PEABODY — Local artist and author Ana Patuleia Ortins will be exhibiting her paintings in the Peabody Institute South Branch Library on 78 Lynn St. until Monday, Jan. 6.

Ortins has lived in Peabody her whole life, but the inspiration for the artwork on display is sourced from the country her father emigrated from, Portugal. A fisherman silhouetted by the sunset, bullfighting on the streets of Terceira, and a noiva twirling to music are just some of the vibrant scenes on display.

Heritage is an important part of Ortins’ life, having published popular cookbooks of Portuguese dishes. It makes sense she’d take this opportunity to transport local art fans to the places she knows and loves that many won’t have the chance to see in real life. Indeed, many of the paintings are based straight from photos Ortins has taken over the years while traveling across Portugal. 

“I’d like the reaction to be something that hits home with them,” Ortins said. “The first one I did that was Portuguese themed was one that I had. Gosh, a photo I had taken from 50 years ago on my honeymoon.”

However, Portugal isn’t the only subject she depicts as an artist. Ortins expressed she enjoys painting her family members. Two paintings she’s done are one of her granddaughter leaping through the air during a ballet dance, while another features her younger granddaughter pitching a softball game. Of course, these works aren’t for sale, as Ortins will often give these as gifts, sometimes surprising family members with reproductions of treasured photographs.

Other works, she’s sold at silent auctions for nonprofit organizations, some fetching more than $400 in bids.

Surprisingly, Ortins is completely self-taught. This has made being part of three different local art societies – Peabody Art Association, Danvers Art Association, and Lynnfield Arts – important for her craft.

“I like the connection with other artists,” Ortins said. “People are very nice to share their experiences and what their techniques are. Everybody’s got a hack for doing things.”

While she’s tried pastels and oils, Ortins said she’s set on using watercolors, mainly for the ease of use that the other mediums don’t give. She uses a technique called “line and wash,” when the artist first outlines the scene before filling it in with color. The resulting product is stunning detail combined with vibrant colors that can be seen lining the walls of the South Branch Library right now.

In the future, Ortins plans on continuing to go through her stacks of photographs she has and reproducing them in watercolor. 

“I do have one of mine that I want to do, and that’s my grandmother. I’m just trying to decide whether to do it in monochrome or do it with all the colors, and it’s one of my favorite pictures of her,” Ortins said.

Contact Ana Patuleai Ortins at [email protected] for more inquiries on her art and how to purchase it.