Watching — Susan Rand
Figurative painter Susan Rand works within a visual language of quiet observation and pause. Her figures, often viewed from behind, invite the viewer to inhabit their vantage point and look outward through their eyes.
The Story Behind the Art — Kim Schmidt
Behind many artists and creatives are galleries, curators, and collectives whose passion for art, in both historical and contemporary senses, supports these artists in showcasing their work on a broader platform than studio visits. This helps the artists place their work, allowing them to focus on the creative aspect of their world. I met Kim […]
Peering Beyond the Frame — Colleen McGuire
When I visited Colleen McGuire in her Sharon, CT, studio, our conversation turned to the practice of plein-air painting and how it informs her broader artistic vision. McGuire’s work carries the sensibility of film stills – fragments of a larger story frozen in time. Each painting suggests that something has just happened, or is about […]
A Pause in Time — Christina Dobbs
I caught up with Christina Dobbs on a cool summer morning in her studio in Lakeville, CT, for a chat about her painting practice. Dobbs’ work often originates from photographs and experiences she has witnessed, transporting the viewer back to that time and moment. The paintings depict landscapes blurred through gestural marks and washes, […]
Art is a Life Force — Hilary Cooper
It was a warm afternoon when I had a wonderful conversation with Hilary Cooper, a portrait artist who works across multiple mediums – painting, watercolor, and clay. Drawing together likenesses of people, each of her subjects carries a unique narrative.
As we walked around some sculpted heads in progress, I watched how they seemed to […]
Where the Condor Once Roamed – John Paul Philippe & Elvin Rodriguez
On a warm afternoon I set off to chat with John Paul Philippe, originally from Oklahoma, and Elvin Rodriguez from the Dominican Republic, who now live and work in Sharon, CT. Their life is entwined with land – integrating with birds, wildlife, and native plants and coexisting and respecting the place where they collaborate […]
Walking Through Colour – Erick Johnson
Erick Johnson’s work narrates rich surface textures, layered chromatic decisions, and an intuitive approach to composition. He creates paintings that are simultaneously architectural and emotional, intimate and expansive. Johnson’s works are a study in contrasts: finely flat surfaces carry the memory of earlier paint layers pushed and pulled, while negative space winds a whispered line […]
To Dance with Paint – Bill Hardy
I first met Bill Hardy when he was working at Millbrook School; I approached him about life drawing classes, which were hard to find 18 years ago in this area. He generously helped us, a group of artists, and we had many delightful evening sessions quietly working alongside him. Hardy grew up in San […]
End of Summer – Rebecca Ward
Rebecca Ward is a visual artist from the UK who investigates the world of plants as her muse, letting herself be pulled into the detailed tangle of twining leaves, twigs, and branches. A myriad of delicate lines intertwine on the pages, introducing the wildflowers that are so easily overlooked. Ward has traveled and lived […]
Leora Armstrong: An Engagement with Place
By Emma Defries
Emma Defries is based in London and works at the Lisson Gallery; she is also opening a UK residency in collaboration with the Public Statue and Sculpture Association. We had a lovely natter about her work over a cuppa.
Could you share the earliest influences that shaped your creativity?
I grew up on the […]