Honoring the Artist: Casey Chalem Anderson

by Marion Wolberg Weiss

For 16 years, artist Casey Chalem Anderson has been capturing our local landscapes, particularly the view she can see from her window overlooking Sag Harbor's Long Beach. This week's cover, called "Long Beach Clouds," is no exception. "It's a warm weather picture that in certain respects I'm painting all the time," she said.

Even though there are similarities among Anderson's images, there are also distinguishing elements - season, color, mood. Nevertheless, the connections are noteworthy: Anderson's love of life shines through in every painting.

Q: You look at the same setting everyday, yet you don't see the same thing everyday.

A: It's always different, although there's always the same elements of landscape present: beach, strip of land, sky. Today I got a winter view (no leaves on the trees), and the sun was rising underneath a cloud cover.

Q: Why do you pay so much attention to the differences?

A: I live in Bay Point. It's like an island. We have to stop at a Stop sign before we can get on the road. Stopping each time makes me look around and see my surroundings.

Q: You have always been attracted to the water, right? You lived in the Bay area in California.

A: Yes. It gives me a natural gratification to life, being near the water, but I was not doing the type of art that I am doing now in California. I was doing figurative work.

Q: You grew up in New York - maybe the city life drew you to the water and landscapes as a counterbalance.

A: I actually did landscapes while living in the City for a year after California, when I'd come out here waiting for my house to be finished.

Q: What are your best memories of growing up in Manhattan?

A: Going every Sunday with my parents to Washington Square Park, where different musical groups were playing. In many ways, Sag Harbor is closest to Greenwich Village.

Q: Do you miss living in New York?

A: I like it here. It's near the City, and I can go in when I want. It's the best of both worlds.

Q: You've painted as part of the Plein Air Peconic group.

A: I also have been working with the Peconic Land Trust for four years now. It's a great organization, dedicated to preserving open spaces, like Amagansett's Farmers Market and Quail Hill.

Q: Any other projects?

A: Yes - digital art prints of my paintings. The prints are large at three feet. And I'm doing a free monthly newsletter, which is a way to bring enjoyment of art to the general public. It's a nice way to stay in touch with people. Already I've written about ways of looking at Bonard and how artists' signatures are integrated into their pieces.

Q: You are also continuing to teach.

A: I have classes in oil painting for beginners, novices and adults. We're starting new classes in the next few weeks. I call them mini-vacations, but the students work hard. I love helping people with their paintings.

Q: You are a busy person, always coming up with new things.

A: That's me.

Casey Chalem Anderson's work will be shown at the Clinton Academy in East Hampton on June 12 and at the Julie Keyes Studio in Sag Harbor on July 4. For additional information: www.caseyart.com.

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