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Photography | Painting |
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Sandy Abbott
Painter / Photographer / Other stuff
Clearwater, Florida USA
I
am amazed how beautiful the world can be. Looking at a lovely beach on
a sunny
day can leave 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 and Australia, or
anywhere in the world, are wonderful for experiencing this. 
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.
Paul Gauguin Two Nudes on a Tahitian Beach 1891
Lazy Wave Painting by Sandy Abbot
Photography
To me, photography is not about finding something beautiful and taking a picture of it, but rather making a beautiful photograph. The photograph becomes the thing that is beautiful, not necessarily the subject.
To me, photography is not about finding something beautiful and taking a picture of it, but rather making a beautiful photograph. The photograph becomes the thing that is beautiful, not necessarily the subject.
There is no “Life” in the sand, water or sky. The life I feel when I am looking at the ocean, is what I project there myself. The experience of life and beauty is always a matter of my own awareness, not something in the landscape. (To test this, just go to the beach when you are in a bad mood and notice how little beauty you can see.)
A great work of art can create this same awareness of “Life.” A painting is created by the artist, but we can only experience the life in the art based on our own awareness. (Again to prove this, go to a gallery when you are in a bad mood and notice how little life you see. Or listen to music in a bad mood and notice how little you enjoy it.)
Therefore, what I think is happening when we view a great painting, or listen to great music, is that it opens the door for us to glimpse the beauty of our own Infinite Awareness.
The fine artist is able, with his terrific skill, to wondrously reveal to the viewer their infinite inner awareness. In other words, fine art causes us to become more aware of ourself. The better the art, the more this happens. This is why great art (including photography, music, dance, drama etc.) is cherished above all else. The ability of art to do this is a huge responsibility for artists and they can never stop improving and expanding their skills in order to perfect this.
Byron Bay NSW Australia
Julian Rocks, Byron Bay Painting by Sandy Abbott
What I love about the beach is not only it’s beauty, but it is also symbolic of standing at the threshold of the great mystery of life. As Paul Gauguin said, "We don’t know where we come from, why we are here or where we are going next."
This is a mystery that is so big most humans don’t even try to confront it. But I have always wondered about these things and when I stand on the shore of the great ocean it reminds me of standing on the shore of the greatest mystery and wondering what the heck is going on here. The same thing happens when I look at a great work of art.
I hope my paintings and photographs evoke this awareness of infinity in you, and reveal to you at least a glimpse of your own Infinite Consciousness. I will consider myself an artist if I succeed in doing that for you. If not, I will keep trying.
Sandy Abbott
October 2023
“I was given a Sandy Abbott seascape for my birthday recently, it now hangs in my home with pride. Every time I gaze at this painting I am moved to another place that is warm, sunny, tranquil and not so far away. I love my painting.”
Glenda Walsh ~ Jazz Singer www.glendawalsh.com
The meaning of life is to
find your gift.
The purpose of life is to give it away.
- Pablo Picasso
The purpose of life is to give it away.
- Pablo Picasso
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 Emphasis in Art
Punahou High School , Honolulu , Hawaii Graduated 1967.
All American Swim Team 1966.
Class President, Honor roll, Presidents Award. 1967
Art Related Employment
1980-2005 Taught Art and Graphic Design in High Schools and Community Colleges in Melbourne, 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
Statement.
I grew up in Hawaii living 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 for several years and again was stunned by the beautiful beaches and ocean scenes there too. I want my art to convey this beauty.
Sandy Abbott
411 Cleveland St #245
Clearwater, FL USA
(727) 657 0565
art @ sandyabbott.com
I love the thrill I get from creating something stunning.