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The Marblehead Harbor Rotary will celebrate local artist Paul McMahan on Nov. 12 with a public reception marking the unveiling of his watercolor painting “Abbot After Dark,” the signature artwork for the 2025 Holiday Pops.
The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Masons’ Philanthropic Building, 62 Pleasant St., with light refreshments prepared by Every Little Breeze Catering and a cash bar. Admission is free and open to the public.
McMahan, an award-winning watercolorist and architectural illustrator, has been painting for decades and is known for his depictions of Marblehead’s historic charm. His professional background includes architectural illustration work for projects around the world, including the Louvre Museum in Paris. He has also taught at Harvard University, Boston Architectural College, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Massachusetts College of Art and Design.
McMahan’s ties to Marblehead run deep—he has created about 50 paintings of the town, many displayed in local homes, The Landing Restaurant and the Dolphin Yacht Club. He also curates exhibitions at the Marblehead Arts Association and has served as a judge for the Marblehead Festival of the Arts.
During the reception, guests may purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win McMahan’s original painting, professionally framed by Arnould Gallery and Framery. The artist will draw the winning ticket during the intermission of the Holiday Pops concert Dec. 13 at Abbot Hall. Notecards featuring the artwork and concert tickets will be sold at the event.
Concert floor and balcony tickets will be available online beginning Nov. 12 at rotaryclubofmheadharbor.org, which also includes more information about Marblehead Harbor Rotary and the annual Holiday Pops celebration.
