William Welch joins Barbara Kauffmann Locke's gallery in 'Sconset
BY MARY LANCASTER INDEPENDENT WRITER

PHOTO ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent "Front Street in Bloom" by William Welch.

He left for four years, but now popular artist William Welch is back on

Nantucket and sharing Barbara Kauffmann Locke's 1 New St. gallery in 'Sconset. Welch's is a working gallery, meaning he will be painting there and it will be open for business.

"According to the rumors, I died or was living in the south of France," joked Welch, who actually has been painting in Florida since 2004. "It's not going to be fancy; it's just me. I came out here to be away from the competition in town."

Calling himself "basically the architectural painter on Nantucket," Welch explained that he took over the old Lobster Pot Gallery on Easy Street from 1986 to 2004, then headed south. He enjoyed Florida, but missed the island.

"It really called me back," he said of Nantucket. "It's just a wonderful place. This is where I want my legacy to be - unless I win the lottery and retire in France."

Welch, a life member of the Artists' Association of Nantucket and a past AAN president, is leasing half of Barbara Kauffmann Locke's gallery across from the 'Sconset Casino. The space was previously occupied by G.S. Hill, who is focusing his business efforts in town. Welch and Locke have known each other since the early 1980s and are happy to be showing their work in the same historic building near the village square.

PHOTO ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent Barbara Kauffmann Locke and William Welch sharing gallery space in 'Sconset.

Welch, who received his art education at Ohio University with continuing studies at the Philadelphia College of Art and in Europe, came to Nantucket in 1966 and worked as a dishwasher at The Woodbox and Cap'n Tobey's to earn his school tuition. He paints in watercolors and oils, with many scenes depicting 'Sconset cottages with small yards filled with flowers. He likes to paint outdoors and fashions his palette around the six colors similar to those used by Claude Monet. He also paints house and pet portraits and custom umbrellas using waterproof magic markers. His new studio has original paintings in large, medium and miniature sizes, framed and matted prints and stationery. He will be selling decorated Christmas ornaments, tote bags, coasters and mugs, all with 'Sconset scenes.

PHOTO ROB BENCHLEY / The Independent "Sailing Dreams" by Barbara Kaufmann Locke

Barbara Kauffmann Locke works primarily in watercolors and favors painting seagulls, houses, flowers and boats, many of which revolve around 'Sconset themes.

"I think they call me 'The Mistress of Whimsy,'" said Locke.

She has also illustrated children's books, including a book by the late Mary Miles called "What's So Special About Nantucket?" and a book called "Grandpa's Tale," which Locke wrote and illustrated. She is working on illustrating the sixth in a series of ghost tales for children by Warren Hussey Bouton.

A graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago, Locke also studied at Canada's McMaster University, the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and the Evanston Art Center in Illinois. A member of the Artists' Association of Nantucket, Locke has operated her New Street gallery for 40 years. She paints every day and is very pleased Welch has joined her.

"I'm thrilled because I love him," she said. "He is a great guy, a beautiful painter and easy to get along with." I