Up Close and Animal
Artist, Ann Hart

July - August 2026

One summer on Cape Cod during college was enough to convince Ann Hart that she wanted to make her home here, feeling sure that a creative life could be a reality. That life has taken various paths including pottery, graphic design, photography, fiber arts, and inn keeping. But painting and drawing have always been her mainstay even when most of her energy was required elsewhere.

Getting serious about watercolor in 2002 was possible due to the seasonal nature of owning a B&B. And that was it really, no flagging of enthusiasm and drive to learn and improve. Ann’s early pieces were whimsical illustrations that evolved into realistic and detailed paintings using the luminous and transparent characteristics of watercolor in vibrant ways while experimenting with technique.

In addition to watercolor, Ann has recently embraced soft pastel especially for animal subjects. “Learning a new medium is rewarding and challenging, especially one that is essentially the opposite of watercolor as a process. Looking back over years of paintings, I realized that I was sneaking in a creature wherever I could - seems time to bring the animals front and center!”

 In 2010 Ann became a gallery artist with Gallery Antonia in Chatham.  That association has thrived over the years, and she cites it as pivotal in her life as an artist. Her paintings gained recognition by earning signature status in several watercolor societies and winning awards at the local and national level. She is a master artist member of the Cape Cod Art Center and has taught many workshops at the Creative Arts Center in Chatham.

 Ann credits her family for instilling an early appreciation for the natural world and the value of craft. Up Close and Animal is featured in the Naturescape Gallery during July and August.

Tree-Book Sculpture
Artist, Sheryl Jaffe

February-December 2025

Steve Swain - Frying Pan Gallery

Healthy Food Chain
Long Term Exhibit - Generously Donated by John & Patricia Kenney 2022

Steel sculptor Steve Swain is an accomplished artist, architectural designer, craftsman, and boat captain. He is responsible for creating several notable local restaurants and buildings. His last project before switching to art full-time was designing and overseeing construction of the restaurant Pearl in Wellfleet and the restoration of Duffy Gardinier’s Tug Boat shack, saving the last of old clam shacks from the wrecking ball and creating The Frying Pan Gallery on Wellfleet Harbor Pier where Steve designs and hand builds steely renditions of marine life. In the fall of 2019, a second Frying Pan Gallery was opened in Orleans.

In his secluded studio Steve seeks inspiration in nature and credits the great outdoors for his creativity and compositions. His custom marine installation at the Museum is an amazing design and work of art highlighting the ocean world of bait fish, bass, and great white sharks.

For more information on Steve’s work go to: www.fryingpangallery.com

James Prosek

Award Winning Artist, Author, and Naturalist
Long Term Exhibit

CCMNH is proud to present the work of artist, author and naturalist, James Prosek. His book Ocean Fishes, is a collection of 35 Atlantic fishes, all of which were painted life size based on individual specimens he traveled to see, a journey that started right here on Cape Cod. Naturescape Gallery is exhibiting two of his life-sized Fine Art prints; a Swordfish and a Blue Fin Tuna. His work has been shown in numerous esteemed galleries.

For more information about James and his work go to: troutsite.com