Rosemary Loveland has spent the past two years painting The Crossings of Colonie. She’s accumulated 93 pieces of art — oil paintings and “painterly” photographs — and they’re on display at the William K. Sanford Library from Jan. 3 to 30 in an art exhibit she put together for the residents of Colonie.
“I thought it would be really interesting to the people of Colonie to see their Crossings done as art,” said Loveland. “I did it as a gift to the people of the town.”
Loveland also decided to tackle documenting life at The Crossings as a challenge to herself. Since graduating with a bachelor’s in fine art from SUNY Albany in 1997 at the age of 50, she’s focused mainly on still life painting. Landscapes were completely foreign to her, and a bit out of her comfort zone, but it was something she had to do.
“I was never successful at landscape and wanted to challenge myself to grow as an artist, to make myself learn how to paint landscape,” said Loveland. “I’m not even sure if I’m successful [at it] now, but it’s done and it’s the best I can do.”
Some pieces are simply pictures of the natural world — birds frolicking, the sun sinking behind treelines, bright flowers and green grass. But others capture the people who enjoy The Crossings every day, from children sledding down a hill to a group of walkers to dogs and their owners.
“With the photos I tried to alter them enough so a person wasn’t really recognizable, and in the paintings I tried to maybe paint the back of the head … so people aren’t too recognizable, but yet I do think there are people who probably will see themselves,” said Loveland.
When she first scored a space and time for her art exhibit, she told herself she would create 60 images to display. She took more than 1,000 photographs, which she used to create her paintings, and as time ticked by, she decided to alter a portion of those photos in Photoshop to exceed her art quota.
“I wanted to turn them into paintings, but I didn’t have time because oil paintings take six months to dry,” said Loveland. “I turned them ‘painterly’ on my computer … with different filters, changing colors, using paintbrushes.”
The oil paintings she did have time to complete she created at home, not at The Crossings.
“I didn’t ever stand out and paint,” said Loveland. “Maybe someday I’ll have the nerve to do that, but not yet.”
Since she was using photographs as a model, she said she’d look for things that would translate well on canvas.
“Things like the sun shining a certain way on the trees or grass or snow. I was looking for light and things that would cause interest and what I consider beautiful,” said Loveland. “I was looking for people because I want to show the use of The Crossings by the people. I was really amazed every time I went, even in a blizzard, there were people out there walking their dogs, skiing … the trails were just packed.”
A degree in art might have come later in life, but painting has been a part of her forever.
“My grandmother oil painted so I oil painted when I was just a kid,” said Loveland.
A career and raising a family eventually took precedence over her creativity until she decided it was time to pursue her dream again. Now, she said she’d paint all day, every day if she could.
“I would paint if I didn’t have anything to else to do. I always think about painting,” said Loveland. “My favorite things to paint are still life and antique objects. I like to do paintings that look timeless – like they could have been done hundreds of years ago or could have been done yesterday.”
Even though the exhibit was a personal test that she’s eager to see if she passed, she doesn’t want the show to be about her at all.
“I’m hoping this isn’t just another art show where an artist shows off her skills,” said Loveland. “I don’t want it to be about me, I want it to be about The Crossings. I want it more as a show for the people to enjoy seeing their Crossings and themselves.”
All the pieces on display are for sale, but Loveland said the prices are just to cover framing and some supplies because she doesn’t paint to make a profit.
“They’re a reasonable price because if someone likes a painting I want them to be able to afford it and give themselves a little bit of happiness,” said Loveland.
