A lifelong Cape Cod “summer girl,” Clara Clough has been enamored with the region’s coastal vistas for as long as she can remember. She reminisces, “I have always been in awe of the Cape for its beautiful landscapes, steep dunes, hydrangeas, architecture and vibrant summer culture.” Perhaps her destiny as an artist was written in the sand, as she was forever drawing or painting as a child—following in her mother’s footsteps, who is also an artist. Her family recognized her affinity for creating art and encouraged every step along her path, beginning with summer art camp, trips to the Museum of Fine Arts until attending Massachusetts College of Art and Design. 

For Clough, life experiences and her observations of the often picturesque environments around her serve as her muse. Most of her recent work is in watercolor or acrylic, though she enjoys oils the most, adding, “Each medium has its own ritual—the way the paints blend, how the surfaces absorb the paint, the brush techniques—the variety is exciting to me.” 

Like an architect conceptualizes and plans before the vision comes to life, Clough’s process takes careful consideration and time. She begins with a sketch, mapping out composition and dimensions which then become a full-scale drawing onto a surface, which may be as common as a canvas or as unpredictable as a champagne bottle. She then envisions the painted version and her color palette. She explains, “The most time-consuming part is creating the color palette. I mix the colors before I begin and record them in a notebook which I refer back to when painting. Creating a specific color palette for each painting is the most important part of my process as it gives a cohesive look.” 

The artist’s style has garnered her a following and much of her time is spent on commissions and brand collaborations, working with local businesses such as Chatham Dress Code, Coastal Brahmin, Mélange, Cottage, Wequassett Resort and Golf Club, and for the national brand, Rhoback. “I’ve been able to stay true to my style and play on my strengths, creatively,” she remarks. Clough’s creations are timeless and stylish and provide her with seemingly endless inspiration, she offers, “I have painted so many scenes of the Cape—homes, boats, seascapes—and yet, I never tire of it.”  

This summer you can find Clough’s work at local events like Art in the Park and Oars in the Stores both in Chatham, and Cods for the Cape in Orleans. Glimpse into the artist’s portfolio at claracloughart.com and follow her on Instagram @claraclough_art for announcements and updates.