Artist's Statement

I have been intensely affected by visual stimuli for as long as I can remember, recording my impressions in drawings and paintings. People, places, windows, doors, boats and water have been constant themes throughout my art. The oceans and bays that I have spent my life sailing on and observing and the beaches I walk daily with my dogs have infused a sensibility which translates into my paintings.

For me painting is like magic, creating illusion, evoking memories and feelings. I am excited by skillfully handled paint and constantly exploring new ways to develop my work. Like a scientist exploring the universe, the act of painting helps me to better see and experience my environment. I am always searching for better ways to communicate the feelings and visual complexity I see in the settings I choose to create and try to bring a fresh and unique approach to better depict that which inspires my paintings initially. I use shadows and dramatic light to enhance the architectural realism. In other representational paintings I use reflections, playful compositions and added elements to better communicate the feelings the setting inspired.

My paintings often include windows and doors, both looking out and looking in, referencing the viewer in the painting and creating visual passages for the eye to wander in and around the composition. The viewer is invited to come into the illusion and complete the picture in their own mind and emotional context. To create a mood and draw the viewer in, I often add elements to an existing setting. Signs of human activity almost always appear often in my landscapes and scenes.

The Dogs on the Beach paintings were inspired by the canine scene at the local beaches and depicted the dogs pretty much as they are or as I envision them to be; playing, swimming, socializing and sunning themselves. Their privileged lifestyle is a social commentary of our times. I hope that in addition to enjoying these paintings visually, people will experience a change in their sensibility to both these animals and others.

My paintings tell a story. I am moved by the beauty of my surroundings, intimate architecture that invites one to sit, enjoy and reflect, the joy of our animals running free. I am passionate about our stewardship of our environment and our animal life. My goal is to accurately reflect this slice of time and place that I inhabit and to enrich those around me with images that resonate.

Carol Saxe

Biography