Jeff Eldredge was born on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Raised next to an inlet of Nantucket Sound and in a family where conversation varied among topics of natural history, marine life, oceans, and seafaring, he became interested in all things maritime. Jeff graduated from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1969, and he worked on the water until the late 1990s.

Jeff continued with his art through the years. He was fortunate enough to become an artist member of the American Society of Marine Artists, and a Copley Artist of the Copley Society of Boston. He had a successful one-man show at the American Merchant Marine Museum in 1999. Among his awards is an Award of Excellence at the 17th Annual Mystic International Exhibition. He also illustrated Modern Towing by Captain John Blank, the recognized authoritative text on marine towing. Jeff shows his work at various galleries in New England.

Artist's Statement

I am completely taken by the works of such 19th century marine artists as Robert Salmon, Fitz Hugh Lane and Samuel Waters, and I thoroughly enjoy the enigmatic qualities of the ship portraits of the "China Trade". Winslow Homer and Charles Robert Patterson are also favorite artists of mine.

I enjoy painting stylized, formal ship portraits of the 19th century vessels as well as working in a more contemporary realistic style, where I can use light, shadow and reflections in setting the mood of a painting. The way in which light plays on and in the water fascinates me. I like to pose questions and to present ironies in my work. I strive to make my work speak effectively and to capture simple beauty.