I am amazed how beautiful the world can be. Looking at a lovely beach on a sunny day leaves me speechless. I am overcome with the beauty of the colors, shapes, textures and the crackling feeling of “Life” permeating the environment. The beaches around Hawaii, Florida, Australia, or anywhere in the world, are wonderful for experiencing this.
I grew up in Hawaii living right on a beautiful beach. I spent many hours looking at the surf and was influenced by the stunning beauty of the ocean and beaches. I lived in Byron Bay, Australia for several years and again I fell in love with the beautiful beaches and ocean scenes. I now live in Clearwater Florida near the beach. I want my art to convey this beauty. It is difficult to capture “Life” in nature in a small photo or painting, but that is what I am trying to do.
My favorite artist is Paul Gauguin. Perhaps because he was so in love with the tropics but in my opinion, his work is an open window into that “Life” that I am talking about.
Photography
To me, Art including photography is not about finding something beautiful and making a picture of it, but rather making a beautiful work of art. The painting or photograph becomes the thing that is beautiful, not necessarily the subject.
To me what is important is not the subject of the art, but the effect the art work has on the viewer. The effect I am specifically after is an increased awareness in the viewer of this elusive thing called “Consciousness.” Needless to say, this is very difficult to talk about … so I will stop talking now.
Sandy Abbott
Education
Masters in Curriculum and Instruction in Art Education. Thesis in photography.
University of Hawaii , 1980.
High School Art Teachers Certificate
University of Hawaii , 1978.
BA degree. Fine Arts Major, Science Minor
University of Washington , Seattle , 1973.
High School Diploma
Punahou High School , Honolulu , Hawaii Graduated 1967.
Honor roll, Emphasis in Art
Art Related Employment
1980-2005 Taught Art and Graphic Design in High Schools and Community Colleges in
Melbourne and Sydney Australia.
1978-79 University of Hawaii . Art Department. I helped 1st and 2nd year students with art projects
and exam preparation.
Exhibitions
1967 Punahou Art Festival Honolulu Hawaii .
1968 University of Washington Student Art Exhibition
1974 Orlando City Art Show Orlando, Florida
1977 University of Hawaii Student Group Show
1978 University of Hawaii Student Group Show
1978 Honolulu Magazine Annual Photography Contest Honorable Mention
1979 Hawthorn City Art Gallery Victoria Photography show.
1980 St Kilda Art Festival
1981 Echuca Arts Centre One many Photography show.
1982 St Kilda Arts Festival
1995 Celebrity Centre, One man painting show. Portland Oregon
1996 Community Centre Byron Bay NSW, Group art show
2000 Group show Waywood Gallery Byron Bay
2001 Group show Waywood Gallery Byron Bay
2004 Manly Art Market