I just completed a painting purchase from J Russell Jinishian Gallery. I was a bit apprehensive…read moreabout buying artwork online. I could not travel cross country to view the painting so I spent a lot of time reviewing Russell's affiliations and gallery credentials. I was very reassured to discover that Russell is highly regarded in the art community. He is a long standing specialist in maritime art and his gallery is one of the few maritime specialty galleries in the USA. He communicated very well with me and was patient while I worked with an art appraiser over several weeks. The payment process was quite easy and allowed me the safety of making sure the artwork was satisfactory before cashing my check. The gallery did an outstanding job of safely packing the painting in a custom crate for cross country shipping. I'm very pleased with this purchase. I really enjoyed working with Russell and I would not hesitate to purchase another painting from his gallery.

From the owner: Specializing in Fine Marine and Sporting Art since 1997read more

Whenever I can, I love to stop in to visit local galleries. The Lily Pad Gallery has the most…read moreamazing works in what seems to be a carefully curated collection. There were immediately several artists that caught my attention. One was the art of Victor Mirabelli whose large abstract landscapes In muted haunting tones were beautiful. The other was H M Saffer II, whose brightly colored landscapes with a pointillist style were happy and joyful. While the gallery contained mainly paintings there were some sculptures that I inquired about (see pictures) but sadly I didn't get the name of the artist. They were beautifully delicate, lacy sculptures of women that showed great motion and expression. I am not sure but it may have been the gallery owner who was there to answer my questions, she seemed to be very passionate about the art and the gallery. I could tell right away that she knew her art and was happy to share her knowledge. I put myself on the mailing list and look forward to visiting again!

From the owner: Lily Pad Gallery offers the finest quality realism, naturalism, impressionism and abstract works of…read moreart from all over the world. We offer complimentary interior design services, virtual hanging online and will hang works purchased within a 50 mile radius of our gallery!

My friend Sherry mentioned this gallery, improbably located at the Amtrak station located just…read moreoutside downtown Westerly. I was skeptical but as I had a couple of hours to kill before an event at the United Theater I had nothing to lose by stopping in. I was shocked, shocked I tell you, to discover what a find this gallery was. I love art, museums, and galleries, and this was well worth my time. There are several rooms of art ranging from jewelry to glassware, pottery, prints, paintings and more. I had no intention of buying anything and I was tempted by the paintings, most of which were in my price range, but succumbed to a gorgeous bracelet, a charming bowl, and a set of wine glasses (all shown below). The person at the front desk greeted me but then let me roam to my heart's content. When I checked out she explained that the gallery rotated its items on a monthly basis (I think that's what she said). I spent an hour there appreciating every one of the items on display; the prices varied so you are sure to find something there at your price point. There was also a special small exhibit featuring African American artists, which I very much appreciated as an African-American myself. This gallery is a hidden gem. One more reason for me to return to the town of Westerly soon, and I am sure not to leave empty-handed!

I was entertaining guests for the holiday season and wanted very much to visit the gallery…read more A few days ago, we stopped by the front door and checked the hours they were open. According to the posting on the front door, they are open on Wednesdays. Today, we checked the website and and verified the hours they were open as well as Google indicated they were open. We drove all the way to Westerly only to find the place closed up tight. No where did it say they were going to be closed today. We are very disappointed in the lack of communications as to their actual hours. The only avenue we did not exercise was to make a telephone call to verify they would be open. Lesson learned on our part. If they cannot adequately advertise the hours they will be open, they should at least tell people who visit their website, to CALL FIRST; before showing up to closed doors. We gave this place every opportunity but we will not bother going back. If their communication skills are any indication of how the place is managed, I do not think it is worth our while to visit. I am thinking they are closed because there is nothing on Exhibit. The walls were vacant. If there is nothing on Exhibit and you take the time to announce the next Exhibit on your website, you might want to inform potential visitors that the Gallery is CLOSED between Exhibits. Most reputable art galleries have rotating exhibits. This allows the Gallery to be open daily and a variety of artists to display on a rotating basis. We are very disappointed but thanks for an important lesson. Trust no one without a call first.

While in Mystic, my friend and I stopped by the Trade Winds Gallery. This is a very small store…read morewhere they sell artwork, antique maps and frames. This really isn't a gallery, the art peices are randomly placed all over the store. Some are a bit difficult to get a full view of because others are blocking it. My friend found an original 1917 map of West Hartford, the same area where his company's office is located. This was a large map at approximately 30 by 40 inches. It was in excellent shape. Despite it's age, nothing had been fading, all of the words were still legible. It came with a protective cover, covering each edge and corner, the front and back. It was $250. My friend is very happy with his new art piece. He talked to Brian the owner of Trade Winds Gallery for a while. He was very personable and knowledgeable about the maps and the artwork in his store. If you're interested in antique maps and art, please stop by the Trade Winds Gallery in Mystic.

Fabulous treasures inside. Maps, globes and art. Owner is personable and knowledgeable. Don't miss…read moreit!