Fred Wiley (1916-2010) Painting en plein air in oil and watercolor, he created land-and seascape scenes primarily on Monhegan Island. Fred Wiley was born in 1916 and grew up in West Hartford, Connecticut. He graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1938 and went on to become a key figure in the plastics industry. Mr. Wiley worked in research and later the development side of the industry. The notable projects he was involved with included developing the plastic bottle, light reflective markers, sonar applications and the cooling system for the Manhattan Project. Always interested in art, he visited Monhegan Island and bought a second home there, ultimately painting scenes around the island year-round. He was strictly a plein air painter and was known for totally immersing himself into his subjects, disregarding weather or other perils.
Fred Wiley died in January of 2010 at the age of 93. Source: Obituary. The Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram. (January 8, 2010)
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