A creative collaboration between Cohasset photographer Brian Sager and Cape Cod artist Clara Clough has resulted in festive holiday decor with South Shore flair.
By Maria Allen
The walls of fine art photographer Brian Sager’s Cohasset gallery are filled with large-scale images of majestic sailboats, scenic coastlines, and ocean waves painted in soft New England light. During the holiday season, however, some of the most coveted items on display are a collection of limited-edition nautical nutcrackers.
Each custom nutcracker is handpainted by Cape Cod artist Clara Clough using coastal colors and patterns inspired by one of Sager’s photographs. This creative collaboration began several years back when Sager’s wife, Carey, discovered Clough’s work on social media. She was instantly drawn to Clough’s whimsical art style and the heirloom quality of the painted nutcrackers she created.
“I’ve always loved the idea of nutcrackers,” says Carey. “When I saw Clara’s work, I thought it would be amazing to combine her artistry with Brian’s coastal photographs.”
Clough agreed to do an exclusive collaboration, designing two hand-painted nutcrackers that captured the essence of one of Sager’s coastal images. The debut collection was an instant hit with South Shore shoppers, selling out almost immediately.
Now in the third year of their collaboration, the decorative nutcrackers have continued to grow in popularity. Each holiday season, Sager and Clough release new designs inspired by fan-favorite coastal scenes. Last year’s nutcrackers drew inspiration from Sager’s Summertime Sail and Flying Fish seascapes.
Buyers have the option of personalizing their nutcrackers with custom details, such as crown engravings featuring their favorite seaside town abbreviations—COH for Cohasset, ACK for Nantucket, and more. Clough, who also hand-paints champagne bottles and bespoke holiday gifts, brings her signature artistic flair to each piece.
Sager hopes to have this season’s limited-edition nutcracker designs available in time for the Cohasset Holiday Stroll. “Each nutcracker tells a story,” says Sager. “They celebrate the beauty of the coast and bring a little seaside magic into your home for the holidays.”
To learn more, visit briansagerfineart.com.
