most magnificent sailing yachts, as a type of historical record. Versatility and vitality encapsulate the spectrum of her subjects from elegant classic yachts to charming coastal vistas, harbors, family portraits, the beauty of Cape Cod and international destinations. As you look at Julia's paintings, the viewer can immediately see her dedication to detail, masterful use of color and composition to create a unique work of art.