Spotlight on Eileen Patten Oliver
Eileen, a relative newcomer to Cape Ann, was born and lived her first 40 years in Waltham, MA. After a few years in the Plymouth area, caring for her mother, she and her family moved in 1998 to Lubec, Maine (the quintessential coastal Maine fishing village and home of West Quoddy Head Light). Eileen loved Maine and planned to live there for the rest of her life, even after her marriage ended. Fate however intervened! The first time the man who would become her new husband brought her to his home on Cape Ann, she instantly fell in love. Although she wasn’t too sure about him yet, she was totally smitten with this place. She remembers saying to him as they drove past Folly Cove that she wished she could just wrap the whole place up in a box and take it home with her. Their relationship blossomed over the following months with places like Rocky Neck, Lanes Cove, Flat Rocks, Halibut Point, and Bearskin Neck as the backdrop. Finally they decided that the long distance aspect of their romance was too hard and she left Maine behind, starting her new life in a place that prior to meeting him she barely knew.
At that point she wasn’t painting much, but found herself so inspired by the atmosphere, the galleries, and other wonderful Cape Ann artists that she picked it up again. In the three years since moving here, she hasn’t stopped for more than a few days at a time. The fact that her husband, James Oliver, is also an artist, gives her a kindred spirit to share the process with, and he encourages and inspires her every single day.
You can see more of Eileen’s work at The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck, 6 Wonson Street, East Gloucester during the Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival
Saturdays and Sundays, Noon-4 PM
November 30 – December 29
and look for her during one of the fun parties:
Friday, November 29, 5-7 PM Gala First Choice Preview Party
Saturday, December 7, 2-4 PM High Tea
Sunday, December 15, 3-5 PM Happy Hour
Saturday, December 21, 2-4 PM Winter Solstice Party
Sunday, December 29, 2-4 PM Pre New Year’s Party
http://www.rockyneckartcolony.org/winter.php
E.J. Lefavour
Good Morning Gloucester 
I love Eileen’s paintings.
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Hi Katheleen, then make sure you come to the holiday festival – there is an amazing array of beautiful things.
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Eileen is also doing a show by appointment, at our place of residence in Bay View beginning Dec. 7th.. Feel free to call if you would like to see more & purchase art at the lowest prices available, when going directly through the artist! Jim 🙂
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Wow. Very talented, gifted painter. (I’ve said this before but this series is genius!) Love it.
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Very nice indeed both displayed examples are divine 🙂
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I am a proud owner of a painting of West Quoddy Head Lamp by Eileen. I found out it was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson and overlooks Fundy Bay. You can go no further East in these United States . I wish Eileen and Jim the best of luck in their showings.
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Thank you, all, for your kind words! The Rocky Neck Holiday Art & Fine Crafts Festival looks to be a really special event and I hope everyone takes the opportunity to come out and see the fine work of all of the artisans that are participating.
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