This week in the DP Café
Meet artists Carolee Clark and Dee Sanchez
A Chat with artist Carolee Clark
A little personal history?
I was born in a very scenic part of British Columbia. My mother was a hobby artist and my father owned an auto parts store. My sisters and I were encouraged to become professionals so we could earn a living however I floundered between trying to complete a business and economics degree to driving a cab, and finally owning an executive office complex.
All along the way I continued to draw and enjoy the visual arts. My mother gave me a set of watercolors in my 20’s which re-opened the world of color for me. I bought my first painting for $1,000 when I was 27, on time, and realized that owning art is within everyone’s reach.
As I enjoyed that painting every day, it continued to spark my interest in painting. Every time I went into a gallery or art museum I came home enthused to create.
When I sold my business, I realized that I didn’t want to reinvest in another business. I didn’t want to delay doing things that made me happy “for when I retired.” I want to enjoy life, with a sense of humor, doing the things that I love. I decided that I would live more frugally, but focus on only the things that I love to do, with painting and drawing very high on that list.
The medium of choice?
I started painting in watercolor. For many years it was my only medium and I was blind to all others. I’m a little embarrassed to say that when I went to galleries, watercolor paintings were the only type of art that I liked. However, the more art I was exposed to, the greater my appreciation grew for all types of painting.
I began to love the vibrancy of pastels, and for a brief time worked with soft pastels.
Ultimately, between my frustration with the cost and time needed to frame artwork, along with a gallery’s persuasion to move away from artwork needing glass protection, I decided to work with acrylic on canvas.
Each medium has its benefits and drawbacks, but for now, I am very happy using acrylics.
Exposure to art?
I have been exposed to art my entire life. My mom had her paintings around the house and she enjoyed sharing the experience of creating artwork with her daughters. Both of my sisters are very creative.
I believe that everyone is very creative in different ways. It might manifest itself in cooking, gardening or creative thinking. I am a spatial, visual person and even my learning throughout school was influenced by this proclivity. The way that I view the world is spatial, noticing colors and patterns. We played a card game when I was young called “Concentration” where you lie the cards face down on the table and take turns trying to find pairs. I was very good at the game because I could remember the space or angle that the card was returned to on the table.
Art hasn’t changed my life; it has just always been woven through it.
Process?
You will always find me carrying my sketchbook with me. I’ll draw people in cafes, airports, at weddings and in restaurants, I’ll draw cars in parking lots or while I sit in a traffic jam. Recently have I started to take reference photographs and even these I will sketch first. With a very simple sketch, I work out what I liked about the scene, people or subject matter. Then I am free to play with the colors and paint application.
Although I do work on site, especially in the early stages of a painting, or while sketching, I love working in my studio. For many years I wanted a place to paint that wasn’t on the dining room table. I am very lucky to now have a beautiful, calming and peaceful place where I spend my time painting and working. I look out my windows to see a small family farm with cows and sheep to the south, and I look west to see the hills and Marys Peak.
What would you like a viewer of your work to experience?
I want them to be able to see the painting multiple times and never tire of it. I want to paint joyful work that makes people feel good.
See all of Carolee Clark's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/1999/Carolee-Clark
A Chat with artist Dee Sanchez
How would you describe your painting style?
impressionism - I love to capture what I see alla prima with no changes or tweaking. Vibrant, romantic, studio and plein air. Maybe throw in a little whimsical.
What was your earliest indication that you wanted to be a painter?
I drew a pretty amazing chicken at the ripe old age of two (or so I'm told)
Do you come from a painting family, or did you pick it up on your own?
My grandmothers were both big-time gardeners. One was a beautiful quilter, My dad always wanted to be a painter. My aunts were quilters. I guess that creative gene is flowing through my ancestry.
What is your favorite movie & why?
Bridesmaids (because it made me laugh so hard), Harold and Maude (just because), a million others. I could sit in a movie theater ALL day. As long as there's popcorn.
Favorite book? Why?
I loved the Harry Potter books. I read at every spare moment. There are probably 20 books by my chair in the bedroom, another 20 by a chair in the living room, and a bunch of favorites tucked in my closet. Don't get me started.
Favorite type of music? Why?
I love pretty much everything except country music. I paint to Blacked Eyed Peas and Gipsy Kings. I also listen to hip-hop stations, and just about anything and everything in between.
Favorite color? Why?
Old Holland Violet Grey. I have to keep a humongous tube in the studio because I'm scared I'll run out of it.
For how long have you been painting daily?
Since the beginning of 2007.
Do you complete a painting every day?
No. My schedule revolves around lots of deadlines. If I have some sort of challenge going on, I have painted up to 6 in one day. It averages out.
What's your typical day like?
Get up, put the dogs out, feed the birds, meditate for 30 minutes, do computer work, eat breakfast, go exercise and run errands. Come home, eat lunch, get in the studio about 1pm, paint until about 10pm or so. When there's a deadline, none of this applies.
What have you had the most fun painting?
My 150 Challenges; a show I do every two years or so. I paint 150 paintings in 150 days and put them in a month-long show for $150 each. I just had one and have sold over two thirds of them.
How would you like to be remembered?
As someone who raised happy kids, cared about the world, loved life, and lived in the moment. Passionate, a little crazy, and painted art that struck a cord with people. Sexy, sweet. Wait. Maybe that's reaching a little.
What is your favorite room in your house?
My sweet studio; although it could be quite a bit larger and I wouldn't complain. I'd love to have room for workshops and classes and salons.
If you could have dinner with anyone famous, past or present, who would that be?
John Lennon, Mother Teresa, Ghandi, and a different artist every single night.
What are you most proud of in your life?
Finding my passion and making art that resonates. Oh, and raising my girls.
What is one thing about you that few people know?
I used to teach aerobics back in the day. That's why my knees have no cartilage now.
What are people most surprised to find out about you?
That for all of my outward calm and compassion, I can be cranky, opinionated, and very set in my ways.
What one word would you use to describe yourself?
searching
If there was a movie made about your life, would it be a comedy or a drama?
It would be a comedy - too much drama in the world. Maybe a tearful scene in the middle.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If you have a passion or a dream, start taking steps now to make it happen. There are still so many things I want to do and accomplish. Like Nike says, "Just Do it." Anything is possible, you just have to go for it.
See all of Dee Sanchez's work at: http://www.dailypainters.com/artists/artist_gallery/810/Dee-Sanchez
