“Each day I seek out serene open vistas full of vibrant color in the fields and beaches,”  shares Sag Harbor artist Casey Chalem Anderson, who started to “take making art seriously at Art and Design High School, and then as a Painting Major at the University of California at Berkeley.” Soon after moving to the Hamptons in 1990, she began to passionately create oil paintings of the lush landscape, curating paintings for people who love the water and crave the calm tranquility of the sea. Learn more about this plein air artist in Casey’s NEW KDHamptons Art Diary below:

Casey shares, “Out walking the streets of downtown New York City where I grew up, my father constantly encouraged me to “see”. Whether it was observing the various ways that people walk down the street, or noting the way the setting sun bounced off the windows of a building, my visual awareness grew.  At home my creative Mom [who is left handed like me], was always drawing and I watched her all the time.”

KDHamptons: How long have you been painting Hamptons seascapes, and what do you love most about it?

Casey Chalem Anderson: I’ve been painting the Hamptons seascapes and fields for at least 15 years. The horizontal lines of the Hamptons seascape calm me and make me feel peaceful inside. Everywhere I look, even as I go about the most ordinary routine is filled with extraordinary beauty. The ever changing light, wind and colors of the water provide a dynamic source of inspiration for my paintings. Conveying that sensation of tranquility and ease I get from observing the landscape is what I hope to impart through my paintings.

KDHamptons: Which is your favorite beach to paint?

Casey: Since I live right across from Long Beach, it is the beach that I am most intimately familiar with.  I’m very aware of the hourly and seasonal changes of every day.  But I love the ocean too.  Sagg Main-Sagaponack, Main Beach- East Hampton and Dune Beach-Southampton [conserved by the Peconic Land Trust] are all favorites.

KDHamptons: How long does it take you to finish a painting?

Casey: Some are quick and come together in a couple of sessions.  Some paintings, especially larger pieces take many weeks to develop the depth of color I’m after.

KDHamptons: Do you paint “en plein air” ? Or do you photograph the shoreline and paint in studio?

Casey: I love to paint outdoors, plein air.  I find it invigorating and exciting.  I often use those studies, plus drawings and photos, to create larger paintings in the studio.

KDHamptons: Where can readers view/ purchase your work?

Casey: I maintain a studio in Sag Harbor where you can visit by calling me.  My web site www.CaseyArt.com  gives you a good idea of the range of my work although not all my work is listed.  There is the 8th Annual Plein Air Peconic [the artist group dedicated to helping the Peconic Land Trust conserve the natural beauty of the East End of Long Island] show this weekend at Ashawagh Hall in Springs.

“Plein Air Peconic VIII”
October 4rd, 5th, 6th
Public Artist Reception: Saturday, October 5th 5-8 pm
Ashawagh Hall
780 Springs Fireplace Road   East Hampton

KDHamptons: How can we keep up with your latest works?

Casey: I write a short weekly blog called “Breath of Salt Air” to help people connect to and access the beauty and tranquility of the sea. Please click to sign up:    http://caseyart.com/category/blog/

My work will also be featured in the upcoming “Plein Air Peconic VIII” show, dedicated to helping the Peconic Land Trust conserve the natural beauty of the East End. Our highly anticipated annual exhibition and sale of landscape paintings and photographs will be held at Ashawagh Hall in Springs – East Hampton, October 4-6th, with a wine reception on Saturday, October 5th, 5:00pm -8:00. [Hours are Friday, Saturday 10am–8 pm, Sunday 10 am–5 pm]

The show will be presenting artworks of East End landscapes – including farm fields, meadows, wetlands, dunes – many of which depict sites that have been conserved through efforts of the Peconic Land Trust. By painting and photographing images of conserved land and other glorious open spaces on the East End, the artists call attention to what has already been accomplished by land conservation and the urgent need to protect vital resources before they disappear to development.

*For more info about Plein Air Peconic www.pleinairpeconic.com