Thomas N. Graves, a Fairfield County marine artist has been capturing the essence of the sea forover 40 years. Raised in Santa Barbara, within walking distance of Hendry's Beach, he would spend hours watching the endless forms the waves created as they rose up and broke cascading their white foam. He loved the thunderous crash they made as they moved into shore ending slowly in a white froth on the sand.

He is an experienced sailor (racing and cruising for the past 35 years) who currently races his J/30, Bad Dog, which he also cruises on Long Island Sound. Tom says, “There is no better feeling on earth than being on the boat watching, hearing and feeling the bow dig into a wave, separating the water, watching it slide down the side of the boat and having it leave a marvelous wake astern.” Tom spent his career as a creative director for several agencies and Anheuser-Busch. He has a BFA from Missouri State University.

His style is realism - the boat, the rig, sails, trim and all its hardware, “I truly enjoy painting the boats that are raced today in numerous East Coast Regattas. From Key West Race Week to Block Island Race Week - it’s all good.” He paints in oil from his studio in Stamford, Conn.