Bayside artist Clare Stokolosa recently had several of her paintings featured at the Islip Arts Council’s Women’s History exhibit at Bay Shore’s South Shore Mall from March 11 to April 11. Her featured watercolor works consisted of gardens, landscapes and seascapes, most of which were from Queens and Long Island.
Stokolosa creates most of her paintings while outside, attempting to capture the subjects of her art in front of her as she creates her paintings. In addition to Queens and Long Island, the artist has captured gardens, landscapes and seascapes from Tuscany and Sicily, Italy, and Nassau, Bahamas.
According to Stokolosa, she has been creating art since before she even started kindergarten. She started oil painting when she was about 10 years old. Having always excelled at the subject, she went to the High School of Art and Design in the city, where she continued to hone her craft as an aspiring artist.
“I was always involved in art,” Stokolosa said. “I taught art for many years in the city of New York and I also mentored art teachers. It’s a very long road but it’s something I get lost in. I just enjoy creating and painting.”
Stokolosa said she was honored for Islip Arts Council to feature her work as part of its Women’s History Month celebration. Stokolosa has herself been a member of the Islip Arts Council for nearly two years. In total, 26 of her paintings were featured at the gallery. Two of Stokolosa’s works were also featured as part of a show presenting a collaboration of art from her as well as other female artists.
While Stokolosa does do some painting indoors, she usually prefers to do so outside, especially when it comes to watercolor. Stokolosa credits the fact that watercolor is so portable compared to other methods of painting as to why she tends to use that method when painting outside. It’s also easy to take it with her on her travels.
“When you’re painting outdoors, it’s all the senses,” Stokolosa said. “You feel the air on your face, you hear the sounds of nature and the city. You are in the elements. It’s not only working with a visual and taking in what you see. You’re in that environment and I enjoy capturing that in the painting. Being a part of that setting and environment and capturing it and then by bringing that painting indoors, it brings nature inside. It’s something that lasts forever.”
Stokolosa noted that while flowers are nice to have inside a home, they eventually wilt away. However, a painting of flowers or a garden brings a similar type of beauty within a home, without the concern of it soon wilting away.
Among some of the notable artists who Stokolosa credits with influencing her style are Vincent Van Gogh and Edward Hopper. She emphasized Van Gogh’s passion and ability to paint in all the elements. When it comes to Hopper, she believes he captures several moments in his paintings. Stokolosa also praised Hopper’s ability to capture architecture within nature.
“I love working with color,” Stokolosa said. “I really am influenced with light and I’ve always been influenced with light, shadow and the way painting outdoors, I really enjoy how the sunlight falls. I remember growing up in Astoria and my mother would watch the light. As the sun would travel to the outside of the street, I was allowed to go outside and play. My childhood really influenced me.”
