Lighthouses of the World Series - Teresa Bernard Oil Paintings

The Steadfast Sentinels of the Sea Captured on Canvas

As an artist, I find a wealth of creative inspiration in lighthouses. Their forms, histories, quiet strength, and varied landscapes continue to inspire me. These qualities have led me to create oil paintings of lighthouses from many different coastlines, near and far.

My fascination with them began during the years my family lived on the East Coast while my husband was stationed at Naval Station Norfolk. Those years included summer trips to the Outer Banks, where we often visited the lighthouses along that coastline, and frequent visits to Fort Monroe, where the historic lighthouse on the base became a familiar sight. What started in Virginia grew into a long‑running interest that has shaped much of my work.

Lighting the Way Forward

Over time, the Lighthouses of the World Series expanded beyond those early experiences. The Outer Banks introduced me to the beauty and history of East Coast lighthouses, but my interest didn’t stay rooted in one region. I was also drawn to lighthouses along the rugged Pacific coastline, each one offering its own character and atmosphere. I’ve also painted lighthouses from locations overseas, discovering how different cultures and coastlines interpret the same essential purpose.

What stays with me is not just the architecture, but the feeling of being there — the structure rising against the sky, the sound of the wind, the sense of place that each lighthouse carries. These impressions are what guide my brush more than any specific landmark or travel memory. While I haven’t visited every lighthouse in this series, the ones I have are real places I’ve stood in, walked around, and carried with me long after leaving the shoreline.

The Lighthouses of the World Series is my way of honoring the quiet strength these sentinels carry. They are places that linger — in memory, in atmosphere, in the way they make you feel when you’re standing there. My oil paintings grow out of those moments, translating lived experience into something you can see and feel on canvas.

More Information About Lighthouses

According to data from The Lighthouse Directory, there are more than 24,500 lighthouses around the world. Their purpose has always been practical, but their presence has a way of staying with you long after you’ve left the shoreline.