Two Cape Ann Artists Win in Artwork Competition

Bill Hubbard writes-

Joey,
I recently ran an art contest on America’s largest artists website, Fine Art America for paintings of commercial fishing and guess what?  Two Cape Ann artists won First and Third Place.  Eileen Patten Oliver from Rockport came in first with a beautiful acrylic of Gloucester Harbor and Capt. Phil Cusumano took Third Place with his vibrant
oil painting, Morning on Georges Bank.  I thought you might like to give them credit on GMG and prepared the writeup below.  I’m sure Phil and Eileen and their Cape Ann Friends would like to see it.  I was certainly proud to see those fine paintings from my home port.
Bill Hubbard

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Cape Ann Artists Take First and Third Place in Commercial Fishing Boat Contest  I recently had the privilege of conducting a contest for paintings of commercial fishing boats on  Fine Art America, the world’s largest artists website.  As a
painter and a direct descendant of a Gloucester fishing captain, I am proud to see these fine paintings in the winners circle.
First Place was won by Eileen Patten Oliver of Rockport with a beautifully detailed acrylic painting of Gloucester Harbor.  Eileen has been painting in oils and acrylics in Maine and Massachusetts for over 40 years.  While she likes to paint en plein or on
te scene, she also uses photographs as painting studies.  She managed the art gallery at the West Quoddy Head Light Visitors Center in Lubec, Me for several seasons, has taught Adult Education classes, studied with Paul Shea, Peter Nyren and Constantine Sqouras and took a class at Mass College of Art but, is predominantly self-taught.  She lives in Rockport, Ma with her husband, James Oliver, ho is also an accomplished painter, illustrator and print maker.  Eileen is a member of the Newburyport Art Association
Third Place was one by Capt. Phil Cusumano with his vibrant oil painting Early Morning on Georges Bank,  Phil, a marine artist and sea captain, has lived the life of his subject matter, commercial fishing. His work documents the fishing industry from the era of the tall ships to the present day. His images range from life aboard a modern day fishing dragger, to the Gloucester skyline in 1905. 
Born and raised in Gloucester, MA Phil has had a long love affair with the ocean. His father owned and operated commercial fishing vessels in Gloucester for fifty years. At the early age of thirteen, Phil started fishing during summer vacations on his father’s commercial draggers. He graduated from Gloucester High School in 1969 and fished full time on his father’s boats. “But I was always drawing, even out at sea”.  He honed his artistic skills when he studied for three years at the Vesper George School of Art in Boston and graduated in 1974. As part of commercial and design programs he learned  about how to incorporate design composition and illustration in his work. From 1972-1988 he worked primarily in watercolors influenced by his study with internationally know Rockport artist, John Terelak. 
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