About the Artist

Rita Bernier is an artist who draws the inspiration for her work from the atmosphere and color of the Cape Cod landscape. Her favorite subjects are the quiet beauty of the Cape and portraits of children. She feels that having the gift of being able to draw and paint is a blessing that has given her life a wonderful dimension.

Rita was raised in Weymouth and lived in Medfield and Southboro before moving to Cape Cod in 2003. She received a BA degree with a major in art education and a BFA degree with a major in studio art from Emmanuel College. She also received a Master’s Degree from Lesley College in Creative Arts in Teaching. She was an art teacher in the Medfield school system from 1980-2003 having taught grades one through 12. The majority of her teaching years were spent at the high school level teaching advanced studio classes. She has also taught adult education classes in drawing and painting.

Rita enjoys being able to interpret her subjects in different media whether it be oil, watercolor, or pastel. She has been inspired by the many wonderful artists she has studied with such as Kathy Anderson, Judi Betts, Tim Clark, Doug Dawson, Robert Douglas Hunter, Andrew Kusmin, Tom Lynch, Bill Maloney, Richard McKinley and George Shedd. Her work has been accepted into many juried shows and she has won numerous awards such as first place in the Cape Cod Art Association Founders Choice exhibit and first place in the Yarmouth Art Guild members exhibit. She was an exhibiting artist at the Artists Gallery in Dennis and the Hillport Gallery in Sandwich. Her work can currently be seen at the Gallery on Main in Falmouth and on her website.

Rita is a member of the Northside Artists, the Falmouth Arts Center, the Sandwich Arts Alliance, the Cape Cod Arts Center, and the Cotuit Center for the Arts.