“Hitting the Shore” This painting was painted last September during my artist-in-residence at Fire Island. During those two weeks, I was able to study the ocean waves: the forms, texture, and colors of the waves. Yes, the waves are not red but red symbolizes power and energy.
Passion & Discovery
Séraphine Louis and Maud Lewis both had secret passions for painting and both were discovered serendipitously.
Séraphine Louis (1864-1942) was a self-taught French painter in the naïve style. She was inspired by religious art and church stained glass; the intensity of her color and the replicative floral designs. Painting in the evenings after her domestic work she was soon noticed by renowned German art collector Wilhelm Uhde, her employer. He would serve as her patron and champion promoting her work alongside other leading primitive artists. I was immediately drawn into Séraphine’s work. The unique color combinations are fighting and working together all at the same time. Creating a painting that moves your eye around the canvas. Look at that red background. It makes the painting. Not very many artists can pull that off.
Maud Kathleen Lewis (1903-1970) was a self-taught Canadian folk artist from Nova Scotia. She achieved national recognition in 1964 and 1965. She painted on wooden boards using bright colors in her paintings. The subjects in her paintings were often of nature, animals, inspirations from her childhood and local landscapes. She was discovered by an NYC women who had a summer home in the area. She sold her little paintings out of her one room house on the side of the dirt road. People started flocking to the little house. Even Vice President Nixon bought one of her paintings. I enjoy the simplicity of the shapes and colors that are the foundation of Maud’s paintings. Look at the compositional balance of her bird painting. Some people will pass judgment on the simplicity of folk artists, but it is extremely difficult to paint in this style because every element counts.
