What painters capture on canvas is as much a feeling as a scene, and that's really what draws people to their paintings. There is also a preservation instinct at work here. One thing that endears us to local scenes is their steadfastness. But we know, in the back of our minds, that change is relentless. The old library may be expanded, the general store may be sold, the ancient horse chestnut tree on Main Street may one day come down.
Art can help preserve the feeling of what once was, even if what remains is no longer the same.
Here, we profile five artists across the Cape and Islands who preserve these places beautifully. Greg Hill Entering 'Sconset Nantucket artist Greg Hill has painted the rose-covered cottages of 'Sconset, the harbor, Main Street scenes, historic houses on the sleepy little side streets just outside of town, and each of the island's famed lighthouses. Asked about his favorite subjects to paint, he names Quidnet, 'Sconset, and Brant Point, the latter landmark being one of the few he's painted several times. Hill also seeks outside streets for scenes that may be less recognizable than Main street, but that capture the feeling of Nantucket. A California native, Hill opened his own gallery in Seal Beach in 1969, but after three years he sold it, bought a camper, and traveled around the country painting.