Brenda Ann Artist

Fine Art Watercolors
Made in Stone Harbor NJ
• CAPE MAY
• STONE HARBOR
• COASTAL NEW JERSEY
• KEY WEST
• FLORIDA KEYS
• FLORIDA

What It’s Like Being A Stone Harbor Artist

Store/Brenda's Blog/What It’s Like Being A Stone Harbor Artist

Life as a South Jersey Artist in Stone Harbor

Living and creating art in Stone Harbor, New Jersey, is a unique experience that influences nearly everything I make.

While many artists find inspiration in busy cities, galleries, or studios tucked away in urban neighborhoods, my inspiration comes from salt air, sandy beaches, coastal wildlife, and the ever-changing beauty of the Jersey Shore.

Every day brings something different. One morning may begin with a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean, while another might feature a diamondback terrapin crossing the road, a flock of shorebirds feeding along the bay, or fishing boats heading out before dawn. These everyday moments become the foundation for many of my artistic ideas.

Finding Inspiration at the Shore

Stone Harbor has a way of slowing people down.

Visitors often come here to escape busy schedules and reconnect with nature. As an artist, I have the privilege of experiencing that beauty year-round.

The colors alone are enough to inspire countless projects. The soft blues of the ocean, golden beach grasses, weathered gray docks, colorful sunsets, and coastal gardens all find their way into my artwork.

Even the seasons bring their own personality.

Summer fills the island with energy, families, and vacation memories. Fall brings quieter beaches and incredible sunsets. Winter offers peaceful landscapes and dramatic skies. Spring signals the return of shorebirds, blooming flowers, and a fresh sense of creativity.

Creating Art That Celebrates Coastal Life

Much of my work focuses on capturing the charm and character of South Jersey coastal communities.

From beach-themed artwork and local wildlife designs to handmade gifts inspired by life at the shore, I enjoy creating pieces that remind people of their favorite beach memories.

Many visitors tell me that a piece of artwork helps them remember a family vacation, a childhood summer, or a special moment spent along the coast. Knowing that my work can help preserve those memories is one of the most rewarding parts of being an artist.

A Community That Supports Creativity

One of the best parts of being a South Jersey artist is the strong sense of community.

The Jersey Cape is filled with talented artists, makers, photographers, musicians, and small business owners who share a passion for creativity. Local events, art shows, galleries, and small businesses help create an environment where artists can thrive.

There is something special about living in a place where creativity is woven into everyday life.

Why I Continue to Create

Art allows me to share the beauty I see around me with others.

Whether I’m creating a new design, painting a coastal scene, developing a handmade gift, or photographing a beautiful day at the beach, my goal is always the same: to celebrate the places and experiences that make South Jersey special.

Stone Harbor isn’t just where I live. It’s where I find inspiration every day.

The ocean, wildlife, local traditions, and natural beauty of the Jersey Shore continue to shape my work and remind me why I love being an artist.

For those who visit the shore for a week each summer and those lucky enough to call it home year-round, there is a unique magic here that never gets old—and that magic continues to inspire every piece I create.

Visit brendaann.com to learn more.

Brenda Ann

As seen in Key West's Culture Magazine 💜 Award-winning coastal watercolor art by Stone Harbor NJ artist Brenda Ann

Original and print art inspired by NJ shore towns & the Florida Keys - perfect for your shore home or wedding gift.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My goal for my artwork is to capture the beauty of everyday scenes. I use boldly applied colors to heighten the visual impact of my compositions, which often feature subjects like architecture and flowers. My artwork draws inspiration from the landscapes of South Jersey where I live and colorful tropical environments like Sanibel Island, Tarpon Springs, Clearwater Beach, Orlando, Cape Canaveral, Kissimmee, Marathon, Islamorada, Key Largo, Big Pine Key, and Key West in Florida, and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

In my work, I try to capture nature that I discover on my morning walks and in our backyard, as with my 28-foot painting of hydrangeas, Life Cycle. This large watercolor was created on a roll of paper too large for a desk, so it was painted on the floor with me standing over it, as Jackson Pollock did with his drip paintings. I used large watercolor brushes and professional watercolor paints. I had to wait hours and sometimes days for each section to dry. This piece is my tribute to the humble hydrangea, which is featured in much of our design work at my family's flower shop. It reminds me to appreciate the beauty of life. Through abstracted realism, this work reminds me to move toward contentment and spiritual harmony, suggesting that true serenity emerges from acknowledging the miraculous natural world.

BIO

Brenda Ann holds both Associate and Bachelor’s degrees in Fine Arts. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Arts, with a concentration in painting, from Stockton University. She served as President of the Florida Keys Watercolor Society for six years, during which time she won multiple awards and chaired two of their annual exhibitions. Her acclaimed work has been exhibited throughout the United States, including at the National Watercolor Society's Juried Exhibition (NWS Gallery, San Pedro, California, 2017), the American Watercolor Society’s Juried 2025 Online Associate Members’ Exhibition, and the Wayne Art Center in Pennsylvania, where she achieved Signature Status with the Philadelphia Watercolor Society in 2018. Her notable achievements include Best in Show at the 37th Annual Judged Exhibition of the Florida Keys Watercolor Society in Marathon, Florida, in 2019. Brenda Ann has been featured three times in Culture Magazine (Key West).

