So often when it comes to fine art, our focus is on the finished piece—its beauty, its visual or emotional impact, its message, its narrative, even its value. But sometimes there is an equal amount of beauty in the creative process—how an artist coaxes an idea from its nascent beginnings into full physical expression; and the painstaking steps and unwavering resolve required to reach the destination of completion. It is through process, unique to every artist, that we learn what really makes them tick.
The methods of two artists in the January issue intrigued me as much as their finished works. The first is Cynthia Daignault, who spent six months driving the entire perimeter of the United States, stopping to paint or photograph the view every 27 miles. Back in her studio, she transformed her reference material into 360 paintings that she fused together into a panoramic portrait of the American landscape. Daignault has created other series of this nature—painting the sky every day for a year, a clock at every hour, and a stand of trees for 40 days and nights. “I think my work is reflective of how my brain works,” she told me. Read more about her fascinating conceptual approach on Page 92.
Richard MacDonald in the studio with Royal Ballet star Steven McRae, an Australian ballet dancer and tap dancer. He is a principal dancer with the Royal Ballet in London, England. See our coverage on Page 36.
On Page 36, we have a feature about internationally renowned sculptor Richard MacDonald. His figurative bronzes appear to defy gravity and, when you see the photographs of how he achieves this, you will be equally amazed. Seeing MacDonald at various stages of his intricate process alongside the finished pieces renders them all the more extraordinary.
As we head into the new year, it occurred to me anew how fortunate I am to be surrounded by artists who so are so passionate about what they do. When you see what goes into their work, the thinking behind it, the skill and dedication it takes, all due to the irrepressible urge to create, I feel very grateful to be exposed to their energy on the daily. Inspiration is, after all, contagious. We hope you catch the bug as well—if you haven’t already!
Enjoy the January issue!
Sarah Gianelli
Managing Editor
sgianelli@americanartcollector.com
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