Q & A with Mary Callahan and Ann Murphy

Mary Callahan and Ann Murphy transform the NSAA Hallway Gallery this month with bold, sun-drenched scenes of Italy and France and as well as subtle and impressionistic coastal scenes. The artists took time from their last-minute exhibition preparations to answer the questions that we posed, and for their gracious cooperation, we thank them both!
Don't miss the chance to see the work of these two notable artists, Mary Callahan, working in watercolor, Ann Murphy working in watercolor, oil and pastel, who have mastered and find their finest expressions in these challenging  mediums.
The opening reception will be held on Sunday, May 17th from 2 to 4 p.m., when you'll have the chance to meet Mary Callahan and Ann Murphy in person and ask your own questions of these two fine artists!

Mary Callahan "Wine Country"

Ann Murphy  "Passing Squall"

 


Mary Callahan: a question and answer session

Interviewer: Please introduce yourself with a short biography or artist statement:

Mary Callahan is a director of the New England Watercolor Society, a Copley Master in the Copley Society of Art, a signature member of Allied Artists of America, NY, and also Academic Artists, CT.

Callahan is represented by galleries in the Boston area, the South Shore and North Shore as well as the DeCordova Museum in their Corporate Program.
Her free, impressionist paintings have earned over 150 awards from National and Regional exhibitions and are in the permanent collection of Bridgewater University, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston as well as private collections in the US and in Europe.
Callahan teaches watercolor at the South Shore Art Center in Cohasset, MA and at the North River Art Society in Marshfield Hills, MA.



Interviewer: What themes or personal narratives are related to your work?
Mary: "I love to travel, mostly to Italy and France, and many of my paintings are the result of these trips."

Interviewer: What kinds of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have?
Mary: "I have a studio outside of my home and I find by going off for the day I am more productive."

Interviewer: What is the most indispensable item in your studio?
Mary: "All I need are the most obvious items - paint, brushes, water, and good watercolor paper."

Interviewer: What is the first artwork that you ever sold?
Mary: " The first painting I ever sold was the result of the first arts festival I ever entered and I was absolutely shocked!"

Interviewer: What memorable responses have you had to your artwork?
Mary: "I guess the most memorable experience was when I entered my first National show in NY and I received the Silver Medal."

Interviewer: Do you have a favorite or most inspirational place?
Mary: "I would have to choose Rome."

Interviewer: What creative medium would you love to pursue, but haven't yet?
Mary: "Actually, I have tried all painting media, as well as sculpture, but I have to say, nothing makes me happier than watercolor."

Interviewer: What is the best advice that you've ever received from a teacher or mentor?
Mary: "Keep doing what you're doing."

Interviewer: What essential lesson do you hope to communicate with your own students?

Mary: "As a watercolor instructor for twenty years now, my favorite saying is “Don’t be afraid, it’s only a piece of paper!" I think that by taking the stress out of the process people are more apt to produce a more exciting and original painting."








Ann M. Murphy: a question and answer session


Interviewer: Please introduce yourself with a short biography or artist statement:

Ann M. Murphy grew up in Lexington, MA and York Harbor, ME, attended schools in Lexington, graduated from Lasell College and has studied with nationally recognized artists and prominent New England artists. Her love of the ocean began

as a young child when her summers were spent at her grandparents' cottage in Scarborough, Maine. She and her husband live on the southern coast of MA. The artist paints in pastel, oil, and watercolor, ranging from representational landscape and seascape to a semi-abstract series of shorebirds and sea life. The sensitive and ethereal quality of these paintings gives her work distinction.
Ann is a juried artist member of Academic Artists, the North Shore Arts Association, a signature artist member of the American Society of Marine Artists, a Distinguished Artist of the Copley Society of Art, a signature artist member of the Pastel Painters Society of Cape Cod, a Gallery Artist of the South Shore Art Center, and a former Board Member of the New England Watercolor Society.
She has won numerous awards in national exhibitions throughout her career and her work is found in private and corporate collections. Ann is a listed artist in "Who's Who in America", "Who's Who in American Women" and "Who's Who in the World"

Interviewer: What themes or personal narratives are related to your work?
Ann: " My paintings are impressions of found and imagined colors of the landscape. Using nature as my inspiration I paint mostly along the New England coast of work from my sketches, photographs or memory. Shapes, which are first blocked in with values of limited color, become more informative as the mood develops and the subtlety of colors are complete. I hope to share with the viewer the magic sense of place found in my favorite locations."

Interviewer: What is the most indispensable item in your studio?
Ann: "I have an arrangement for each medium. Oils, a studio easel and taboret. Pastels; my husband built a wall easel for pastel work. A "U" arrangement of table height holds my pastels, allowing me to work at the easel in the middle of the the "U" setup. A drafting table has become the watercolor station. It's wonderful for each medium to have its own space."

Interviewer: What is the first artwork that you ever sold?
Ann: " The first artwork sold was at a juried art festival to a couple I had never met before."

Interviewer: What memorable responses have you had to your artwork?
Ann: "(1) Your work in very subtle and gentle, but makes a strong impact. (2) Your paintings are like poetry."

Interviewer: Do you have a favorite or most inspirational place?
Ann: "I enjoy painting along the coast, marshes, -nature- especially if there is water."

Interviewer: What creative medium would you love to pursue, but haven't yet?
Ann: "Cold wax medium sounds very interesting. I love the abstract quality it allows."

Interviewer: What is the best advice that you've ever received from a teacher or mentor?
Ann: "Pay attention to your edges." "Avoid painting rocks that look like potatoes."