The Art of Sisters at the Seacoast Artist Association during the Month of August
Paintings by Michele Rofrano and Karen Romagna
Michele Rofrano and Karen Romagna
Michele Rofrano and Karen Romagna are sisters who share a love of life and art and are thrilled to share these with others. During the month of August they will do just that with their Body of Work shows at the Seacoast Artist Association in Exeter. Michele and Karen also share a special person in their lives and she is their sister, Maryclare Heffernan, who is also a fine artist and gallery member of SAA and co-chair of their Scholarship Committee. (You may remember Maryclare’s successful Body of Work show at the SAA this past April.) The three of them have collaborated to form Three Sisters Fine Art https://www.threesistersfineart.com in hopes of sharing their art and inspiring others to follow their dreams.
As the person who knows Michele and Karen best, here are some words of introduction from Maryclare: “If an artist’s work reflects who they are then Michele and Karen’s art is all you need to know of their souls. The tender care Michele takes in bringing her paintings alive with stunning light, marvelous detail and gorgeous color create images you can’t look away from. She holds you under her spell; drawing you closer and closer the longer you look.
Karen’s vividly colored skies; luminous clouds and powerful surging waves will take your breath away. She whispers in your ear and then brings you along with her to feel the wild storm tossed sea spray and the gentle warmth of the sand under your feet.
My two sisters are masters of beauty and discoverers of the intricacies of the world around us. Their teachings, humor, love of life and this magical spirit that binds us all together is my greatest gift of all. “
And in their own words:
MICHELE ROFRANO – “KEEPING THE THINGS I LOVE”
Red Heads by Michele Rofrano
“In life I have discovered how precious the little things are: The stream of sunlight through my studio window, seashells resting on a sill, and geraniums in simple terracotta. Then there is the quiet time interrupted by a passing hummingbird or the soft flake of snow. These are things worth keeping.
“When I wake up in the morning the first thing I think of is my studio – well, more accurately, my works in progress. I feel like they are children out of control in my hands. How do I capture them, how do I rear them up, how do I best prepare them for the world, when will they be ready for release? Sometimes I’m panicked for them; other times they do just fine on their own. I paint to bring order to the things I love. I hope to be true to them, to be honest in my practice and to not let them down. I hope to bring life to them so I can keep them forever. No going back to bed for me!”
Perfect Pair by Michele Rofrano
After 30 years as a watercolorist Michele now includes oils in her repertoire, studying with such notables as Charles Sovek, Daniel Greene, Wende Caporale and Todd Bonita. She is a signature member of the North East Watercolor Society and exhibited in many group shows including North East Watercolor Society International Exhibition, American Artist Professional League Grand National Exhibition, Hudson Valley Art Association Juried Exhibition and the Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors. Michele serves on the board of the Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) in Connecticut. https://www.michelerofrano.com/
Edge of the Pond by Michele Rofrano
KAREN ROMAGNA – “VIEWPOINTS”
Late Summer by Karen Romagna
“Look up, look out, look in. As our world opens up, I find myself examining life as I never have. The sun rising and setting, the predictability of the moon’s phases as we circle the sun and the terrifying beauty of the oceans that keeps calling me back for a fresh perspective. In this collection I hope to capture some of this amazing energy: The open sky cloud formations, waves upon rocks upon sand, and quiet little spaces in between.
“I’ll never give up New Hampshire or the coast of Maine. They have connected with my heart giving me enough; jagged coastline, harbors, ocean, salt marshes, forest-covered mountains, valleys, farmsteads…and much more. It will take a lifetime. I have painted these scenes for many years, in oil and watercolor, watching the play of light on water and the quiet of an overnight snowfall. If I’m lucky, there will be many more.”
Crescendo by Karen Romagna
Karen spent several years as a children’s book illustrator and Illustrator Coordinator of the New Jersey chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). After illustrating in watercolor the book Voyage authored by US Poet Laureate Billy Collins she was invited to speak about her work at the 2014 Library of Congress National Book Festival. She has now switched gears and devotes her time to fine art. https://www.karenromagna.com
Storm Clouds by Karen Romagna
The Seacoast Artist Association will celebrate the work of Karen and Michele, as well as that of the artists in the August theme show, “On the Water”, at a reception on the Second Sunday of the month, August 8, from 4-6. (NB: There will be no event on the First Friday.) The SAA will plan on staying safe by gathering outside to visit after viewing the exhibits inside. Following CDC guidelines and the Exeter Health Dept recommendations, they ask that you wear a mask if it is crowded indoors. If you are fully vaccinated, feel free to remove your mask outdoors. The gallery is open Wed-Sat, 10-5 and Sun 1-4. Find more at seacoastartist.org and follow them on Facebook. 603-778-8856