Gretchen Amirault is a Nova Scotia artist who works primarily in oils. Taking her inspiration from nature and the time she spends sailing, kayaking, hiking and biking, Gretchen’s landscapes and seascapes depict the beauty of the Maritimes, and the waters that surround it.
Gretchen’s love affair with the sea started early. She grew up by the ocean in Pubnico, where she watched the sun rise over it many mornings. Today, sea, sky and the play of light on each are dominant themes in Gretchen’s art, whether she’s painting in her Tantallon studio, or working plein air in a quiet cove on the Bay. In each case she strives to evoke a sense of the place that inspired the piece she’s creating. That ‘sense of place’ comes up frequently when Gretchen shows her work and people tell her they ‘feel as if they can walk into her paintings.’
While creativity of one form or another has always been a part of Gretchen’s life, painting has become her life’s work over the past 20 years. Through self-study, courses and an enduring exploration of color, light and technique, Gretchen continues to grow and evolve as an artist. Most recently, she invested in a two-week residency at Sky and Hammer on Brier Island, where she dove deep into the art of plein air painting.
Gretchen is a member of the Crossroads Artists Group with whom she paints and exhibits, and an active member of the Peggy’s Cove Area Art Society.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT

In my paintings I am always trying to capture the feeling and the sense of light of the space. You will see that water and local landscapes are common elements in my work. I hope that the viewer will feel like they are right there standing in my scene.