David Blomquist – Dreamstate
and
Nancy Reiss – Bird’s Eye View
At the Seacoast Artist Association during the Month of November.

DAVID BLOMQUIST – DREAMSTATE

Dave was first introduced to photography almost 50 years ago.

“Like many, I started with a 35MM camera and learned the basics of aperture control, shutter speed, film developing and printing. Later, I purchased a 4×5 medium format camera and a couple studio strobes for doing school and modeling portraits. These were all good learning years for me, but I always wanted to be more creative with my photography, more artistic.”

Today, using a digital camera and Photoshop, Dave uses a combination of layering, brushing and modern filtering technics to transform his photographs into a unique image that cannot be captured through the lens.

“I often spend my nights working on a photo in the post-editing process. This is where you can use your imagination and turn an image into a new level of photographic art, and for me, that’s where the fun is. So, with camera in hand, I walk a not-so-typical trail and look forward to where my path leads while enjoying the company and knowledge of other like-minded folk.”

All the images in this show represent Dave’s current journey and his passion in photography. Dave is a current member of the AWAKE Group: A Photo Artistic Life and is working to complete his course study with the New York Institute of Photography. He can be reached at rsvp1@comcast.net

NANCY REISS – BIRD’S EYE VIEW

Nancy displays her passion for saturated, vibrant hues with attention to detail in her Bird’s Eye View exhibit. This show depicts her favorite subjects in nature using bold, living color–striking scenic vistas, including flora and fauna close up.

During a health challenge 20 years ago, Nancy took up water painting for therapy and escape. In addition to total focus and joy, she discovered some talent and her signature style. After a career in creative and technical writing, painting has become her retirement obsession (she’s taken more than 15 courses and studied with 8 different teachers). Painting is a meditation where she is continuously surprised and usually pleased. Combining her good eye for composition, she paints en plein air or from photos, following the zen of simple subjects.

Water painting has brought her much pleasure and many travel adventures. Nancy is a frequent flyer with Doris Rice and has accompanied her to the Cape, Monhegan, Florida, New Mexico, Tuscany, Sicily, Vermont, recently Star Island and anticipating upcoming Costa Rica. Doris says, “Nancy Reiss has a distinctive style. She is an accomplished artist with her own way! A strong painter, her works are original, delightfully composed of shapes and colors which predominate.”

Nancy has exhibited at the Seacoast Art Association, Unity on the River, Lane Art Gallery and St. Anthony’s Bakery. She also has shared space with the Seacoast Open Studio painting group at local libraries and venues such as D Squared Java Coffee Shop, Exeter Hospital and recently the Exeter YMCA. She can be reached at njreiss1@gmail.com