The East End art scene is overflowing with talented, inspiring, and creative people…which is one of the many reasons I love living here. Amagansett summer girl Kerri Rosenthal’s work reflects her love of life and the Hamptons with a happy, pretty and colorful palette− is there a more perfect fit for a Hamptons beach house?  When she puts down the paintbrush, Rosenthal toggles creative gears as an interior designer.  KDHamptons crushes on Kerri’s recent works in this new Featured Artist Diary, below:

KDHamptons: How would you describe your recent works?

Kerri Rosenthal: I am currently working on a series titled, Wonder Series.  It initially was inspired by the packaging of Wonder Bread – everything seems to stem from my childhood anyway. The first 2 paintings were totally influenced by the packaging and then the others took on a life of their own- They are color blocked paintings- with unusual color combinations- and a lot of depth- The focal painting is a series of 20 12×12 blocks that are meant to be one installation. This is just one of a few series I am working on- I am also working on an extension of my Drippy Heart Series- Drippy Tulips, and Drippy Sunshine.

KDHamptons: Where do you draw your creative inspiration from?

Kerri Rosenthal: As I mentioned, I am clearly inspired by my childhood memories.  I am also quite impulsive, and so what is happening right outside my window can end up on a canvas. The starting point for every single painting I paint is color.  The palette is chosen and what ends up on the canvas evolves as I paint. Sometimes I set out to paint a drippy heart- and end up with an entire new series- The Wonder Series evolved this way.  So I just never know, and that is what is so inspiring to me.

KDHamptons: You also have a successful interior design business.  How does that work influence your art, or vice versa?

Kerri Rosenthal: I am the creative director of D2 Interieurs, which is owned by Denise Davies, which allows me to be lucky enough to not only paint, but also be out there with our clients  keeping my fingers on the pulse of whats happening in the interior design world. This allows me to sometimes hone my work in a particular direction, but I try not to let that influence my paintings. Conversely, one of my paintings can influence a project, and we start with the art and build the room around it.  So it can go both ways, but in the end, I’m happiest when I’m up in my studio, music blasting, and I paint with no one in mind, allowing myself to be free to create works that make me happy. I think that is what people love most about my work, and I strongly feel that if you love a painting, there’s always a place for it; it doesn’t have to match your interiors, it just has to make your heart go pitter patter!

KDHamptons: Which Hamptons artists inspire you most?

Kerri Rosenthal: I hold a special appreciation for the works of Wolf Kahn and his “America” series, Lee Krazner and Willem de Kooning. Some of my works are inspired by the amplified interpretation of the colors I experience along the coastline of the Long Island Sound.

KDHamptons: Where can our readers view and acquire your work?

Kerri Rosenthal:  KDHamptons readers can sign up to be on my mailing list on my website, HERE. They can purchase my work directly from me or from the galleries that represent me in Fairfield County and Westchester (all listed on my site). I am also doing a collaboration with Kate Spade Home- They just launched their new home line- Furniture and Lighting and my original art work hangs with their furniture collections.  Also, limited editions of their private collection of my art will be able to be purchased through them, either on their website, KateSpade.com or in their new pop up shop- opening in Soho next in March.