Returning to Nature with Cambridge Art Association
“It is a beautiful thing to remember that art helps our communities return to nature.”
This month, we’re sharing a Q&A discussion I had with Cambridge Art Association about community, early days of pursuing art, and what catches my eye in the creative process of plein air painting.
What are your earliest memories of being artistic? When I was a toddler, I would save all the National Geographic magazines and draw all of the animals, especially lions and dinosaurs.
When did art become a pursuit? After studying marketing in college, I returned to art and created my home studio. Soon, I was back in the flow of creativity and, shortly after, discovered plein air painting. As someone who loves being outdoors and taking day trips to the North Shore or Cape Cod, it was amazing to realize my love for painting and nature day trips could be one.
Noepe Aquinnah Overlook
In what other ways are you involved in the local art community? Early on, I made a commitment to strengthen accessibility and inclusion through art and community, especially for those affected by disability and mental health challenges, as I’ve experienced from polio.
With this mindset, I hosted Seen/Unseen Exhibition & Fundraiser raised $2,200 for Triangle Inc. to empower different abilities.
I have a Virtual Gallery that transforms your viewing experience and is accessible at home.
At the start of the pandemic, I started The Gratitude Project creating small works for big impacts.
What role do you think the artist plays in society? As artists, it is a beautiful thing to remember that we help our communities return to nature. We reflect and reinforce art and nature as necessary elements of life, survival, and stability deserved by all.
What medium do you currently work in and how did you choose this medium? I’ve worked in oil, acrylic, and watercolor. Mostly acrylic these days, due to more focus on plein air painting and taking these studies back into the studio to continue development.
Somewhere Between Here and There
What is your creative process? Where are you finding ideas for your art these days? When I see a landscape or viewpoint in nature that catches my eye, whether in the mud on marshy banks or in a mountainous field, I try to hone in on what about that scene is drawing me in. By narrowing down to that element of light or contrast that is making the scene magical, I can better understand what needs to be captured.
In your opinion, what’s your best/favorite piece you’ve made? I don’t have a favorite piece. My favorite moments are when a new client tells me what they love and why — it is so interesting to see what others gravitate towards or notice in your work that you may not.
The First Day
What is one of your artistic goals? I’m always looking to improve my composition and ability to create a sense of atmosphere. I love meeting and learning from other artists.
What’s your favorite place to see art, and why? All around us, in the simplest ways.
What living artists are you inspired by? Renato Muccillo, Jeanne Rosier Smith, Peregrine Heathcote, Rosanne Croucher
Do you own any art by other artists? Is so, what artists? This year, we commissioned my favorite New Zealand artist Rosanne Croucher to paint a mesmerizing Cathedral Rock scene from Sedona, Arizona titled “Auburn Rising.” It is so stunning, and I feel like I am there every time I look at it.
