On April 14 and 15 this year the Third Annual Simsbury Open Studios weekend was held.  Artists opened up their homes and personal studios to the public, a rare and wonderful opportunity that I was very happy to be able to attend.  There were a huge number of artists and this will be the second post in the series about the Open Studio Tour.   The focus this week is on artists Catherine Elliott and Mandy Adendorff, a pair of artists that employ bright colors and expressive style to their work.

The studio of Catherine Elliott was the most stunning that I saw on the tour.  Upon stepping into her home you can see an entire wall of her sitting room painted with a whimsical forest scene.  The aura of her home and pinecones on her mantlepiece only added to the natural ambience of her work, which covered multiple walls of her home and indoor studio.

Elliott’s oil paintings are in the impressionistic style, featuring beautiful New England landscapes.  Strong influences of Monet and Van Gogh are evident in her work, with expressive colors and brushstrokes bring the subjects to life.

Her work is featured in galleries and museums all across New England and New York, including the New Britain Museum of American Art.

Catherine Elliott with her work.

Mandy Adendorff’s home was my last stop on the tour but certainly not the least.  Having taken a class from her years ago, I was prepared for the onslaught of color and organic shapes in her work, but it was still breathtaking.

Adendorff works in mainly silk painting, using a technique similar to watercolor to depict beautiful, flowing scenes of nature and faith.  Her work is surreal in it’s appearance and seems almost three-dimensional.  Adendorff also does her work as an inspirational speaker, giving messages of faith while simultaneously painting.  You can check out her upcoming events on her website at www.mandyadendorff.com

Mandy Adendorff's work in her home.