Elaine Thompson remembers getting a box of crayons for the first time in the 1940s when she was a schoolgirl in Sayville and trying out art techniques that Jon Gnagy taught on television.

Those were formative moments for the Bohemia-based painter, who is known for crafting scenes of lighthouses and other local landmarks such as the Big Duck in Flanders. Her work extends to Long Island’s vaunted golf courses, where for more than two decades she’s been selected to paint commemorative posters for professional competitions, including U.S. Open tournaments at Shinnecock Hills and Bethpage State Park.

“The most gratifying thing is everyone that buys my art is very happy,” Thompson said in an interview.

Thompson, 82, was commissioned this year to create a commemorative piece for the 2025 Ryd

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