| Issue #38, December 14, 2007 |
Honoring the Artist: Yvonne Dagger
While this week's cover artist, Yvonne Dagger, paints many of her subjects outside, right on the beach, this was not one of them. And for obvious reasons. She says she got the idea for "Used-Up Snow Days" when she was painting this summer and thought of how "lucky we are to have changing seasons in Long Island. Then I thought of the winter, and this cover emerged."
Q: Why do you like to paint on the beach, besides the routine reasons?
A: My husband surfs; and I like to paint when he's surfing. We go down before dawn, and I paint the sunrise. What amazes me is the way the sun hits the waves different times of the day. I feel a oneness with nature; it's amazing how I get emersed.
Q: Is there any place else you feel this oneness besides Long Island?
A: We just went to Hawaii in October; it was our third visit. I'd love to live there and paint the sunrises and sunsets. I'd love to live in Paris, too. We saw a lot of art there. Some made me cry, especially Monet's water lilies. I was disappointed with Mona Lisa, however; it was behind plexiglass.
Q: And there are so many crowds standing in line to see the Mona Lisa. Anyway, I assume Monet's Impressionism inspires you in your own work?
A: Yes, my technique combines modern Pop, Impressionism and traditional Representationalism.
Q: How do you work when you're at the beach?
A: I stay for the morning only and finish the whole painting in 3-4 hours. I go into an altered state. I don't even realize people are standing around watching me until I have to chase a paper towel down the beach.
Q: How about in the studio? Is it different?
A: If I don't feel comfortable with a work, I have to take a break. I take it in another room. If I move away from it, I feel better. When I paint on the beach, I don't go back into them. I paint what I see at the time.
Q: Have you been painting all your life?
A: Yes, although I remember that when I was 11 years old, I got my first oil painting set.
Q: Your parents must have been in the arts..
A: My father painted; my mother designed clothes. One client was Lucille Ball. My grandmother designed hats. She had millinery business.
Q: Even though you were surrounded by family members who were in the arts, when did you get serious yourself about art?
A: About 15 years ago. I went back to school, to Hofstra, and learned that that being in fine arts was a possibility for me. It was a lot of hard work, but I was able to show in New York and the Hamptons.
Q: What's been your fondest moment?
A: My family will say the day my portrait of Ellen DeGeneres was on her TV show. But mine was when I won an award in 1995 in Connecticut given by my peers.
Q: How about fond moments as far as people who own your paintings?
A: A collector told me he looks at my painting in the dining room when he eats, and it gives him peace.
Q: What are you working on now in your studio?
A: Still lifes of pocketbooks, shoes, socks and sneakers.
Q: That's quite an interesting mix of objects.
A: I like the shapes, color. I throw them in a pile; it makes for an interesting composition. I like to experiment. I once did the inside of my kitchen closet.
Q: You wouldn't want to paint mine, that's for sure.
A: Who knows.
- Marion Wolberg Weiss
Ms. Dagger's work can be seen at Southampton's Chrysalis Gallery. Call 631- 287-1883.
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