CTSA is an informal group of painters who like to paint outdoors in the landscape.

It was founded in 2007 by a few people who had met in outdoor watercolor classes at the Guilford Art Center; as it became more established, the group took the name Connecticut Shoreline Artists (CTSA) in 2010. It is based in Guilford but includes painters from along the Connecticut shoreline. Depending on weather, every week from around mid-April to early December participants (with their gear for watercolor, pastel, oil, or acrylic painting) arrive on Thursday morning at a location somewhere between the Branford River and the Connecticut River. Numbers can include anything from two to two dozen painters, or more. All media, all ability levels, all welcome!

A volunteer from the group arranges the venues and provides information about the location plus driving directions, posted on the CTSA Blog. After each session, a brief summary with photos of the place and some of the paintings is usually posted on the blog. Painters often stay on for lunch, outdoors or at a local cafe, to chat and to share information about art activities in the area. From time to time, there are opportunities to show paintings at a local museum or other venue.

CTSA has no dues, no formal membership, no by-laws, no participation requirements, and no officers. It exists purely to provide a time and place for plein air painters to paint together on the beautiful shoreline and rural countryside in and around Guilford.