PUBLICATIONS / REVIEWS / PRESS

Florida Keys Council of the Arts: Little Palm Island Boat, Culture Magazine, 2021, keysarts.com, p.2

Florida Keys Council of the Arts: Southernmost Point, Culture Magazine, 2020, keysarts.com, p.2

Florida Keys Council of the Arts: Pink Plumeria, Culture Magazine, 2019, keysarts.com, p.2

HISTORY OF AWARDS AND EXHIBITIONS

2026 August 29-30, Juried Acceptance, Jersey Cape Festival of Fine Craft at Stone Harbor, NJ.

2026 July 1-2027 Mar 28, Juried Acceptance, Whimsy Garden, More Than Touch, A Connection, Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City, NJ (exhibition organizer); Riverfront Renaissance Arts Center, Millville, NJ; and Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City, NJ.

2026 May 1-June 30, Juried Acceptance, Hydrangeas, Growth - Digital Plant & Floral Drawings or Paintings, Studio #16, The Contemporary Art & Technology Pop Up Gallery in the Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City, NJ.

2026 April 9, Provost’s Award, Midnight Blue, Visual Arts Alumni Triennial Exhibition, Stockton University Art Gallery

2026 March 7-April 11, Juried Acceptance, Sweet Magnolia, All the Small Things: A Small Works Exhibition at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts & Sciences

2026 January 9-February 28, Life Cycle and Island Whispers, 2026 Inaugural Members Online Exhibition. North American Watercolor Society

2026 January 21-April 9, Juried Acceptance, Midnight Blue, 2026 Visual Arts Alumni Triennial Exhibition, Stockton University Art Gallery

2025 December 2-15, Life Cycle, Island Whispers, Drama Queen, Midnight Glow, and Iris Awakening, Fall 2025 BFA Senior Exhibition, Stockton University Art Gallery

2025 June 12-August 30, Juried Acceptance, Magnolia Dreams, Associate Members Online Exhibition of the American Watercolor Society

2025 April-May, Juried Acceptance, Lake Fred, Dean's Showcase and 12x12 exhibition at Stockton University, Galloway, NJ (group exhibition)

2025 January, Emlen Physic Estate, Academic Visions, Noyes Arts Garage of Stockton University, Atlantic City, NJ (group exhibition)

2020 March, Caribbean Award, La Te Da, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's 38th Annual Judged Exhibition, Marathon Community Theatre Gallery, Marathon, FL (group exhibition)

2020 January, Second Prize Pen and Ink, Tiger Turtle Metamorphosis, Faculty Selects Art Show, ACCC, Mays Landing, NJ (group exhibition)

2020 January, First Prize Mixed Media, Past Present Future Triptych, Faculty Selects Art Show, ACCC, Mays Landing, NJ (group exhibition)

2019 March, Best in Show, Carmen MER-anda, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's 37th Annual Judged Exhibition, Marathon Community Theatre Gallery, Marathon, FL (group exhibition)

2018 Juried Acceptance, Sway to the Rhythm, Philadelphia Watercolor Society's 118th Works on Paper, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA (group exhibition)

2018 Vincent Award, Sway to the Rhythm, Philadelphia Watercolor Society's 118th Works on Paper, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA (group exhibition)

2018 Signature Status, Sway to the Rhythm, Philadelphia Watercolor Society's 118th Works on Paper, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA (group exhibition)

2018 March, Multiple Key West Paintings, Hyatt Centric Key West, Key West, FL (solo exhibition)

2018 Caribbean Award, Pigeon Key Guest Cottage, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's 36th Annual Judged Exhibition, Marathon Community Theatre Gallery, Marathon, FL (group exhibition)

2018 Juried Acceptance, Eaton Street Seafood Market, New Jersey Watercolor Society's 76th Annual Open Juried Exhibition, Middletown Arts Center, Middletown, NJ (group exhibition)

2017 Juried Acceptance, Sway to the Rhythm, National Watercolor Society's Member Exhibition, NWS Gallery, San Pedro, CA (group exhibition)

2017 Juried Acceptance, The Walk at Harbor Square, Garden State Watercolor Society's 47th Annual Juried Exhibition, D&R Greenway, Princeton, NJ (group exhibition)

2017 Jan Lawliss People's Choice Award (tie), Key West Butterfly Garden, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's 35th Annual Judged Exhibition, Marathon Community Theatre Gallery, Marathon, FL (group exhibition)

2017 Rainbow Award, Key West Butterfly Garden, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's 35th Annual Judged Exhibition, Marathon Community Theatre Gallery, Marathon, FL (group exhibition)

2016 Juried Acceptance, Check In Day at Congress Hall, Philadelphia Watercolor Society's 116th Works on Paper, West Chester University, West Chester, PA (group exhibition)

2016 Caribbean Award, Captain Tony's, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's 34th Annual Judged Exhibition, Marathon Community Theatre Gallery, Marathon, FL (group exhibition)

2014 Second Place, Orchids in Paradise, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's Judged Exhibition at Redbone Gallery, Islamorada, FL (group exhibition)

2014 Third Honorable Mention, Turtles in Paradise, Florida Keys Watercolor Society's 32nd Annual Judged Exhibition, Marathon Community Theatre Gallery, Marathon, FL (group exhibition)

AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

National Watercolor Society

American Watercolor Society

Philadelphia Watercolor Society Signature Member

New Jersey Watercolor Society

Garden State Watercolor Society

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Brenda's award-winning watercolor and acrylic works of art celebrate the timeless charm of Cape May, Stone Harbor, and Avalon, New Jersey, and visit the tropical shores of Key West, Florida. A watercolor print is a perfect gift for your Avalon honeymoon condo and makes a great shore town anniversary print. Each giclée print is meticulously crafted on premium surfaces. Most items ship free. Are you buying for your shore home? Your wedding guest gift? Your pet's portrait?

For watercolor home and pet portraits, reach out to hellobrendaannartist@gmail.com.

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