Mrs. Nancy Salamouny

 

Nancy Salamouny is an American artist and art teacher, from Rhode Island living in Lebanon. She followed a graduate Program focused in Visual Design from Rhode Island School of Design.

She is skilled in painting, murals, illustration, graphic design, photography, digital art, and has a demonstrated history of working in both fine arts and the design industry.

Her acrylic, watercolor and mixed media works are full of colors movements and whimsical. 

Nancy’s house, studio, and the school she teaches at were destroyed by the blast that devastated the Beirut Port few months ago.  Luckily she and her family are safe.

 

• How and when you discovered your passion to fine art?

I was always interested in art since I was a very young child. I can remember being around 4 years old, and I would bring a small cigar box filled with coloring crayons and pencils and scissors with me whenever we went to visit our grandparents and I would sit for hours drawing, coloring, cutting papers and CREATING! This passion never left me. I have always found a way to be a creative individual and support my livelihood through my art, whether it was as a graphic designer, a muralist, a painter, a stage set designer, a teacher, and now as an owner of my own Paint and Wine venue in Beirut, called “Cheers to Painting” https://www.instagram.com/cheerstopainting/

 

• How many hours a day do you work?

I wake up with so many ideas and tasks each day, and each day can be different as far as how many hours I actually work. As an art teacher, I can work anywhere from 6 or 8 hours a day at the school, teaching arts, decorating hallways or preparing lessons. In my studio, I may work anywhere from 2 to 10 hours a day. Even if I spend a short time in my art studio, just cleaning the brushes and palettes, it is a task of an artist. So as I perform these tasks, I am in the role of an artist and my head is in the game! Some days it is strictly painting, while other days I am creating projects for my school art lessons and my Paint and Wine Nights. I try not to overdo it and get burn out. I leave time for relaxing, going for walks in nature, reading, and social media.

 

• You say that you are inspired by the beauty of Lebanon.

What do you say now after the blast that hit Beirut’s Port three months ago and destroyed your house, studio and the school you teach at?

The charm of the Lebanese culture has always inspired me; form the extraordinary landscapes to the bustling neighborhoods with old red tile roofed houses and vibrant green shutters. My art has captured these images with a playful and energetic essence. People always say my art looks so happy.

The blast of August 4^th, the most horrendous day of my life, shook our world, as it tore through our city and homes, leaving death and destruction at every turn. My home, art studio and school were all devastated. My neighborhood was unrecognizable. I am still in shock. The very streets and homes and trees that I had found so enchanting are now a pile of rubble and scare me to death! I have not been able to digest it all, or understand how the government could have let this happen to its people. I am unable to try to paint or express any scenario of the actual blast, or its destruction. It hurts too much to think about it, never mind try to capture these feelings or images on a canvas. I know many artists have painted images of the Beirut port blast, of the destroyed homes, the victims, but I cannot bring myself to paint these tragic scenes. I tried one pencil sketch, it but I could not finish it, as it just made me so angry and sad. I guess I am trying to cope this way.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Will the blast’s memory affect the spirit of your works?

It will indeed. I will treasure each small beautiful inspiration in Lebanon from this point on, knowing that in a mere few seconds it could be destroyed. I will take to heart the abundance of love and determination the Lebanese people have shown to me and to all the victims of the blast through these difficult times. I will search even harder to find joy in Lebanon to express in my art. My art expresses and revels in my joy, love, caring, and freedom. I will be more determined to seek and be grateful for all my blessings and pour them into my art.

 

• How your students inspire you?

My students inspire me daily, to be a good teacher, a patient listener, a concerned adult. I am sharing my life experiences with my students through my art. They in turn share their daily hopes, quests and disappointments with me and share this in their art. They keep me active, always looking to answer their needs, keeps me on my toes and my senses awake! They remind me of my own youth, and make me feel younger some days, while on other days they tire me out so much I feel so old!!!

 

• Is there a piece of your artwork you would like to be remembered for?

Several years back, I painted a series of paintings featuring my daughters to represent each month of the year for a calendar. For instance, for the month of February, Valentines Day, I painted my daughter standing in a pile of those heart shaped candies that say “Love me” and “Hug me” and so on. For the month of April, I painted one daughter as Alice in Wonderland, signifying April Fool’s Day. I also did one for the summer months with a guitar and hippie vibe. These paintings took lots time and creativity, to capture the true likenesses of my daughters and to put them into a creative scenario to capture the month and season. I loved painting them and I love looking at them, as I still have them all!

I have also recently painted a series of what I call “Windowscapes”. They are still life paintings which are composed of actual plants, books, stools I have in my studio, yet I paint imaginary scenes outside the windows, letting my world flow into the outer world.

 

 

 

 

• Is there a favorite artwork of a known artist that inspires you?

There are so many. If I had to choose one it would be the self portrait of Vincent van Gogh in blue. I saw this painting in Paris at the Musee d’Orsay and it moved me so much, the colors, the magnificent textures, and his life story. This is the last known self portrait he made. His skill and control of the vivacious paint strokes, as well as contrast of his flaming red hair against the cooling blue background capture my eye! These painting techniques are so different from mine, yet it inspires me to paint and be myself in my own terms!

 

• Which artist of the past is closer to your heart?

Again Vincent van Gogh. As for artists in the present there are so many. Being active on social media, I see hundreds of artists’ work daily, always bewildering me at the incredible amount of art and talent out there. But I do not let this overwhelm me, as we are all on our own journey. All the art I see influences me, but I create art that comes from within me. There is a saying, “We may both look at the same thing, but we see different things”. My art is a reflection of how I see my world, experience my feelings, and express my soul.

 

• What advice would you give to new artist?

Creating art is a journey. It is in the creating that the joy and the wonder of life will be felt. Be sure that not every artwork you begin will be finished as you hoped, but this is part on the journey to lead you along.  You cannot please everyone with your art, diversity is what makes the world so beautiful; so do not try to please everyone, otherwise your art will be like vanilla ice cream, a bit plain and neutral! Paint, draw, sketch as often as you can. Keep your eyes open for pathways in life that will embrace you and your art.

I want to thank you for the chance to show case my art, and to tell you a bit about myself. I look forward to seeing your publication. In doing this interview, it has given me a chance to stop and reflect on my life and art, and it felt good to do so. Thank you for bringing me to this sense of fulfillment.

Interviewed by Mag. Marisa Avogadro Thomé, journalist and writer from Argentina