Original artwork inspired by nature's beauty, power, and mystery
Sally Loughridge Studio
Sun Dance (triptych), oil and gold metal leaf on cradled birch panels SOLD
Welcome tothis web gallery of my original artwork. I paint primarily in soft pastel, and oil. Each medium has its own appeal. With oils, the process of mixing, layering and glazing hues of different values and temperature is engaging and rhythmic. Soft pastel is a medium of particular vibrancy and immediacy. Almost pure pigment with minimal binder, pastel gives paintings a richness of color and stroke that is both characteristic and striking. By their shape and concentration of pigment, pastel sticks may be used in a linear or painterly manner, or some combination of the two. Preparing my own surfaces for pastel painting gives me the freedom to vary the texture and tone of the ground. I enjoy combining media, such as using acrylic or watercolor as an underpainting for a soft pastel work, as well as experimenting with gold metal leaf in combination with oil or soft pastel.
My paintings reflect my love of the Maine coast, where sea, sky, and land meet in myriad and compelling ways. I am fascinated by shifts of weather, time of day, and season which bring changes in light, shadow, and mood to each scene before me. I try to convey my response to and interpretation of the light play that enwraps the natural world and excites me.
I am now happily exploring another artistic interest, that of jewelry design. I make one of a kind necklaces and earrings with silver, other metals, beads, crystals, and found objects. As in my paintings, each piece is inspired by a palette of nature's hues, shapes, and shades. I hope you will visit the Jewelry Gallery on this site.
The Soft Pastel Gallery includes a selection of sold and currently available work created with soft pastels and at times, soft pastel with acrylic or gold metal leaf. The Oil Gallery shows a similar mix of sold and available works. Please feel free to contact me about a specific painting. You may order limited edition prints through the "Prints and Shows" page. I invite your comments on my paintings and this site.
Please join me for a discussion of “The Restorative Power of Art”
sponsored by the Pastel Painters of Maine
Friday November 22, 12 noon until 2 pm
Osher Hall, Porteous Building
Maine College of Art
I will share my book, Rad Art: A Journey Through Radiation Treatment (American Cancer Society, 2012), as an example of how imagination can help boost one's emotional equilibrium and sense of self. By creating a small painting every day during six and one half weeks of radiation therapy, I sought solace, distraction, and release. The process of creating these 5 x 7" spontaneous paintings in twenty minutes or less, rather than the paintings per se, was the critical element in my coping strategy. In this workshop, we will explore visual expression and other modes of creativity – such as movement, music, and poetry – as tools to promote emotional healing, communication and hope.
A brief business meeting of PPOM will precede the PowerPoint presentation and discussion. I’m looking forward to a lively conversation!
Open to the public and free of charge
Shows
November 13 - December 21, 2013 Artists Holiday Show
Opening Reception November 16, 5 - 7 pm
Holiday Party December 21, 5 - 7 pm
Tidemark Gallery, Waldoboro, ME
November 15 - December 12, 2013 Celebrating Color
Juried show, River Arts, Damariscotta, ME
Opening Reception November 16, 5 - 7 pm
December 9 - January 14, 2014 The Art of Giving
Invitational show, Damariscotta River Grill, Damariscotta, ME
Storm over Red Barren, soft pastel on panel
Shows In 2013
June 7 - July 13 Art.Works
Juried show, Art Collector Maine and River Tree Arts, Kennebunk, ME
June 28 through September 29 Interesting Perspectives
Invitational show, Salt Exchange Restaurant, Portland, ME
June 29 - June 30 Maine Home + Design Show
Juried show, Art Collector Maine/Maine Home + Design, Rockport, ME
July 14 Sixth Annual Paint for Preservation
Juried wet paint auction, Cape Elizabeth Land Trust, Cape Elizabeth, ME
July 22 - September 15 Painting Maine IV
Small group show, Damariscotta River Grill, Damariscotta, ME
August 1 - 31 New Coastal Works
Archipelago, Rockland, ME
August 8 - 17 Visions of the River!
Group show, Damariscotta River Association
August 9 - September 6 Pastels by Invitation
Invitational national show, Creative Arts Center, Chatham, MA
November 13 - December 21, 2013 Holiday Show
Tidemark Gallery, Waldoboro, ME
November 15 - December 12, 2013 Celebrating Color
Juried show, River Arts, Damariscotta, ME
December 9 - January 14, 2014 The Art of Giving
Invitational show, Damariscotta River Grill, Damariscotta, ME
Galleries
Original paintings: Mast Cove Galleries, Pemaquid Art Gallery, and Tidemark Gallery
Original handmade jewelry: Summer Island Studio Gallery and Tidemark Gallery
Teaching
Future class and workshop offerings will be posted here.
Book
Recent Awards for Rad Art
WINNER: Women's Issues and FINALIST: Health - Cancer
2013 USA Best Books
Rad Art: A Journey through Radiation Treatment
Published by the American Cancer Society 2012
When I had breast cancer in 2010, painting helped me endure and heal emotionally. During the time between my diagnosis and the start of radiation, I experienced a rush of powerful emotions, which I could not always name. By creating a small painting every day after my treatment, I hoped I would find solace, distraction, and release. Each five-by-seven-inch spontaneous painting was made in twenty minutes or less. I did not want to think too much. The paintings themselves were not intended to be art per se; rather, the process of creating them was the critical element in my coping strategy. This sequence of thirty-three paintings, together with corresponding log entries has become a book,published by the American Cancer Society. The book is available through many distributors online including http://www.cancer.org/cancer/bookstore/index, and www.amazon.com. To see a podcast interviewing me about the book, go to: http://pressroom.cancer.org/.
* Winner of the Gold Medal in the Book Category at the 2012 Association TRENDS All Media Contest, sponsored by Association TRENDS, a division of Columbia Books
* Named one of four finalists in the Women's Issues Category of the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards by the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group
* 2013 USA Best Books Awards: WINNER: Women's Issues and FINALIST: Health - Cancer
If you or a loved one has cancer, there is a lot of information on this show about client services and resources from the American Cancer Society. In the second portion of the show, I am interviewed about my book, Rad Art, as an example of using creativity to help navigate the cancer journey.
Prints
These paintings are now available as limited edition fine art prints through the "Prints and Shows" page.
Sea Gold on Lobster Cove Marsh Notes Sasanoa River Buoy Sail Play
Sun at the Island Inn
Cathedral Lights
As Summer Wanes. . .
Ten Pound Island and Camden Hills
Light Beyond
Delano Park SOLD
Other Recent Paintings. . .
Spark SOLD
Iris Patch SOLD
Evening Wrap SOLD
To Contact Me
For more images, please click buttons on above left.
Please note that image resolution is set for web use and does not reflect the true resolution of the artwork. All rights reserved. Text and images copyrighted 2013. Updated December 2013.
