Senaka Senanayake: Keeping Hope Alive Through Art

 

 

 

 In this time of anticipation that Winter's cold will recede soon and be replaced by riotous colors of blooms and blossoms of Spring, the few brave Daffodils inspire hope. To nourish that sense of future, today's artist is Senaka Senanayake (1951-)

 

 

Senanayake was born and raised in Sri Lanka, an island country that has a year-round average temperature conducive to the rain forest, for which it's famous.  

By the time Senanayake was 10 years old, he already had distinguished himself as an artist. He had a one-person show in New York at that age! He would continue his education at Yale before returning to his homeland which is the subject of his paintings.

 

As with many of the rain forests throughout the world, Senanayake returned to his homeland only to find incursions into the forests. It was then that he made the decision to make the forest and the creatures his primary subject into an effort to make the world aware of what is at stake. 

 

His paintings have become a beacon of hope, much like thoughts of Spring, as he exhibited his works around the world. Not only has he shown through Europe, Asia, No. America, but also he has been featured in publications and documentaries. It is one artist's efforts to keep awareness and the possibilities for change through capturing nature's beauty.

Fidelia Bridges: Once Famous Pre-Raphaelite Painter

 

 

 

In this hectic holiday time, it's good to feel a peaceful calm by looking at the small beauties of nature - especially when the eye can fall on what is (unfortunately) referred to as "negative space." It gives the eyes and the mind a sense of well being. Such an artist, who recreated that environment in her paintings was Fidelia Bridges (1834-1923).

 

 

Once again, we rediscover a woman artist who was renown in her time and who made a living at her art, but whose name has almost disappeared in our time. 

 

 If it wasn't for her art, her life would be a mirror of life for women as written by Jane Austen. She and her 3 siblings were orphaned by the loss of both parents. Her oldest sibling, Eliza, supported the other three by working as a school teacher - one of the few professions considered respectable for women.

 

 

 

Fidelia was sickly and spent time in her room drawing. When she was well enough to find work, she was a nanny to a wealthy family. Meanwhile, she pursued her growing interest in oil paintings. 

 

Through her employer, she met a renown painter of pre-Raphaelite nature art. His style not only influenced Bridges, but he sold some of her paintings to his patrons.It was the recognition from this patron of her art that led to support from her employer into creating a studio in the top floor of their house.They even provided the funds to send her to Italy for further training. 

 

 

By age 34, her reputation as a specialist nature painter led to membership in the American Watercolor Society - the first woman to be invited to join. Her circle of patrons included Mark Twain.

In later years, she lived in a hillside cottage overlooking meadows and a stream. There, she continued to paint, but rarely exhibit, enjoying her quiet rural setting and using the scenery for inspiration. (She was named in the book titled: "Notable American Women: 1607-1950")