Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Open Studio
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Funny, irreverent and full of surprises, the work of artist AnnMarie O’Dowd fills the space its in with a sort of worldliness that’s all the more compelling coming from her unassuming subject matter. Farm animals, bowls of fruit, family and most of all dogs occupy the worlds of her richly textured canvases. The knowingness in their expressions and the attitude of their poses all more intriguing coming from them.
It’s like the cow staring dryly out over his fence can’t believe you would take yourself so seriously. And even though he’s orange against a green sky he somehow drives his point home. Once you start engaging with her paintings, in their wry technicolor wisdom, it’s hard to stop.
For O’Dowd the process of painting a canvas is as meaningful as the final result. Since she evolved from a black and white photographer and graphic designer to a painter seven years ago, she has made the process into a therapeutic constant in her life. She says she loves the feel and the immediacy of paint, that after years of hovering over trays of toxic chemicals in tiny darkrooms, she revels in the pure, harmless nature of paint.
O’Dowd has also worked hard to cultivate a community of women artists who support, critique and inspire each other. In the sunny warmth of her kitchen, women gather together regularly to paint. “I wanted to create a community,” she says. “Like a home; you need food, flowers, comfort. [This gives] women a chance to express their creativity whereas they couldn’t before.” For her, the art is an outlet, and that keeps it invigorated and fresh. When it becomes goal-oriented, she says, when it’s just about getting the art to sell, that’s when the pantings pile up - absent of meaning for both the artist and the audience.
“It’s the cheapest therapy you could ever find,” she says of her painting group. “You get focused on the paint and not on every little word.”
One of six children, AnnMarie discovered photography very young, and captured images of her siblings that still inspire her today. She worked in black and white photography all the way through school at MA College of Art before ultimately completing her degree in graphic design. She still creates most of her paintings from black and white photos so she can “make up the colors. So it’s “never the color you see” in the real world.
A show of AnnMarie O’Dowd’s paintings is currently on view at Quebrada Baking Company in Wellesley, MA, and will be there through June. She has an upcoming show at Cambridge Commons which will run from September 11 through October 23.
Comments
unbelievable! AnnMarie’s art is great and it makes me smile. i want the pig....
Yeah AnnMarie!
Soon the whole world will know how great you are. I wish I had some painting skills, just so I could be in your painting group! Hope to see you soon, -Rebecca
Wow!
You’d better have ALL your images copied into Giclées!!
You’re going to sell out!!
Bob
These make me smile--- can’t wait to see them! Gardi
I love animals and art! What a special gift you have to offer those who love both. It would be such an inspiration to join you in your kitchen some day.
those paintings are so fun. they make me happy too!
I knew you were going to explode unto the art scene sooner or later. Great job!
thank you for taking time “out of the kitchen” and sharing your wonderful talents...your creations definately have a “feel good engery”.
fantasic work. your animal love shows through.
Dear Ann Marie,
What fun you must have creating your art! Will look forward to visiting you in your new , larger studio, at # 46
Ann Marie,
What a great article !
You are truly talented !!
I especially love all of the floral prints on your website.
Auntie Ann
Ann Marie....
I’m so proud of you ....
Your paintings are amazing !! I never get sick of looking at them...they are so bright and cheery !!
I showed all of my friends at work the article today and they couldn’t believe what a talented cousin I had…
Keep up the good work....
--Linda
Ann Marie:
Such great talent. Loved looking at your art.
Weird looking at your photo, exactly like a
young Victoria. Now how could you go wrong.
I love your use of vibrant colors. I especially love the still life flower paintings.Your paintings are truly luminous.
Simply incredible! We find it wonderous to look through your eyes at many of the people, places, animals, and things that we love. It makes us proud that others recognize the talent that we always knew you had.
Love them! Hard to pick a favorite-definately interested in buying one of these uplifting paintings.
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