In 1865, Henry David Thoreau wrote, “the seashore is a sort of neutral ground, a most advantageous point from which to contemplate this world,” which was posthumously published in his memoir, Cape Cod. Throughout his life, Thoreau visited Cape Cod three times and the outcome is a collective journey of self discovery he experienced along Massachusetts’ coastline—a reflection upon simple living, upon nature’s most elemental forces, and upon the complex relationship witnessed between the sea and the shore.

Nearly 200 years later, the New England waters continue to ring synonymous bells for the East Coast’s most contemplative ponderers—from scholars, writers, artists alike. Born in Provincetown, Cape Cod’s most outer edge town, located at the very tip of the Cape’s peninsula, traditional oil painter Derek Macara has found this aquatic pocket to not only be his source of art, but way of living—evoking that same sense of wonder in his paintings Thoreau once meditated with his words.

Raised in a traditional fishing family, Macara worked as a commercial fisherman for several years before shifting to pursue art full time when a solo exhibition at the North Shore Arts Association launched his professional career. His paintings illustrate rural New England and simple yet forceful oceanic scenery, with many depicting pinnacle ornament entities such as lighthouses, sail boats, cloud formations and high glacial sand cliffs.

Now a consistent contributor on both TikTok and Instagram, Macara films himself at work—filling empty large canvases with meticulously crafted waves—giving viewers an inside look into his process as an artist while also expanding his market exposure. In April, Macara launched a course on Domestika, specifically designed for beginners to learn how to make waves with oil paint, and is gearing up to launch his own paintbrush line, inspired by the distinct combination of brushes he currently uses, which is set to release later this year.

See below to learn more about how Macara got started as a painter, what inspires him as an artist, balancing a career in both visual art and social media, as well as his unique approach to combining traditional oil painting techniques with digital photography tools.

Growing up in seaside Massachusetts and working as a fisherman for several years, how has your background influenced your perspective as an artist?

I always thought that I would end up being a fisherman just like everyone [in] my family has been doing for generations, and, surprisingly, that has played a big role in [my] career as an artist. Spending so much time on the ocean has given me a deep understanding of the subject matter I paint which is mostly seascapes. I love painting the ocean and I try to keep my work authentic in a way that represents my life experience.

Your paintings are deeply rooted in raw and serene New England imagery, with many depicting nothing more than layers of waves and powerful, moody clouds. What do you love most about capturing northern seascapes and coastal architecture, and what visual motifs are you most passionate about?

I’m always finding inspiration in New England, not just because it’s my home, but also because there’s a lot of natural beauty here. In a lot of my work, I try to capture the emotion of the winter with the brutal storms and freezing temperatures. The solitude of it can be really inspirational and some of the architecture here is so timeless, especially along the coast.‍

Tell me about your artistic process. How do you combine traditional oil painting techniques with modern tools such as digital photo manipulation to plan out your compositions ahead?

I usually stick to traditional painting methods and materials used by the old masters. Oil paint, linseed oil and linen canvas. A warm underpainting with burnt sienna and then building layers with blending and then glazing. While that part of my process is traditional, I use a lot of modern technology to create a reference image before I start. I usually combine several photos along with drawing[s] in photoshop, and then transfer that image to the canvas.

‍What’s it like balancing a career as a contemporary artist while also pushing content on TikTok and Instagram? How has social media expanded your reach as an artist?

I owe a lot of my success as an artist to social media. It’s allowed my work to be seen all over the world and creating videos of my process is a whole different art form in itself. I really enjoy filming and editing videos, plus it is really fulfilling knowing that people are learning from my videos and I’m inspiring them to paint.

What about the everyday is inspiring to you? Who are your biggest artistic influences?

I am usually pretty critical of myself, and I am really inspired by getting better at what I do. I’m always trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and learn new things in hopes to be as good as some of the artists that I’ve always looked up to. Some of my biggest influences are other New England artists like Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper and Charles Hawthorne. I’m also a big fan of John Singer Sargent and would like to get more into portrait and figure work in the future.

Besides oil on canvas, are there other styles of art you’re interested in venturing out to pursue?

Since most of my work is based on my photography, I’m trying to focus on being a better photographer. It’s really the foundation of my work and becoming a better photographer will help make me a better painter. I’m currently planning some photography trips and really enjoy collecting photography equipment.

What can you tell me about your new paintbrush line launching later this year? What is special about the brushes and who are they most catered towards?

I’ve been designing my own paint brushes for months now, and I’m really excited about it. I’m hoping to make them affordable but still professional quality and available worldwide. I usually use a unique combination of brushes that I have developed over the years and hopefully they will cater to both beginners and professionals.