A: What has your journey to your current artistry been?
A.D.: Studied in college, then pursued a working career and at age 50 began
pursuing my artistic dream.
A: I know you have been a catalyst in other artists getting their work shown and you’re passionate about your community work. Was there someone in your life, at any stage of your career, who helped push you forward in a similar way?
A.D.: In Jr High studies my art instructor Lina Berry, was a positive influence
for forging ahead with my aspirations.
In High school my instructor Norma Safford instilled the desire to work
forward and fulfill my creative dream.
At KSC my degree program combined Journalism and Art in a Visual
Communications degree. Resulting in a brief career in Journalism before
moving on.
A: What do you find special about local communities of artists?
A.D.: Local communities are important for support and reassurance.
A: Your works are often products of the environment around you. You’ve said that you find beauty in items that have shown their age, such as rust on a car. What do you find beautiful about aging both in items and people?
A.D.: Our world changes day to day, but by portraying it and finding beauty in
what we see, we can hold that aspect and vision for eternity. Thus those
that follow us will appreciate, hopefully, what we have portrayed.
A: What does your studio practice look like day-to-day?
A.D.: Presently it is rather crowded and chaotic as I ready work large and small
paintings for 3 upcoming exhibitions through July and August.
Come September there will be a greater order as I ready it for Open Studio
hours.
A: I’m drawn to your works “A bee happily collects pollen from a lupin bloom.” and “A wild rabbit pauses in a New England garden.”. In both of these you work on archival woven substrates. This material adds such intriguing visual texture to the pieces. What material have you found you prefer painting on? Linen, canvas, another?
A.D.: Linen and panels are easier to manipulate the oil paint over. The woven
substrate presented a challenge as numerous applications of paint were
required against the dimensional background. It was a creative experience I wanted to try.
A: Could you give a bit of insight on your process when it comes to working with woven substrates?
A.D.: The acid free cotton based watercolor paper is archival, meaning it will
last and not undermine the pigments. I used an acrylic layer to seal it
and then applied an oil base before applying my painting compositions to
it. In this case I utilized a heavy 300# weight paper , in the future I
will try a less bulky cotton rag paper.
A: Is this your first time participating in the Keene ArtWalk? If not, how many years have you
participated?
A.D.: I have participated in Keene Art Walk many years, perhaps 25 or more. It
was one of my first venues to present my art to the public and I feel it is
a great way for emerging creative folks to show their work.
A: What are you most excited to display at this year’s Keene ArtWalk?
A.D.: I am working on pieces that promote the color blue for this 2025
Artwalk. One of which is an Open book with flowers emerging from the pages
from a new Series titled "Seeds of Knowledge".
A: How do you practice self compassion as an artist in moments of burn out, block, or frustration?
A.D.: A short break and then I try a different direction in my work. The woven
paper concept was one, the "Seeds of Knowledge" was another way .
A: Looking at “A rainy night in August depicts the west side of Main St and Gilbo Ave corner.” I feel nostalgic of all the times I have walked home in the rain at night down that street. You capture it in such a transporting way. Do you have any personal works that bring back memories in a similar way or maybe any works of others that feel ‘transporting’ to you?
A.D.: Rainy Night is a poetic piece, now in a local collection, but it does evoke
familiar thoughts about newness after the rain, similar to Spring flowers
and the renewed hope they bring.
In these days of political whirlwinds ( IMO) I am finding myself emerging
myself in Spring and floral influenced works.
A: Do you have anything to add?
A.D.: I appreciate your interest in my work. My local gallery is currently
within Hannah Grimes Marketplace in Keene and I encourage folks to peruse
the work as it changes seasonally.
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