These six Shore artists are making waves in their local communities and beyond. Follow them on Instagram to get inspired and appreciate their awesome art.
AARON BOGUSHEFSKY
Ocean City
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Few people can capture the essence of the “shoobie” like Ocean City native Aaron Bogushefsky.
Bogushefsky, who goes by the nickname “Bogy,” is often found painting beach scenes that take on a “Where’s Waldo”-meets-the-Shore vibe and delicious local treats like Johnson’s Popcorn.
His cartoons and doodles capture what it’s like to take a stroll on the boardwalk, sit in Shore traffic or what locals go through when dealing with an influx of visitors (like a few of his tongue-in-cheek takes on tourists walking into the middle of the street or hoarding parking spots). His colorful work can be spotted throughout Ocean City on everything from T-shirts and murals to the side of his impossible-to-miss VW Bus, and every summer he teaches young budding artists during Ocean City Art Center’s Summer Art Camps.
He’s also the artist behind the coffee table book “Dead Giveaways You’re a Shoobie, the Doodle Series,” along with his “Ocean City Advanced Coloring Book,” which features detailed scenes and some little-known facts about the island (as you’re coloring, try to find the watermelon, flip-flop and seagull hidden within each picture!).
KELLEY PREVARD
Atlantic City
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Kelley Prevard is the kind of artist who likes to make a difference, and everywhere she goes, the Atlantic City-born-and-raised artist seems to leave her mark.
Prevard’s work is deeply influenced by social, historical and cultural events, and she’s been featured in New York City’s “Black Art Matters” exhibit and the “Moments of Love” exhibit in Washington, D.C.
Prevard, who refers to herself as an “artivist,” says, “Through my artwork I attempt to bridge the gap, to humanize the dehumanized, so that we can connect to people on an emotional level, and not see them as stereotypes, statistics or caricatures but see them as fully realized human beings.”
“Art is revolutionary, art can be a powerful instrument for change,” she says. “It can awaken people to the different human experiences that they may not be able to connect to otherwise. It gives a voice to the unheard, to the unseen.”
DAVID MACOMBER
North Cape May
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Once you glance at David Macomber’s work, it’s hard to believe he failed art class in high school for “not following direction.”
Using the ocean as a metaphor, Macomber uses street art and graphic design techniques to create paintings and sculptures that weave together images of the stormy seas, graffiti and sullen-looking sea creatures.
Macomber has been tapped to create artwork for a number of Shore spots, including Cape May Brewery, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry and Morey’s Piers & Water Parks.
A dedicated philanthropist, Macomber often travels the world distributing clean drinking water through well-drilling and water filters. He and his wife Melissa Mae are parents to two sons they adopted through foster care.
“I chose to live a creative life, but a life that’s helping others,” says Macomber. “I like to use the platform that I have as an artist to raise awareness for foster care and the importance of that, and the need for fresh drinking water around the world.”
VICTORIA GOTWOLS
Cape May
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Calligraphy might not be the first thing that jumps to your mind when you think of art, but Cape May’s Victoria Gotwols’ custom, Shore-inspired works might make you think again.
“I’m a self-taught artist. I began drawing in 2014 and I love many mediums, but marker on paper is my favorite. I grew up loving to make cards for friends and family,” she says.
Gotwols’ handmade works include everything from invitations and save-the-date cards to menu cards and hand-drawn wedding maps.
Her work can be seen around Cape May (she’s beautifully hand-lettered chalkboards at a number of local shops), and she often displays her wares at festivals up and down the Shore.
JULIAN MILLER
Avalon
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Julian Miller makes little pieces of art – like, really little.
In 2015, Miller started playing around with tiny frames and colored pencils to create diminutive creations roughly the size of a quarter. These days, he uses his creations as part of a social media scavenger hunt, where he leaves his framed, mini-masterpieces around the Shore for his followers to find – but only if they can solve his riddles.
“With the help of social media, the idea caught on quickly,” says Miller.
To get the hunt started, Miller snaps a photo of himself holding a mini-portrait, occasionally instructing followers to use the location in the background as a clue. Sometimes, Miller will leave a portrait at a well-known landmark or tuck it away into the dunes as a finders-keepers reward. For those who aren’t up for going on an art expedition, his work is also sold at The Spot in Avalon.
JESSIE WOLF TEMPLE
Long Beach Island
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When artist Jessie Wolf Temple (whose business goes by the moniker BunkerFish) isn’t splitting her time between the Shore and Puerto Rico, you can catch her aboard the tiny houseboat she and her husband have beautifully restored and now call home (yes, she’s created an Instagram account for the houseboat, too).
Temple started her business, Bunkerfish Design, in 2008 while attending The University of the Arts. She first dabbled with a method of print-making called stone lithography she printed onto clothing before eventually moving onto watercolors.
Temple’s watercolor designs, which feature fun themes like pineapples, palms and avocados, as well as critters and quirky ephemera, have made their way onto the baby clothes and T-shirts she also sells. You can find her funky wares locally at Johnson’s Farm, as well as on her new website.
