Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosemary.
Hi Rosemary, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
For me, the love of art began long before I ever considered myself an artist.
I was born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. I spent much of my childhood with a sketchbook in my hand, drawing whenever I could. I was particularly fascinated by faces and expressions and people in different environments, discovering early on the challenge—and joy—of capturing a person’s image and character on paper.
Life eventually took me in another direction. I built a successful 30-plus-year career as a Marketing and Sales Executive with Kraft/Nabisco, a career that took me to live in many different parts of the country. While it was challenging, I tried to maintain my drawing skills by taking classes at night when I could. So, while my professional life was centered on business, my true passion for art never disappeared. It simply waited.
After retiring, I returned to the passion that had been with me since childhood. What began as a lifelong love of drawing has evolved into a serious and continually developing artistic practice.
Today, I primarily create figure paintings, portraits and pet portraits, working in both pastel and oil. My work is characterized by color and an appreciation for the way light can transform a subject.
I am a longtime resident of Morristown, But, I also have a deep connection to Italy. I hold dual citizenship with Italy and spend part of my time in Florence. I consider Italy another of my great passions. The energy, architecture, culture and beauty of Florence continue to provide inspiration alongside my New Jersey home.
Today, art occupies the place in my life that I always knew it deserved. I am now devoting my time to learning, experimenting and continually honing my craft.
I am an active member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey, the New Jersey Arts Association and the Heidi Gallery in Livingston. For me, becoming an artist has never been about arriving at a final destination. It is about continuing to learn and finding new ways to translate what I see—and what I feel—onto the canvas.
I think the artist in me was always there, I just finally have the time to let her come out.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Returning to art wasn’t as easy as I imagined it would be.
After more than three decades in a demanding corporate career, I had to rediscover what it meant to be a student. The confidence I had developed professionally didn’t necessarily translate to the canvas. I suddenly found myself in a situation where I had to say, I don’t know how to do this yet.
Painting especially, required patience, experimentation and, perhaps most importantly, a willingness to fail.
Portraiture presented an especially difficult challenge. I had loved drawing faces since childhood, but painting a portrait meant learning to see differently—to understand subtle changes in value, color, light and expression. A painting could be technically accurate and still somehow miss the person.
One of the hardest things is knowing when a painting is working and when it isn’t. You can spend so much time on something and then realize you need to change it—or even let it go.
Rather than becoming discouraged, I have embraced the process of learning, taking risks and continuing to develop my own voice.
Today, I see the struggle as an essential part of the journey. The goal isn’t to stop learning. It’s to keep discovering what I can do next. It’s about reinventing myself and having the courage to be a beginner again.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am primarily a figure, portrait and pet portrait artist, working in both pastels and oils. While I do dabble in still life and landscapes, I love painting people and animals because every subject has its own personality and story. My goal is not simply to create a realist piece but to capture a subjects expression, emotion, spirit and individuality.
With portraits and figures, it’s all about getting the drawing right. A good drawing is critical and is the foundation and the start of any good painting. The first steps are actually very technical. I start with the shapes and dimensions that are common and universal to all subjects. Then I slowly start to build the shapes that are unique to an individual. The fun for me is having the person, and their personality emerge from the canvas. Portrait painting continues to challenge me because there is so much more to capturing a person than getting the features correct. I want the viewer to feel that there is a real person behind the eyes.
Pet portraits are especially meaningful to me because our pets become such an important part of our families. I try to capture not only what an animal looks like, but who they are.
I think I am most proud of the fact that I came back to art and to who I truly am. Painting is different than drawing and I am proud that I am pushing myself in this area. I have done quite a few commissions and there is something extremely satisfying in seeing a clients happy reaction to a painting that I have done of someone they love.
What makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is having the freedom to pursue the things I love and to keep learning. I now appreciate having the time and freedom to devote myself to what I have always loved. There is something incredibly satisfying about sitting down with a blank canvas and watching an idea slowly come to life.
I also love travel, especially spending time in Florence. Italy has always felt inspiring to me, and being there feeds a different part of my creativity. I love the art, architecture, history, food and simply the beauty of everyday life. And of course, my family and my pets make me incredibly happy!
Pricing:
- $150 to $900 for Oil and Pastel Paintings
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/rosemarycenatiempo_art
