Meet the Artist: Nancy Sharpe
I am absolutely thrilled to introduce you to the incredibly talented Nancy Sharpe, the newest addition to our CC collective of exceptional female artists!
I first discovered Nancy's stunning work through a friend in town (a big thank you to Samantha Yanks for the introduction!). When I saw Nancy’s art displayed in Samantha's home, I was instantly captivated—and even more excited to learn that Nancy was a local talent. My first meeting with Nancy was a delight: she brought over a trunk full of her artwork, and let me tell you, it was an experience! I couldn’t resist bringing home not one, not two, but THREE of her original pieces. Nancy's vibrant colors and abstract style deeply resonated with me, perfectly capturing the joy and tranquility I always aim to infuse into my own space. And Nancy herself is just as delightful as her art!
With that in mind, I’m beyond excited to showcase a special collection of her original paintings, created exclusively for Cailíní Coastal. Titled "Borrowed From the Sea" this collection radiates modern vibrancy and embodies the joy we both find in the ocean’s embrace. I’m confident these pieces will bring a touch of that coastal magic into your home, just as they have into mine.
Read on to learn more about Nancy and her latest collection created exclusively for Cailíní Coastal.
Enjoy!
xo Meg
Credit: Nancy Sharpe
CC: Where are you based?
NS: I am based in Shippan Point, a small peninsula on the coast of southern Connecticut.
CC: Tell us about your background and how you got your start as an artist.
NS: I'm a mostly self-taught, intuitive artist known for my bold use of color, texture and that secret something that makes you smile. After a busy life of raising two children, and living and renovating houses on the East coast and the UK, I started painting seriously in 2018, opening my studio the following year.
CC: In what style do you paint/how would you describe your style?
NS: I love to paint vibrant florals, light-filled sea and landscapes and bold abstracts, and every once in a while, I do love a good neutral. Each original is painted with a variety of media, including acrylic, gouache, pencil and oil pastels to ensure beautiful light, color saturation, texture and depth. Each brushstroke is a reflection of my belief in the positive energy that art can bring into our lives.
NS: I am based in Shippan Point, a small peninsula on the coast of southern Connecticut.
CC: Tell us about your background and how you got your start as an artist.
NS: I'm a mostly self-taught, intuitive artist known for my bold use of color, texture and that secret something that makes you smile. After a busy life of raising two children, and living and renovating houses on the East coast and the UK, I started painting seriously in 2018, opening my studio the following year.
CC: In what style do you paint/how would you describe your style?
NS: I love to paint vibrant florals, light-filled sea and landscapes and bold abstracts, and every once in a while, I do love a good neutral. Each original is painted with a variety of media, including acrylic, gouache, pencil and oil pastels to ensure beautiful light, color saturation, texture and depth. Each brushstroke is a reflection of my belief in the positive energy that art can bring into our lives.
Credit: Nancy Sharpe
CC: What inspires your work?
NS: I have a simple intention to capture the beauty of the world around me and infuse it with my own happy, colorful perspective. My paintings are always a reflection of, and inspired by my travels, my gardens and the sea that is just a short walk from my studio.
CC: Tell us about this collection and what inspired it?
NS: Being surrounded by water in Shippan, I am always inspired by the light, salty scent, and beauty of the coast.
This collection, BORROWED FROM THE SEA, captures that bright, happy coastal feeling and was inspired by a saying I came across, while working on the collection concept, ‘We dream in colors borrowed from the sea.’ I was also conscious of, and inspired by the fresh, coastal style of Cailini Coastal and how my artwork would fit into that aesthetic.
BORROWED FROM THE SEA is a collection of twelve abstract original paintings each uniquely inspired by happy, languorous beach days under bright cerulean blue skies. Each painting treats the color blue with a distinctive approach by complementing it with bright pops of summery pinks and peaches, aquas and teals, and warm sand.
BORROWED FROM THE SEA is a collection of twelve abstract original paintings each uniquely inspired by happy, languorous beach days under bright cerulean blue skies. Each painting treats the color blue with a distinctive approach by complementing it with bright pops of summery pinks and peaches, aquas and teals, and warm sand.
Credit: Nancy Sharpe
CC: If you had to choose a favorite piece from this collection, which would it be and why?
NS: Each piece of this collection has a such a special place in my heart, but I might have to say that Summer Entertaining I and II were so much fun to create. In my mind, and if feelings could be colors, these paintings are how I imagine happy get-togethers with family and friends great food, beautiful flowers and twinkly fairy lights.
CC: What do you enjoy painting most?
NS: Because so much of what I do is intuitive, the process also can also become the reveal of what shows up on the canvas. Although I will usually have an idea of what the painting will be, say a floral, abstract or seascape, I don’t always know how it will turn out! It’s all about trusting your intuition and going with the flow.
Credit: Nancy Sharpe
CC: When you’re not painting, what will we find you doing?
NS: Ha! When I’m not painting, I can be seen doing all of the ‘fun’ behind the scenes work of owning and running an art studio - website updates, marketing, shipping, accounting . . . there’s always so much to be done, so it’s a real balancing act! Otherwise, you’ll find me in my garden or making travel plans!
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