Simsbury Open Studios: Popular event returns this month
Eleven Simsbury artists will open their studios to the public on Saturday and Sunday, September 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during the 17th Annual Simsbury Open Studios weekend. Visitors will have the opportunity to see local artists working in their studios, ask questions about their creative process, and purchase unique and original art.
Participating artists include: painters,Eileen Anderson, Catherine Elliot, Mike Laiuppa, Deborah Leonard, Linda Madin, Julia Parker Post, Lori Racicot, and Richard Schlicher; lampworker (glass beads), Karyn Sweezy; painter and photographer Quyen Phan; and potter & painter, Ken Picard.
For additional information about the artists or to download a map of their studio locations, please visit www.simsburyartists.org.
Below are interviews with four of the participating artists.
Lori Racicot, Painter
What inspires you to create?
I find inspiration in many places. The colors and light patterns observed on hikes in the woods, walks around town or in a garden; expressions of forest and farm animals; and beautiful scenes in the Farmington Valley and New England are some of my sources of inspiration. Since I was very young, painting and drawing have helped me relax, practice mindfulness, and feel a sense of accomplishment, which inspires me to continue creating.
What medium(s) do you work in and how do you describe your artistic style?
I mainly work in acrylic and watercolor, but I also love oils, inks and pastels. I love to experiment with different mediums, colors, styles and subject matter including abstracts. Much of my work is loose and painterly. When a subject attracts my attention, I decide on my color palette, create some small value and color sketches, choose my favorite sketch, and then recreate it on a larger canvas.
How long have you been part of Simsbury Open Studios, and why do you enjoy inviting the public into your studio?
For the past 16 years, I have participated in Simsbury Open Studios. Inviting the public into my studio to share my process, answer questions and hear how they respond to my work is what makes Open Studios so special to me. As a former elementary school teacher, it is particularly enjoyable to engage with the children and young adults who visit my studio, find out what inspires them, and encourage them to keep creating.
Is there a piece, series, or new direction in your work that you’re especially excited to share with Open Studio visitors?
The past few months, in addition to the barns, birches, animals and other subjects that I typically create on canvas or paper, I have been working on a whimsical animal series created on pieces of wood fencing that I brought to CT from Dallas,Texas 17 years ago.
Karyn Sweezy, Lampwork Glass Artist
What medium(s) do you work in, and how would you describe your artistic style or the way you approach your creative process?
I have always worked with my hands and finding glass as a medium was a natural fit. Glass allows you to sculpt, layer, mix, play with depth and has provided me with endless opportunities to explore. The excitement of new ideas and ways to learn techniques keeps me engaged and often leads to new ideas.
What inspires you to create?
Inspiration comes from my surroundings, often found in nature, but can also come from something as simple as a print on a napkin, or as complex as painting in a museum. I will often break down the world into layers of glass.
How long have you been part of Simsbury Open Studios, and why do you enjoy inviting the public into your studio?
I have been participating in Open Studios for 10 years and love to meet art enthusiasts and share my process. My enthusiasm for this medium has also led me to my job as the executive director for the International Society of Glass Beadmakers where I promote and educate the public about this medium. Lamp working requires a level of safety that has limited my ability to share my small studio. You will find me at 43 Farmstead Lane, where I share a location with Lori Racicot Art. This has been a great opportunity to showcase 2 mediums in one location.
Is there a piece, series, or new direction in your work that you are excited to share with Open Studio visitors?
I am always playing with new ideas and have recently been incorporating painting techniques using glass, by layering various mesh sizes of glass and glass techniques, then fusing the layers by torch firing to create a combination that I refer to as glass collage.
Linda Madin, Painter
What inspires you to create?
I have always had a desire to be creative. I am inspired by the world around me, whether people, animals, nature or places I visit. Painting is a vehicle to share what I see and give the observer an opportunity to be moved and/or create their own story. I am especially inspired to work on commissions that give me the chance to create something that has meaning to the recipient.
What medium(s) do you work in, and how would you describe your artistic style or the way you approach your creative process?
I work in both oils and pastels. I would describe my work as impressionistic realism, leaning one way or the other depending on the subject matter. I begin with a solid composition and then develop strong darks and lights and progress from there adding detail and color.
How long have you been part of Simsbury Open Studios, and why do you enjoy inviting the public into your studio?
I have been a part of Simsbury Open Studios since 2017. I enjoy meeting the public, sharing my work and receiving feedback. People are so kind and encouraging and are always a pleasure to interact with.
Is there a piece, series, or new direction in your work that you’re especially excited to share with Open Studio visitors?
My work varies in subject matter, though I probably do mostly landscapes. I always love to do pet commissions because people love their animals and are so happy to have something to always remember them. I am also hoping to improve my portrait painting skills and will be working more consistently on those.
Deborah Leonard, Painter:
What inspires you to create?
So many different things can inspire me to paint. It can be backlighting on a field of tall grasses or the surprisingly vivid colors on a hillside. It has been mesmerizing shadows under a leafy tree or the pale feathers of a mourning dove sitting on a branch while snow is falling. Sometimes it’s an idea or feeling that comes to my attention. It can begin with a whisper.
What medium(s) do you work in, and how would you describe your artistic style or the way you approach your creative process?
I work in all mediums- acrylic, oil, watercolor, pastel and pen and ink The subject and my mood provide the direction each piece will take. An outdoor plein air session usually produces a more impressionistic approach while a studio piece is more detailed and quiet. Abstracts come straight from gut or heart and the brush strokes are eclectic. I also do jewelry design and work with wood and found objects.
How long have you been part of Simsbury Open Studios, and why do you enjoy inviting the public into your studio?
I am a founding member of the Simsbury Artists group since its inception in 2008. It’s been a wonderful experience to welcome new and returning visitors to my studio each year. Many come to see the latest pieces, some come with an intent to purchase and others come to merely look and enjoy the event. It’s fun and educational for everyone of us.
Is there a piece, series, or new direction in your work that you’re especially excited to share with Open Studio visitors?
Visitors love to hear the backstory or the “why” of a piece. This year will be about color, brush stroke and my process in creating a mood or atmosphere within my work. I teach at The Farmington Valley Arts center and this will be a dedicated exploration for my students.
