With the ocean as his muse, Eric Lutes ’91 embraces his first love, painting.
Eric Lutes ’91 likes to paint “grungy, well-used marine items.” His paintings of weathered docks and boats bear that out. He also skillfully depicts the play of light in seashells and ocean waves.
Lutes grew up in Charlestown, R.I., and his dad was a well-known marine painter. But Lutes found his own path. With a B.F.A. in theater from URI, he built a successful acting career with roles on Caroline in the City and Frasier, and guest appearances on hit shows including Mad About You, Desperate Housewives, and CSI: Miami.
These days, Lutes devotes himself to painting in his quiet South County studio. He says his style is looser and more free than his dad’s. “But,” he says, “when you paint boats, you have to get the details right.”
PHOTO: COURTESY ERIC LUTES