Paul Arsenault, whose journey as an artist began in his Kindergarten days, has a gift for capturing familiar scenes with a fresh perspective. Born in Montreal in 1952, Arsenault grew up in Hingham, Massachusetts, where his love for the sea and travel developed into a practice of painting seascapes and coastal scenes rich in history—a ritual he continues today.
While studying at the Art Institute of Boston, Arsenault was instantly drawn to the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings as well as the contemporary realists at the nearby Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. After graduating in 1973, he officially began his career as a professional painter upon settling in Florida the following year. Since then, he has spent much of his career painting the landscape, waterfront, and architecture of Old Naples, as well as contemporary life in coastal communities around the globe.
Arsenault, a Contemporary Impressionist, can often be found working quietly among the ever-changing landscapes of Naples Botanical Garden, painting en plein air—or in the open air. Many of the world’s most celebrated artists such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, and Vincent van Gogh painted in this method to capture the fleeting effects of light on land, water, and clouds. In this tradition, Arsenault leaves the confines of the studio space and immerses himself into the landscapes he paints.
You are invited to take a journey and explore this rich collection of original artworks featuring our 170-acre tropical paradise, as well as a few other Florida gardens in celebration of plein air painting and the Garden’s inspiring landscape.
