A BREATH OF SALT AIR
“Questioning the Sky”
I was losing energy toward the end of the day. A long one that dragged on. The entire day was drab. All along the road, the tree branches were a colorless taupe. The grass was squeezed out of any possibility of green; it looked like straw. The sky remained...
When the Sky Floats
Living in the Hamptons after the official season has enormous benefits. Not only is the traffic thinner, but the skies put on a show of intense color not seen in the summer months. One of the many reasons I love Towd Point so much is the opportunity to witness...
Life Is Better At the Beach
Now that the winds have blown in the seasonably cool air, a trip to the ocean sounds positively chilling. But we still need it. We need the ocean to prove to ourselves that we can own the world of beauty. We need the ocean to experience the vast power that it holds in...
You Leave Me Breathless
This is that moment right before we lose the light that allows us to see color. The day is turning into night but not before a spectacular show where the sky lights up and reflects all its glory into the water. There's a thin and fragile dark strip of land running...
Back to the Easel
"Spectacular Towd Point " Oil on canvas 24" x 36" by Casey Chalem Anderson It feels so good to be back painting in my studio where it's cool and contained I can paint at a sustained pace. When I saw this sunset I was stunned. My spirit soared, and I experienced a...
Deep Lavender Fields by the Bay
I waited all year to get to the lavender fields on the North Fork in East Marion. You must time your visit to coincide with the blooming cycle, or you could be disappointed. The smell of fresh lavender infused the air, and I could smell it as soon as I pulled into the...
When Mistakes Don’t Matter
There are numerous mistakes here, but you may not see them. It doesn't matter because the overall feeling flows, and the line is sensitive. Sometimes you must let it go, whatever it is, and let a new solution come in. Mistakes in a drawing and in life are in the...
Swept Away
Here's the video of me signing. Click here: IMG_6330 (video will download rapidly, and you can see how big this painting is) https://youtu.be/jkXRTegcXns I signed it. Does that mean I've finished it? Probably not. There is always some little mark that I must add or...
Gravity Surge
Why do we need the ocean? So many of us crave being by the sea but can't precisely say why. When I look out and stretch my eyes to the horizon, I feel relief. We need the water to remind ourselves of the power and beauty beyond our everyday. It could consume us...
Timeless Fog
I love a gray misty day by the water when ribbons of fog rise up from the water's surface and randomly change shape. The land and trees are concealed and then reappear through the haze. It feels like time is suspended. I could easily be standing in this exact place,...
”Don’t Be “tsaka tsikyi”
Cut, chop, grab the right pan. Taking the least amount of steps as I rush around my kitchen is a little game for me. Flip open the fridge and get the butter, the organic eggs, the cheddar cheese. I was cooking an omelet for my mom, for me a very easy task. My mom’s...
Brigadoon? or Just Heaven on Earth?
A 2nd storm was coming when I was painting this at the Art Barge in Amagansett this Fall. The clouds whirled by. The fog lifted, and you could see deep into the distance. The next moment, the fog descended and all was impenetrable. When I first started to...
The Commission Quandary- in a pickle or an opportunity?
Some artists will never ever take on a commission. For me it is a solemn pact. The person who engages me is putting their trust in my ability to create something that they are going to love. That’s a huge honor for me, an opportunity to reciprocate on a deep level by...
A Look Under the Hood (How I Start a Painting)
After my 10th Cover on Dan’s Paper’s this summer, someone called to ask about seeing more of my work. She visited the studio and liked quite a few pieces. But the one she really loved, where the colors made her feel so good, was small, just 12 x 12 inches. She...
2nd Storm At Napeaque
There is so much joy in living with a painting that you love, one that gives you energy or a piece that calms you down. When I view a wide expanse of open water, I can feel both sensations simultaneously. At Napeague Harbor you can see a storm brewing from a good 30...