Why do I paint the sea? It's a question that takes me back to my roots, to my birthplace in Italy where I was cradled by the vast expanse of water. The sea is in my DNA; it's a part of who I am, and it naturally found its way onto my canvases.
My artistic journey began with marine art while I lived in Spain for seven years. I found success in creating portraits of sailboats and vessels, each line and color meticulously capturing the movement of these structures on water. Despite my success, a part of me yearned for something more, something beyond the technically perfect renderings. I felt restrained, yearning to break free from my self-imposed rules and to infuse my work with more of my own essence.
I sought freedom in exploration, in feeling the sea rather than merely painting it. Countless hours were spent by the water, not with a brush in hand, but with my senses open, absorbing the emotions each wave carried, drawing breath with each passing cloud. I realized that the sea was not just water, but a living, breathing entity that was as much a part of me as I was of it.
I ventured into abstract art, not to learn a new style, but to experience art in a different way, to feel it. I wanted my marine work to echo the freedom and emotion that I found in creating abstract art. I sought to make my work truly mine, an authentic reflection of my experiences and emotions.
My approach to art is deeply personal. I work from within, drawing from my memories and emotions, letting them guide my brush strokes. There are no photographs to reference, only vivid memories that come alive with each stroke of the brush. The thrill of having a viewer recognize a place in my painting, a place that exists within the depths of my heart and soul, is immeasurable. That moment, that connection, encapsulates why I paint the sea – to share a piece of myself and my experiences, and to evoke emotions that words can't capture.
Click here to read my latest interview on CanvasRebel - 1/21/2025
Click here to watch my interview with Kristine Fisher host of ArtWaves, Gloucester
Click here to read my article in the Andovers magazine "Air, Light and Art".
Click here to listen to my podcasts with UK artist Celia Hemken
Click here to watch my interview "Art in Conversation with Farrin"
