Loretta Krupinski

LORETTA KRUPINSKI was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Imprinted by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Long Island Sound on the other, her artistic talent gravitated towards marine art. After graduating with a B.F.A. from Syracuse University, Ms. Krupinski worked for many years as a graphic designer and illustrator in the business world.

Since 1987 she has worked full-time as a painter and children’s book illustrator and author. With over 27 children’s books published, Loretta recently wrote and illustrated a book about historic Maine entitled Looking Astern: An Artist’s View of Maine’s Historic Waterfronts, by Downeast Publishing. 

After summering in Maine for years, she moved from Southeastern Connecticut to Maine full-time, painting in Maine provides her with those images that are hard to come by in a more developed area like Connecticut. A contemporary artist and long time sailor, "I believe that I am helping to preserve a part of history that is gradually disappearing- classic wooden sailing yachts, lighthouses, and working harbors. The elegance and beauty of a classic yacht has a sculptural look, done in wood and bronze. As big as a house, they glide noiselessly through the water like a giant sea serpent. I like the water in all kinds of weather. Any artist knows the importance of painting what you know.”

Loretta is a Fellow of the American Society of Marine Artists. She has exhibited at major museums including the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA; Mystic Seaport Museum, Mystic, CT; Frye Museum, Seattle, WA; Maryland Historical Museum, Baltimore, MA; Cummer Art Museum, Jacksonville, FL; Maine Maritime Museum, Bath, Maine; and the Mariner’s Museum, Norfolk, VA. She is a five-time award winner at the Mystic International Marine Art Exhibition. Her work has been published in books including Marine Painting by Susan Rayfield, Marine Art—A Collection of Fine Art by Rockport Publishing, and in magazines such as Nautical Quarterly, U.S. Art, Connecticut Magazine and Maine Boats and Harbors.

 “To be a marine artist you have to be a 'wharf rat.' You have to know clouds, wind, weather, lighting, water conditions, sailing experience and yacht designs."