Boats on End

Everywhere we look, there are Fay Shutzer paintings. Right now the Cape is full of scenes that look like something Fay would paint. There are quiet signs of life: Boats on their side, not yet stored; long shadows across the road.

These are the scenes that fueled Fay to pursue painting, following a career in psychology.

In a way, Fay's scenes are the Cape of years ago. In her artist statement, she talks about wanting to capture "the beauty of the light as well as the evocative aspects of the New England landscape" that were part of her youth.

That idea hit us recently. Fay's paintings have a serene, nostalgic quality to them. They're the New England landscapes of our memories. You can almost smell the air.

The Cape has that quality right now. The crowds are gone, but there are signs of life everywhere you look. There are people in kayaks on Duck Creek, and you can really see those long shadows across the empty roads.

Fay credits Anne Packard for pushing her into new territory by handing her a palette knife and encouraging her to take some risks. A third generation Provincetown painter, Anne knows all about the qualities of light and landscape Fay was looked to capture.

She also says it's "the irresistible pull of the paint, the magic of light and shadow, the fascination of trying to capture something elusive" that motivates her.

Whatever it is, we can't blame her for wanting to freeze it in time. We do, too.

above: Fay Shutzer "Boats on End," oil, 22" x 26"