Reception: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Gallery Talk: 4:30 – 5:15 PM
Sandy K Cummings’ newest collection of colorful and expressive paper collages features flowers from her garden, landscapes, still life, and a series of eight images inspired by a yoga/hiking retreat in the Swiss Alps.
From a distance the collages convey as paintings, but upon closer inspection, the viewer will discover that the images are made of detailed, multi-layered paper. Sandy’s collages capture the emotional essence of images near and far, offering a glimpse into the artist’s joy and compassion for nature and everyday living. “Lush Summer Garden,” in her flower series, is the artist’s interpretation of the delight one feels when coming upon a burst of colorful flowers spilling over a wooden fence. Cheerful flowers in “Spring Flowers with Dogwoods and Azaleas” bring hope and excitement for new growth and light filled days. The window beyond opens up to a path toward the peacefulness of the sea and sky.
Sandy says, “My work is a blend of realism and imagination. When constructing collages, I select paper by color and texture as though I were choosing paint from a palette. Sometimes I find just the paper I have in mind, but most often I improvise which lends itself to intuitive and unexpected effects.” For many of the collages in her Switzerland series, Sandy painted broad strokes of various green hues on paper to depict the deep pine forests and sweeping valleys of the Alps. One can see the painted paper used in the pine trees and in the foreground in “Wildflowers in the Alps” and “Horsedrawn Carriage.” In “Bernina Express” the bright red antique train is a focal point that contrasts with the greens of the trees and grass and the browns and grays of the bridge.
The artist wishes to share some of the simple pleasures that surround us wherever we may live or travel. Sandy focuses on subjects that can be found anywhere, such as a house by a body of water, freshly cut flowers in a vase, a house across the street, or a landscape in nature.
About the Artist
Sandy K Cummings was born in Washington, DC. She received a B.A. in Studio Art at the University of Maryland and continued her art education at the Maryland Institute College of Art and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum School. Sandy works out of her home studio in Columbia, Maryland. She has been a member of several artists’ groups over the years and has exhibited widely in the Baltimore/Washington area.
Sandy K Cummings’ collection of colorful and expressive collages features flowers from her summer garden and images inspired by her travels. From a distance the collages may convey as paintings, but upon a closer inspection, the viewer will discover that the images are made of detailed, multi-layered paper. In addition to paper, the artist often mixes in graphite, colored pencil, and acrylic paint. Sandy’s collages capture the emotional essence of the image, offering a glimpse into the artist’s joy and compassion for everyday living.
