Kevin Talbot’s “Loon Asylum”
and
Kimberly Cooper’s “Reimagining Art Nouveau”
Peekaboo by Kevin Talbot
In June 2015 Kevin Talbot came upon a loon nest and kept a close eye on the nest until the chicks hatched. Kevin spent hours sitting in his kayak watching the parent loons raising the two chicks. Weeks were spent capturing intimate pictures of life on the tiny pond. The loons became accustomed to his presence and felt comfortable fishing under and around his kayak as he sat, watched and documented their devout parenthood.
Hungry Teens by Kevin Talbot
The chicks grew into gangly juveniles requiring a constant supply of fish. Kevin kept shooting away, as the fuzz gave way to juvenile plumage the parents taught their young to fish on their own. Later Kevin was still clicking away as the young loons took their first flaps and then their first flight across the water. As Summer turned into Autumn, Kevin continued to photograph the loon activity over the changing seasons until the last youngster finally left the pond for her flight south and east to the ocean where she would spend the next year or two before returning north. He has since been watching two different pairs raise their young for the past eight summers. Kevin shows his journal of images in “Loon Asylum” during the month of October.
Bedtime by Kevin Talbot
Kevin Daniel Talbot is a local nature photographer who has honed his skills over the past twenty-five years around his native New England. Avid hikers, he and his wife Judy, along with their dogs, have tramped New Hampshire’s forty-eight Four-Thousand Footers and many lesser hills and peaks across New England on hundreds of hikes over the past twenty-five years.
Citron by Kimberly Cooper
“I have always loved the art nouveau style (from around 1890 to 1910) and found myself drawn to the flowing beautiful lines and dreamy ornamental imagery,” says Kimberly Cooper about her Body of Work “Reimagining Art Nouveau.” “I am inspired by artists like Alphonse Mucha, Louis Comfort Tiffany, and Hector Guimard. I have painted many of these images over time and reimagined them in my own watercolor style. For this new series I am creating original images in the art nouveau style that have personal meaning to me.”
Kim’s paintings are inspired by her favorite sites from her life exploring and living in the seacoast region. The genesis for her work starts from plein air sketches, as well as her own reference photography of the scene or subjects. Although she works in many media, her favorite is watercolor on paper. “I favor watercolor because it forces you to think ahead, to act in the moment, and not overwork it,” said Kim. “Watercolor is not a very forgiving medium and is easy to overwork, but it has a wonderful luminous quality when you get it right.”
Le Ballet by Kimberly Cooper
Originally from New York, Kimberly now lives in the seacoast area of New Hampshire. She has a BFA in fine art as well as master’s degree in computer graphic design from RIT. Kim is an award-winning artist with a background in photography, illustration and design.
Both Body of Work shows run from October 4 through October 30. Meet these and more artists at the Seacoast Artist Association’s “Second Friday” reception on October 14, 5-7PM. The public is welcome and refreshments will be served. “Second Friday Exeter” is a new and growing town-wide celebration of community through art and culture held each month. Visit the SAA as well as galleries Art Up Front Street and Exeter Fine Crafts. The Seacoast Artist Association is in historic downtown Exeter at 130 Water Street and parking is free. The gallery is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.