Sea Smoke Studio

Nancy LeGendre

​​Sea Smoke Studio on Lexington Avenue in Magnolia, Gloucester, now features the vivid coastal paintings of Nancy LeGendre. Her work is rooted in the elemental trio of rocks, ocean, and sky, drawing inspiration from shifting seasons and the patterns found in clouds, water, and coastal flora. With a focus on the textures of New England’s rocky shoreline, her paintings offer both a strong sense of place and a quiet optimism, capturing the permanence of the coast while subtly acknowledging the pressures facing the natural world.

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For over a decade, LeGendre has painted the Cape Ann landscape using expressive brushwork, heightened color, and water-miscible oils on canvas or wood. She also experiments with gouache, oil paint-stix, acrylic markers, and fluorescent details that stay hidden until viewed under black light. Influenced by the vibrant art community around her, she often paints en plein air, creating work that feels grounded in tradition yet open to playful, modern techniques.