Charlene McLaughlin

Charlene McLaughlin grew up in Connecticut loving to draw and sketch. As a young girl, she delivered a weekly newspaper, The Stratford News. Charlene often submitted cartoons on current events, which were published. The oldest of five children, Charlene enjoyed their camping trips all over New England. One of her vivid memories is camping on the dunes in Provincetown and spending time browsing Commercial Street’s art galleries. Charlene’s father would often retreat from the hectic household to their basement to pursue his hobbies of playing the saxophone or oil painting. For every holiday and school project, her mother’s creative ideas provided inspiration for Charlene and her siblings. Her mother’s grandfather was a yachtsman in the early 1900’s whose gift for painting got him commissions to paint murals in churches in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Charlene’s home was filled with his paintings (including a self portrait of her grandfather in his captain’s uniform), her father’s paintings, and of course the art of all the children.

During college, Charlene returned to the Cape to work at Thompson’s Clam Bar on beautiful Wychmere Harbor. There she met her husband and now their three children spend summers on Cape Cod. When Charlene’s youngest started first grade, she took an oil painting class. Painting landscapes and seascapes quickly became a passion. She especially loves to paint children on the beach.

Charlene is a member of the Guild of Harwich Artists and enjoys Art in the Park, sharing her artwork with the many tourists.

Learn more about Charlene McLaughlin