New Century Art Gallery

Blue Water Art Association

About the Blue Water Association

The Blue Water Art Association fosters creative expression and exploration for artists; offers opportunities for sharing, learning and advancing artistic skills; and provides a nurturing environment of support to individual artists. Memberships are $40 a year, which includes the following: membership to the Port Huron Council of aging, workshops presented by skilled artists, demonstrations by members, opportunities to work with live models, still-life sessions, a monthly business meeting, "gentle" art critiques from peers, and occasional field trips. Please note: You are welcome to attend meetings before committing to joining.

Featured Artist

Lucienne Pettee Keifer | Watercolor Painting

“As recorded in my baby book, my first sentence was “Look see”! I was visually attracted to the world, and I wanted everyone to share my joy and wonder. It was a command – see the color, see the light, see, and feel the world around us. That was a big idea for a tot. I have never stopped in that mission.”

~Lucienne Pettee Kiefer

BWAA member since 2014 Lucienne Pettee Kiefer is a 4th generation native of the Blue Water area, on her father’s side, and the daughter of a French WWII war bride. The area in which she was born, and her heritage have both instructed and influenced her work. Young Lucienne’s mother had great hopes that her daughter would be inclined toward music as her father played piano, flute, saxophone, violin, and guitar with his family in a local dance band. After five years of piano lessons her determined mother finally conceded that Lucienne had no natural inclination towards music. “However, I would fill page after page of sketch books with drawings. I drew mostly horses, dogs, chickens or fairies as they all seemed real and important in my childhood.”

Lucienne’s love of creating continued into adulthood where she would “draw at the kitchen table, or when I was outside, or in my car, or in a waiting room, and (especially) at tedious meetings. Many of my doodles were satiric and ironic. It gave me a small measure of control and reflection in my work-a-day world.” In retirement, Lucienne found more magic in creating her art. “It is meditative, and it pulls me toward a contemplative oasis. Artists will talk about “the flow of time”. I now look at the clock and find two hours have disappeared into my paint.”

A watercolorist at heart, she finds acrylic “too plastic, pastels too messy, and oils too smelly”. Lucienne has a small studio where she always has two or three projects at various stages of completion. Her personality is reflected in her palette choices. Lucienne’s work tends toward lighter higher key work, that is flooded with light that is punched up with a darker complementary focus. It is the “Look See here” attitude shining through in her work. Lucienne’s favorite pieces are the ones she creates for family. Currently she is beginning a “Heart’s Desire” series in abstract format. It features symbolic colors and items that the person loves. When asked how long a piece of art takes to finish, she answers: “A day and thirty years. How long does it take for an athlete to run a marathon? Same answer.”

Lucienne is a wild bird who paints intuitively and instinctually. Having had no formal training in her youth, she has taken many lessons and workshops as an adult to develop her skills. Some notable local teaching influences have been Amy Foster, Mike Henry and Robert Fionda. Lucienne has also studied under Tony Van Haslett (landscape), Judi Betts (architecture), Jan Glass (floral) , Anne Vasilik (landscape), Ted Nuttall (portrait), Andy Evansen (landscape) , Mike Holter (portrait) and Katherine Conover (abstract). Before she retired, Lucienne had a 7-foot poster of “Waterlilies” in her classroom, so Monet was always one of her favorites. However, her taste spans many styles and artists 1900’s up through the mid-twentieth century Americans such as Edward Hopper.

When asked why art is important, Lucienne responded “Art is important because it causes us to define and share what is important in our lives.” Lucienne shows her work through Blue Water Art Association exhibitions and they are available for purchase.