I thought it was noon but the hostess and waiter at Firecreek in Downingtown both said “Good Morning.” I was there with artist, Kerry Sacco, catching lunch. I say catching because Kerry is always moving. If she isn’t traveling between her studio in Philly and her other studio in Lancaster; she can be found painting or referring a lacrosse game.
After the morning salutations we both looked at our watch and concluded it was a good minute after twelve, so, we both ordered a pint of Victory’s Summer Love. We were well on our way of catching up on all the art happenings in the area.
Kerry has plenty of experience with both teaching and displaying at all the local art centers and galleries. We met 10 years ago when we were both represented by a local gallery and have continued to watch each others artistic journey through art crits and open studios.
Kerry has a knack for catching sunlight at the perfect place and at the perfect time. All her paintings have an inviting story that leads you in and your eyes dance with every brush stroke. I had one agenda for this interview; to find out why her chicken paintings are so awesome! You’ll have to read some of the arty questions before you get to the chicken answer.
When did you start making art?
I started when I was a little girl. I was the one in my family that was always drawing and painting.
Did you receive any formal art training? Where and what did you major in?
I did. I got a degree from Millersville University. It was Millersville State College at the time. And then I continued my education at Fleisher Art Memorial, I received my graduate in printmaking at Millersville, then Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.
What do you prefer oils or acrylics? Why?
Oils! Oils…I don’t know, something about the depth that I can get with oils, and I can work on them a little bit longer. I can let them sit, come back to my paints, I can remix a color pretty accurately. Acrylics, I never really gave them a good try. But it’s something about the translucent part of oils that I love.How do you choose your subject matter?I usually choose by first impressions, something that hits me. Light falling on something…Cute chickens running around someone’s yard. I look for the basic compositional things like a good winding road, that kind of stuff. I also use my camera a lot.
Describe for the viewers what you paint.
I paint very realistic light filled landscapes that have an impressionist quality to them. I think that when I paint animals and portraits that still comes into play I like light falling on subjects no matter if they are human or a building.
Do you paint from photos or do you paint plein air?
Both but mostly from photos.
You travel a lot, where is the happiest place you painted?
Oh my God, I was just talking about this. In a little square in a town in Umbria in Italy called Montefalco I sat right in the middle of the square. The people that I went on the trip with were all hanging out. They were having their wine and spritzes and I had my plein air easel up and it was like a crystal clear night and all these families’ were coming out and kids were running around playing and I couldn’t believe I was in that place and I was just sitting there painting. Jim (her husband), that’s one of his best memories too. That was a very happy time.
You paint awesome chickens. What is it about chickens that you love?
Oh its their expressions, especially roosters. How they can be ridiculous looking or have such command and expression on their faces. That’s why I love them.
Do you have a tip for novice painters?
Learn how to draw first. I am a firm believer in that.
How do you decide when an artwork is done?
Well, that’s an interesting question because until I taught I didn’t know how to do that. So in critiquing other people’s work, and being a teacher and knowing how to encourage students to go and add a little bit here a little bit more there, punch up darks, punch up lights, I became more comfortable knowing when my work was done. There are paintings that I have framed and later pullout of a show only to take it out of the frame to redo it. Someone once said a painting is done when it stops in an interesting place. I think that is a loose enough guideline that it can change later on down the road.
What inspires you?
Emotions and the tiniest little things can inspire me. Whether its taking in a sunrise, a sunset or seeing somebody do a good deed and you want to be a better person and you want to be like that. Also, music inspires me, especially singer songwriters who are poets. I listen to music all the time when I paint. All different kinds.
Do you have any habits or morning routines you do before going to the easel?
Coffee. Let the dogs out and make the coffee or start the coffee before you let the dogs out.What are you eating right now?Chicken sandwich with avocado.
What is your favorite food?
Italian and Thai
Your proudest moment?
My lacrosse team got inducted into the hall of fame in October and I was so proud to be a Millersville Marauder. Money is OK, but it isn’t what life is about.
What is it about?
Life is about family and friends and being a good citizen.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Norton in Deleware County.
You collect?
I collect. Now I collect paintings. I collect bottles of wine, then drink them.Something that is important on your nightstand?Ear plugs.
Your strangest possession?
My dog Buckwheat’s ashes that are on my kitchen shelf in a can.
So I figured out why she enjoyed painting chickens and roosters so much. She smiled and didn’t seem to mind biting into the $13 dollar Left Coast chicken sandwich that she ordered. We discussed why it was named “Left Coast” because of the avocado placed between the bread and chicken.
It was great to sit with Kerry and catch up. All this time I had known her I didn’t realize how many things we had in common. We talked about the music we play while painting yet love the silence when we drive. How important it is to stop and enjoy the moment, which usually centers on food and beverages. When she shared her enthusiasm for her wine club and food pairings she could even be a sommelier, but I think she would have to give up one of her extra activities. The days just aren’t long enough.
I did get to ask her five more questions, as part of what I call the speed round. Check them out at my blog jeff-schaller.blogspot.com.
