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Summers spent in Camden Maine with
her large family meant days of sailing and introduction to the beautiful classic
sailing yachts and schooners that frequent the shores of Maine. Just down the
road in Thomaston lived a friend of her father, Andrew Wyeth. As a young girl
she was in awe of this American Master’s realist approach to painting. Although
Julia had been paintings since the age of 8 it was the early exposure to this
master, in his studio on a bright morning in June that solidified her decision
to become an artist and most specifically a realist artist. Her European born
Father furthered her exposure with trips to Europe and it’s fabulous museums.
Yearly excursions to Newport, Camden, Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard result in
her action packed oil paintings and limited edition marine prints of the
numerous classic yacht regattas of the summer season.
“Many of my favorite artists show
their incredible work in the fine art galleries of the coastal North East. It’s
a learning experience to view these beautiful works of marine art up close. John
Mecray, Christopher Blossom, Donald Demers, Michael Keane and in particular,
John Stobart, are the artists that have most influenced my decision to focus my
work on marine paintings.”
Although it is unusual to find a
woman so deeply involved in this genre of painting, Ms. O’Malley-Keyes has made
her mark as one of today’s most collected contemporary marine artists. “The sea
is in my blood” say O’Malley-Keyes. ” It seems completely natural that as a
mature artist I have focused on marine art, it feels like coming home”. Julia
has spent many years studying with noted fine artists in Europe, China, New York
City and on Cape Cod. Her unsurpassed use of vibrant color and luminosity
executed in an Old Masters' technique faithfully conveys the sense of place, the
ebb and flow and the thrill of big yacht racing.
Her original oil paintings and fine
art limited edition prints are collected extensively by private and corporate
admirers of her work in The United States, Europe and Canada. Ms. O'Malley-Keyes
was featured in the Cape Cod Life Publications issue of Cape Cod Arts, was voted
as one of the “Top 400” most influential people on Cape Cod and is regarded as
one of the most collected marine artists today. She resides in North Falmouth,
Massachusetts, where she maintains her studio and art gallery.
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