Art gal
by Michele Malinchak
Creative expression comes naturally for Sandy Askey-Adams, who has been drawing and painting since she was four. Inspiration has taken hold in some unlikely places, such as her 10th grade math class. That was where she was so distracted by her teacher’s dazzling blue eyes, she drew him instead of paying attention. “They were gorgeous,” she said, “what creative person could resist?”
Regrettably, her teacher wasn’t impressed, and Sandy ended up attending summer school that year for math. It was just her luck that he taught the summer class as well.
An art major in high school, she admits that other subjects took a backseat to her art classes. Her English teacher wrote in her autograph book: “You would be a straight A student were it not for your love of art and creating.”
Today, four decades later, her passion for artistic expression persists. But more than the act of putting paint on a canvas, her art is a spiritual journey. Instilled in her by the nuns who taught her in Catholic school was the belief that her talent was a gift from God meant to be shared. “There is a divine energy in a painting that is transferred from the painter. Viewers can connect to that energy even if they are unaware,” she said.
That energy is derived from nature, her sole source of inspiration. “I aspire to capture the spirit, serenity and beauty of nature in hope that my work will stir an emotional response with my viewers,” she said. Through her use of cool, calming colors and restful scenes, the artist seeks to lift viewers’ spirits and ease their minds, if only for a little while.
At one of her shows a viewer was so moved by Sandy’s work that she became teary-eyed. The woman revealed that she was battling cancer and felt alone and fearful until she saw Sandy’s paintings. Immediately she felt uplifted as if a healing of mind, body and spirit was taking place. “If I can help someone feel better, that’s what it’s all about,” Sandy said, and ended up giving the woman a painting.
At another art show in Chadds Ford, PA, someone bought one of her paintings which created quite a stir among the other artists. “Don’t you know who that is?” they asked Sandy. The buyer turned out to be Andrew Wyeth’s model, Helga, who appeared in many of his paintings. She later came back to pick up the painting and the two were introduced. “I was excited to meet her and very honored that she purchased one of my paintings!” Sandy said.
Primarily self-taught, her favorite medium is pastels, though she is adept at oils, watercolors and acrylics. She enjoys using pastels for their dramatic contrasts, rich layers of colors and luminescence. Though landscapes dominate her work, she also paints seascapes, florals, animals and birds.
The Churchville based artist has lived in Bucks County since 1980. Inspired by its countryside, she paints plein air and also works in her studio from sketches and photos. She runs two plein air art groups on Facebook and is an administrator on the board of PleinAir magazine. Her other favorite places to paint include the Allegheny National Forest, the Poconos and the Pennsylvania Wilds in north central PA.
Before moving here, she lived in New England for six years and was the official artist at Hammersmith Farm owned by Jackie Kennedy’s mother in Newport, RI. It was also the summer White House during JFK’s term and Sandy did paintings of the house, gardens and landscape. She recalls being one of the few people allowed to climb up the big windmill on the property to get a better view for her paintings. She continues to travel and paint in New England almost every year.
Her diverse resume also includes theater set design, book illustration, teaching and organizing and managing art exhibits. In addition, Sandy has painted wall murals in private homes, for the Bucks County Designer House and Garden and for Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Doylestown, PA.
One of her most unusual undertakings was drawing ghosts for the late Adi-Kent Thomas Jeffrey. The Bucks County native and best-selling author, dubbed “Mistress of the Macabre,” was planning a ghost tour at the Lambertville House on Bridge Street, Lambertville, NJ. She was looking for a sketch artist and Sandy was one of the applicants. As soon as she walked in the author looked at her and said, “You’re the one,” without any further questions. Based on viewers’ descriptions, Sandy did pen and ink drawings of the 12 ghosts who haunted the hotel built in 1812. One ghost in particular gave her trouble, though. “I had to draw the young woman playing the lute twice,” she said. “I couldn’t get her right the first time.”
Sandy grew up in the small rural of town of Patton, PA near Altoona and fondly remembers walks in the woods which fostered a love of nature. “For me nature is an inexhaustible source of inspiration,” she said.
The family moved to Harrisburg when she was six. As a young girl she spoke with a lisp and art became a needed means of escape. “I grew up not feeling good enough and wasn’t the best student,” she said. Up until 9th grade she attended Catholic school and went to three different high schools: Bishop McDevitt High School in Wyncote PA, Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill, PA and finally Camp Hill High School where she took double classes in art and helped teach art to 7th and 8th graders.
Her parents also promoted her art by enrolling her in an art correspondence course through Minneapolis Art School which was all done through the mail.
Sandy married young and in the 70s with two young daughters at home, she took evening classes at the Art Association of Harrisburg where she is still a member. For two years she worked as executive secretary for the Labor and Industry Building in Harrisburg and continued to do art on the side, selling her first paintings in her 20s.
In approaching a drawing or painting, she begins by drawing in simple lines graduating into shapes and then placing the darks in the composition. “When I am satisfied with the drawing, I then begin layering in the pastel (or the oil paints) from dark to light.” In watercolors, she does the opposite, working from light to dark.
“I am mindful of not dividing the composition, such as the placement of the horizon line which is very important since it cannot be in the center. Most important, I have to make sure there is something to lead the eye into the painting—a point of interest for the eye to rest upon before proceeding throughout the rest of the composition. There must be balance.”
Her works in pastel, watercolor and oils have won numerous awards on the national, regional and local levels. This year she was accepted into four prestigious shows: The Catherine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club in New York, the American Impressionist Society online exhibition, the Mid America Pastel Society and the Pastel Society of North Carolina.
An important highlight of her career was being elected as Signature Member in the Pastel Society of America and the Maryland Pastel Society. She’s also been featured in several books including ‘100 Artists of the Mid-Atlantic’ and ‘Best of Worldwide Landscape Artists’. Magazines such as the Pastel Journal and Southwest Art have also featured her art.
She has participated twice in the International Association of Pastel Societies Convention in New Mexico where she met many renowned pastel artists including celebrity artist/actress Kim Novak who often attends.
In addition to painting, Sandy enjoys playing her baby grand piano and composing her own music. She has played at art show openings and often finds herself torn between music and art, though she admitted art pulls at her soul more. She also likes to write and keeps a blog on her website.
Sandy is represented by Exhibit B Gallery in Souderton, PA where her work will be in a holiday show called "Everyday Magic” from 11/19-1/30. For more info see exhibitbgallery.com
She will be in another upcoming exhibition sponsored by the Arts and Cultural Council of Bucks County from 12/1-1/31. Entitled, “Bucks County Wish You Were Here,” the online exhibit features small postcard-sized works by artists. Go to bucksarts.org/onlineshowwinter2020.
A third show called “25 Days of Minis” will feature Sandy’s work along with paintings by 45 artists. Each day throughout December artists will put a new miniature painting on the web site for sale. Visit 25daysofminis.com.
Sandy also does commissioned work and her paintings can be viewed on her website: sandyaskeyadams.com and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sandyaskeyadams.
(bio)
Michele Malinchak is a freelance writer and avid gardener from Quakertown, PA.