Like so many of us, whether we’re artists or not, surviving the winter here is a bit challenging. But Cuca Romley, artist and owner of The Winter Tree in Sag Harbor, manages to keep busy and paint all the same. It’s a bit easier for her in one regard, considering her quaint, historic Main Street row house and gallery, which exudes coziness and warmth, no matter what the season.

The following conversation evokes Ms. Romley’s positive attitude, which she maintains all year around, and her sense of risk-taking.

Q: Speaking of risks, you just got back from Rio, where you spent the holidays with your daughter, who lives in San Francisco, and her boyfriend. We hear it’s very dangerous there. Is that true?

A: Yes, it’s true. I didn’t bring a camera or jewelry. The rich people don’t drive fancy cars. The children are wild; they go in groups, gangs. We actually stayed outside Rio, on a mountaintop, a place called Petropolis. It was beautiful, everything was so green, like a rainforest. On New Year’s Eve, we went to Rio to the beach where people dress in white, drink champagne and throw flowers into the sea. The fireworks were spectacular.

Q: Would you go back? Or where else would you like to go? After all, you grew up in Madrid, lived and worked in Paris and New York. You speak four languages. How do you find Sag Harbor in comparison? Are you bored here? Do you have other foreign language people to speak with? I know, that’s a lot of questions.

A: I like it in Sag Harbor. I was so happy to get back from Rio; it’s so safe and peaceful here. I can leave my doors open if I want. I have lived in exciting places, of course, and had exciting positions like doing advertising in Paris. My works appeared in Vogue magazine, for example.

And yes, there are a lot of people who live here with whom I can speak, like Vignoli, the artist from Brazil who had a gallery next door from me. We became friends. There’s also a woman from Tangier here; I lived there, so we can speak French.

Q: Despite your positive experience with many cultures, you’ve had a few tough times, especially in New York. Care to talk about that?

A: I owned a whole building in New York and had a gallery for my own works and other artists, too. It was a beautiful place, with high ceilings. I had a workshop in the basement where I did etchings. After twenty years, I lost the building; I lost the business, everything.

Q: But you picked yourself up and started over.

A: I had no choice. It was necessity. I should write my memoirs.

Q: If you could have your “perfect gallery,” your fantasy gallery, who would you show?

A: Leonor Fine, an Italian artist who’s well known in Europe. And Vic Muniz from Brazil, who used to work with me years ago. He’s in all the major museums.

Q: What’s your schedule like for the future at The Winter Tree? Your gallery may not be your fantasy place, but you show good artists from many different cultures.

A: I’m having an exhibit of erotic art, starting March 24, including the first work I ever did in America. Then, I’ll be presenting paintings by Colini, a Czech artist I have showed before. Also Vignoli, my former neighbor, and maybe some of my own original advertising drawings.

Q: In the meantime, you’ll be staying warm inside your home and maybe painting in the attic, which has been recently cleared and given to you.

A: I really wish I could be one of those animals that hibernate for the winter. I’d like that.

Honoring the Artist: Cuca Romley