Artist Jean Jack has earned a reputation for her unique, and now iconic, rendition of New England-style farmhouses and barns. Although she had no personal experience growing up in or around these structures, she found herself mesmerized by a particular farmhouse in Connecticut while in the early stages of her artistic career. After surreptitiously photographing this structure, she painted her own version and entered it in a competition at the famed Silvermine School of Art in New Canaan, Connecticut. Her competition win affirmed her passion for the subject matter.
An Ann Sklar painting invites contemplation. Save for the occasional hint of an island or beach—her minimalist, evocative seascapes are all about the intersection of sea and sky. “I meditate, so I think that’s why my paintings inspire the feelings that they do,” says Sklar. “Especially now, with what’s going on in the world I can go into my studio and escape a bit, and that’s hopefully what my work can do for other people as well.”
With the eyes of an artist, the words of a poet, and the mind of a scientist, Eric Hopkins has engaged numerous people through his art and with his thoughts about life on this Big Blue Planet. He captures the dynamic forces and rhythms of nature in watercolors, oils, blown glass, mixed media, and photography. His vision focuses on the Big Picture of the natural world, geological and geographical forms, and the exchange of energy between Earth, Water, and Sky.
“This series is spotlighting women of color, and it’s a snapshot of them in a manner that they’re not usually seen,” he says. “It’s an effort to refine a narrative regarding women of color to capture introspection and to draw out a hidden beauty.” The paintings show women as they go about preparation for their day, Dennis says. One of nine children who has five older sisters, he is well acquainted with the patterns and rituals of women getting ready in the morning.