Wolfgang Busse

Wolfgang’s love of the sea began when he was a young boy growing up in Bremerhaven, Germany. He often went to the harbor and dreamed of a life on board one of the great freighters that sailed out of port, bound for distant lands. His family emigrated to Pennsylvania, and when he began searching for a college, he chose schools that were near the ocean ... in Florida and then in Boston. A career in sailing eluded him, but he dabbled in building ship models as a way to vicariously spend time at sea.

When he moved to Cape Cod, he began model making in earnest, specializing in mid-19th to mid-20th century working freighters (example) and classic ocean liners, using superior and exotic woods, custom brass fittings and a craftsman’s attention to authentic detail. Everything he built was sold as soon as it was finished.

The next move was to coastal Maine. When he retired, he decided to learn how to paint the ocean. He studied marine artists, bought a selection of acrylic paints and canvases, and set to work. His first five paintings were juried into exhibits at local galleries, and two of them sold.

Wolfgang works from his own photographs of coastal scenes and local towns around the midcoast. His latest works include still lifes and portraits, and he continues to expand his repertory of subjects.