Candie Westcott Newman

Watercolor by Candie
Art to Live With
Urbanna, VA 23175
804/758-4063
candien@peoplepc.com

Artist's Statement

“Life without art is just existence.” This is a statement made many times to my daughter as she debated her life choices, whether to follow dance as a performing artist, or a more “secure and responsible” career path. As she left for college, I decided to follow my own advice as well, picking up pencils and brushes laid down 30 years ago to attend to hearth and home. This proved to be no easy task.

As a high school and college student, I drew and painted mostly portraits and some commissioned pieces with little training and no real focus. The medium was either charcoal or acrylic. As I slowly reintroduced myself to my skills, I chose to work in watercolor, a very different medium from what I had used years before. Entirely self-taught, I stubbornly insist on letting my own style evolve as I have become more comfortable with the medium. From a young child, I always was taken with the color and texture of paint as well as the controlled chaos of nature. I believe a painting should evoke emotion in the viewer. To this end I paint – simply to enjoy watching a feeling evolve on paper. I still also enjoy portraiture. I learned early to “interview” my subject to try to capture a spark of personality to be incorporated into the eventual painting, which is what distinguishes a painting from a photograph.

In the past two years I have shown and sold primarily in the western New York area, contributing works to the Greater Buffalo Youth Ballet and most recently as part of an anniversary gala of women artists at DeLynn’s Galleries and Studios in Franklinville, New York (spring 2005).

After accepting a position as Director of the Business Development Program in Saluda, I relocated to Virginia last fall. It is with great pleasure to be associated with the Yates House and its community of artists in Deltaville.

Samples of Artist's Work: Click on Thumbnail for Enlargement

Dancer's Pose

Fall Bouquet

Grapes

Maple Leaves

Iris