Rainbow Fleet | Sharon Woods Hussey

In artist Sharon Woods Hussey’s “Rainbow Fleet,” a line of brightly colored catboats moves together across calm water, each distinguished by its own vivid pattern and hue. Long associated with Nantucket Harbor, catboats are among the island’s most recognizable maritime symbols — their broad beams, single sails, and shallow drafts once essential to the daily work of island fishermen navigating local shoals and tides. Over time, they became equally emblematic of Nantucket’s leisurely harbor life and enduring sailing culture. Hussey captures that spirit with both charm and energy, transforming the harbor scene into a celebration of color, movement, and island tradition. The composition balances whimsy with a deep sense of place, making “Rainbow Fleet” not simply a nautical painting, but a tribute to the vessels that have long shaped the visual character of Nantucket Harbor.