Midsummer Sunset, sold My husband Danny and I were reflecting on our recent time showing at the Chatham Festival of the Arts on Cape Cod, August 15-17. What a great weekend!
During the event, some friends came by our tent as a surprise, which was a total treat. I also got to chat with many new people - Cape Cod visitors, Chatham residents, event organizers, and fellow artists and artisans. The painting "Midsummer Sunset" was purchased by a couple I met who spoke of how this piece seemed to call to them. They saw it, and came back the next day to purchase it (above). I was thrilled to be able to meet them and answer their questions about the work... one of the benefits of doing live events such as this. While I love showing my work in galleries, too, collectors and I don't normally get the chance to meet in that setting unless it is a serendipitous moment at the opening reception, for example. I always appreciate the opportunity to connect with people in a direct way. Many giclée prints and artful gifts made their way to new homes. Danny and I felt a sense of gratitude as we turned in at the hotel each night of the show and we talked about touching or memorable moments from each day. One memorable moment was when a bunch of us cheered for and congratulated a younger artist who received an award that weekend for his beautiful booth display and unique artwork made of stones, plaster, sand, and wood. He clearly deserved to be highlighted and valued for his artwork and contribution to the show. In case you'd like to see his work, go to www.carl-lindgren.com. I thought one of the best parts of doing a multi-day show was getting to know so many talented artists. We all became fast friends since our tents were clustered together for 4 days straight (one day of set-up and three days of showing). Artists adjacent to us included a sculptor, a wood carver, a mixed-media artist, a pen and ink artist, and several painters in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. If you are interested in learning more about this event, click HERE. To see some photos and reels of the event, go to my Instagram at @taofineart. Cheers! Deidre
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 We see in art history that artists throughout time have been inspired by the shoreline as a subject matter. I'm just one of many who find this a compelling subject to paint... the place where land, sky, and water can interact as a trio.
Having grown up in Massachusetts my whole life, my family went to the beaches of Maine and Cape Cod for vacations in summertime, and for larger family gatherings in the fall/off-season. These were extremely formative times for me - times that gave me a sense of seasonal rhythms, belonging to a family, and counting on returning to the same places and rituals. Rolling up our sleeves and eating lobster. Rolling up our jeans cuffs and walking barefoot on the cold sand. Collecting driftwood and seashells with my mom and aunts... making sand sculptures and creating washed-up found-object sculptures on the beach with my creative relatives. We as a family are fortunate to continue the tradition of going to the Cape each summer and I personally love going in the off-season even more, even in winter. Spending time by the water is somehow both calming and invigorating for we humans. I have listened and watched people, even in my city studio, respond to my paintings of water and nature with deep sighs, changes in breathing and pace, and staring or gazing quietly. Art and nature helps to center us - it is universal. I also enjoy a little or a lot of abstraction, depending on the piece and my inspiration. This can free up the mind to 'play' as the viewer, and you can enter the picture plane knowing you're at the beach (familiar) but with abstract/imaginative elements of surprise (adventure). I have stored so many photographic memories of different beaches in my mind, I only have to call them up and they are right there for me to draw from. Many of my paintings are created by memory, and they are all created from a deep well of experiences of light, space, movement, and feeling. If you are interested in reading professional reviews of my work, which talk more about this, feel free to check out this page. Speaking of beaches, this National Geographic article came up in my news feed. I was thankful for this welcome respite from regular news reporting. Read it if you'd like to know how our brains and bodies are deeply nurtured by going to the beach! |
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