Reminders of connection
“Interior 45” (oil on wood panel ), by Carolyn Letvin, a Plainville, Mass., artist who’s showing her work in the Galatea Fine Arts (Boston) online gallery. This text went with it:
“The light splashes in. This interior has seen so many days. There are the remnants of coffee cups clinking, laughter as stories are being told; the chairs take on human characteristics, in conversation, holding the moments of daily life being experienced and cherished.’’
See:
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galateafineart.com
'Plein air' inside
"Interiors #41 (oil on wood panel), by Carolyn Letvin, in her show "Intimate Interiors and Other Artistic Comforts,'' at Galatea Fine Art, Boston, through Feb. 28.
She says:
"I find interior spaces to be engaging and compelling. There’s a 'lost in time' sense about the rooms that call to me, which I believe is the essence of their allure for me and others. I do all of the paintings in the actual space. I like to stretch the definition of 'plein air' by including these works in that category. Even though I’m inside, I do usually have windows and doors open. And I deal with many of the same considerations that painting outdoors create, like changing light and visual editing of the subject. But I don’t have to deal with Mother Nature so much, which I consider a good thing!''
A nation of sheep
One of the paintings in Carolyn Letvin's show "Am I Dreaming,'' at Galatea Fine Art, through March 27. She told the gallery:
"I've been painting Jacob sheep for 14 years. When I began, I had no idea that they would engage me as a visual subject for such a long time! As when I started painting them, I still get a charge from the results of the combination of my hand, the medium and the subject. One of the things that has evolved through the making of them is that I've pretty much eliminated any identifiable background. I think the flat color background accentuates the negative space of the composition. To me, composition is, as with any piece of art, the most important element in the painting. No matter how well the picture is painted, if the composition is lacking, the piece will not be successful.
Sheep are often one of the first images we see in our lives. Think of all the nursery rhymes and children's stories that involve or are about sheep. In my case, one of my very first memories is of painted wooden cut-outs of Little Bo Peep and her sheep that my mother had hanging above my crib. I can envision that room and how the "art" was hung to this day.