Sandy Abbott

Sandy at Byron Bay

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.

“What does it mean?”

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.

Sky Sea Sand  Photo by Sandy Abbott

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

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Sandy Abbott artist