Artist's Statement

About Lynn Amsterdam, artist, painter and story teller

Time does not stand still. Why then should my art. The world is in motion. Therefore I am in motion. From town to country, from photograph to canvas. From quiet moments to movement these are the key elements. It provides the exploration/discovery of colors and textures that find their way into my art.

I wasn’t born into an artistic family, nor were my studies directed there. If not for a devastating car accident ( in 2009) that left me with many broken bones, a metal plate in my left clavicle and a hip that needed to be replace I may never have discovered the world of abstract art. Thirty two years with the State of NJ, ten years as a Professional Photographer gone “finita”,finished.

A little happenstance and a little chutzpah brought me to where I am today.

I took the skills, and emotions I acquired over time and transposed them onto canvas or through the lens of a camera. The movement of foil fencing learned in college help create the movement across my canvas. If I couldn’t build with my hands I could build texture on my canvas.

Today I am a different painter than I was in 2014. I keep evolving, keep opening myself up. I have my own style but there is nothing wrong with enhancing one’s creative skill. If YOU want to paint the same thing over and over have at it. As for me I am always on the road to discovery.

P.S The photo on the left is a self portrait I took in 2012 when I arrived in Florida.

It is 11 years since that photo and hell no I don’t look like that anymore. I am white haired and gained a few Covid pounds.

Life is Short, Live it Wide.

Enjoy

Lynn

2023

  


“It was by happenstance I came into painting and by choice that I remain”. Lynn Amsterdam

My life moved in three year intervals for a while. My mom passed away in 2003, my partner died in 2006, my car accident was in 2009 and three years after that in 2012 I lost my only sibling.  With the sudden death of my brother (at the age of 62) and with a pending hip replacement, I decided to relocate to Florida to be near my father.    While recovering from the hip surgery I came across a brochure from Old School Square Creative Arts School where I saw the work of abstract artist Sherry O'Neill.  That painting spoke to me so much so that reached out to the school. Fortunately for me Sherry was teaching a class and so began my relationship with canvas and paint.

Long before it was popular, I painted on the non-gesso side of a canvas as shown in Fiori 2, Cieli Infini", "Along the River" or "Star Spangled Patriot".  A subway map, candy wrappers, and a portion of a coke can made their way into the painting “Subculture”. There are times when I have written letters of love on my canvas before painting over the words as seen in the paintings  "Always".

I was born in Atlantic Highlands,N.J. We lived over my parents candy store until I was six. At the end of town I could see the buildings of downtown Manhattan across the Bay. Come summer I swam in the ocean from Sandy Hook, to Cape May. I love New Jersey. It’s complexity and its proximity to both New York and the shore. I love its cities, seascapes, its beautiful countryside and its history. In1972,77,83,and94 I lived or visited Israel. In 2007, I lived in Ethiopia.

In 2006 and 2011 and from 2015 until 2019, I spent every summer in a small mountain town called Castelvetere Sul Calore, in Italy. Why Castelvetere you ask. It is the birthplace and now resting place of my beloved Teresa Moccia. In 1980 I had the good fortune of renting an upstairs apartment in a two family house that Teresa owned. Teresa was like a second mother to me. For 15 years I lived in that apartment above her in New Jersey. When my life moved on I remained close to her. She was family. When I made the decision to move to Florida I asked Teresa to move there as well. Instead Teresa decided to returned to her place of birth to be among her extended family, to live in the house she built for herself several years back. Her siblings were all deceased but their children remained. Every year until her death in 2020 from Covid, I would visit her for the summer. For over forty years Teresa was an integral part of my life.

To see the influence Italy had on many of my paintings, look no further than the names such as La Mura di Napoli, Amina del Mare, the plaster textures created on the canvas. In 2007 I created a book called “The Colors of Italy”.

 Since Teresa’s death I no longer travel to Italy. In 2021 I purchased a small 1950’s house in the DownEast section of Maine. My backyard overlooks Jones Cove. The sunsets are just breathtaking there. New location, new opportunity to explore, to paint the land and seascapes that surrounds me. Years back when visiting Maine, I stumbled upon the work of Irma Cerese in a wonderful gallery called Landing Gallery in Rockland ME. I loved her looseness, her color, her style. So much so that I reached out to her. Erma and I would write to each other over the years. I was devastated to learn of her death this past year.

There are many artists that I enjoy. The movement and colors of Van Gogh, the seascapes of John Schuyler, the abstracts of Charlotte Foust, Eric Abrecht and Michelle Y Williams, the texture and architecture of Mashiul Chowdhury. And now the loose realism of Liz Prescott another Mainer.

 As for photography, some would say I am a better photographer than painter. Technology has its place of importance in the field of photography but age and the accident have created some limitations within me. In truth I hate sitting behind the computer. This of course hinders me from excelling. To resolve this I seek the help of others to move me along.

I end with this......I live by two principles that were bestowed upon me. Paint the colors you see. Photograph what I discover within a 50 mile radius of where I am at any given time.

Happenstance

Lynn Amsterdam


About Lynn Amsterdam


Ms. Amsterdam is a self taught artist.  During the early part of her professional career as a photographer Ms. Amsterdam was a member of the Professional Photographers Association NJ Chapter, and has published her book titled, “The Colors of Italy” under Blurb.com.  Her photography is in restaurants, private collections and has been exhibited at Big Bad Art Gallery in FL, The Essex Fine Art Gallery in Montclair, New Jersey, The Cookman Gallery in Asbury Park, NJ and the Fire Fly Gallery in Nyack, NY. In recent years Ms. Amsterdams work has made its way into local galleries in Florida where she now resides.

In 2020 the Covid Quarantine presented a new opportunity. Old School Square located in Delray Beach offered Ms. Amsterdam an opportunity to teach abstract painting via Zoom to those interested in exploring the many facets of this medium.

Recent Exhibitions and Projects have included-

  • July-August 2023 Abstract Workshop for the Schoodic Art Festival, Winter Harbor ME

  • April 2023, Abstract Workshop for the Boca Raton FL,Watercolor Society

  • 2020-2022 Instructor for the Creative Arts School Delray Beach

  • 2020- Present. “Big Bad Art Gallery” Boca Raton,FL

  • Solo Exhibit 2019 Cultural Council of Palm Beach County

  • Art On The Square Delray Beach 2018 for Abstract Paintings.

  • Art On The Square, Delray Beach 2017 for Photography

  • Cornell Art Museum Exhibit  "American Pie". Featuring   "Star Spangled Patriot". 2018

  • The Coral Springs Museum Exhibit  "Inspired By"  2018    featuring   "Symphony #1"      

  • “Photographed Book Cover for 'How to Be Your Own Booking Agent' ” 2017

  • “17 Hand Painted Kimonos for the production of Madame Butterfly” performed at the Artis Theatre, Naples Florida 2017

  • “Art Basel Miami” 2016

  • Juried member of "Women in the Visual Arts" Exhibitions include:

  • “The Lake Worth Art Council”  2016- 2017 -2018

  • “The Coral Springs Art Museum" 2016- 2017 -2018

  • “The Armory Art Center” 2015- 2017 -2018

  • “Portrait for Pastry Book Bio ” 2014

  • Published "The Color of Italy" photography book 2007

    Ms. Amsterdam is a juried member of the Women in the Visual Arts and the Delray Art League