Honoring the Artist: Sharon Keffelman

This week's cover artist, Sharon Keffelman, feels comfortable in many places, including her homes in both New York and Westhampton Beach ( where she's lived for 30 years ). She has also just returned from painting poppies in Provence, so it's no wonder that the following conversation took place on a busy day, between chores Ms. Keffelman had to do back in New York.

Q: Even though you have lots of choices of subject matter, what's your favorite thing to paint?"

A: Landscapes, particularly and beaches like what's on the cover. But I enjoy what I can paint outdoors the most.

Q: What exactly do you like about that kind of painting?

A: I like saturating myself all day looking at the subject. I can really commune with nature that way. It's also a metaphysical experience to paint outside.

Q: Some artists say they go into an alternate state when they work no matter where they are. Maybe it's like that.

A: Yes. You also have to be a bit of a camper to sit there all day long.

Q: Do you ever paint outside in New York. After all there is Central Park for landscapes?

A: Yes, I've done that, but most recently I did a commission for a neighbor and painted her with her dog on the street. It was a cityscape.

Q: Was it really a cityscape or the fact that you also do animal portraits, mostly dogs?

A: I love animals, and it was really a portrait of the dog.

Q: How did you first get interested in art? You were a teacher first in Toronto where you grew up.

A: When I first came to New York as a young woman, I would walk along Madison Avenue and look at the galleries. It was then that I decided to study art. When I got married, I went to the New York School of Design and studied Interior Design. The color class I took, where I had to mix colors, also inspired me.

Q: Any other inspirations that were earlier?

A: Yes, I remember drawing my son's little toys, like Batman, so he could color them. I guess that was the first time I picked up a pencil to draw.

Q: You have taken art lessons all your adult life and continue to do so, with artists like Wolf Kahn, for example, and at Master Workshops at the former Southampton College. You've also been in a lot of art shows.

A: Yes, I am a lifetime student. There's always something to learn.

Q: What do you see yourself doing in ten years?

A: Doing the same thing, only better, I hope.

- Marion Wolberg Weiss

You may contact Ms. Keffelman at 631-288-2551 for more information.

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