Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Fine Art Photographer Sandra Goroff


When I first noticed Sandra Goroff's  photography I was intrigued, first by its natural simplicity, then by the very complexity of the images, their light and shadow, the texture and shimmer how she can capture both ends of the spectrum in one work of art. 

Sandra refers to her work as being  "emphatic observation -- soulful in nature." I find this to be so very true.

One of her favorite quotes regarding her work is that it is "painterly and "unpretentious." 

Please enjoy our interview below.

l) Sandra, thank you so much for participating in this interview for our readers.
 When did you first become interested in photography?

I think I might have been creating art in a last life because I was framing images before I ever took my "eye" seriously or ever owned a camera. It is hard to pinpoint a moment or time when photography first became a passion -- I think it is something you are born with. Once it grabs a hold of you, it becomes an obsession. At some point along the way, you find out you cannot live without it -- it is a part of who you are.



Little Girl on Foggy Beach

2) Were you encouraged to pursue this path and did you have any mentors who urged you to go after your dream of Fine Art Photography?

My mother was a painter and people who knew me when I was young, say I must have taken after her, but my father was very artistic (though untrained) as well. He could build just about anything; he also had the most beautiful handwriting of any man I ever knew. While I did not come from a wealthy or privileged family, I was exposed to culture and the arts and my mother enthusiastically took me to ballet, to museums and to the symphony's children's concerts on Saturday afternoons. 




Tire Swing (Southern Maine)

3) I understand you come from a family of artists....

Yes, as I mentioned, my mother was a painter but did not recognize her ability until middle age. My sister is also a photographer -- though we have very different styles. My aunt was a sculptress and a poet and my grandmother sang. Though nothing was fancy or orchestrated per se, their love and appreciation for art -- and for music -- did influence and "open" me. My mother, in particular, appreciated my artistic and musical abilities and encouraged them. We often drew together, but in those early years, I was more the teacher than the student. My mother painted up til her death three years ago at 95; her greatest gift to me was her love of learning. She loved painting more than anything else and she was very open minded in art and all matters for her generation. That gave me a certain freedom for expression.



Flower Box (Bristol, Rhode Island)

4. As a publicist and having worked for publishers for many years....

I have promoted books, authors and artists for over thirty years. A wonderful, well known Cape Cod artist I once worked with told me that every artist has an ache -- for her, painting, satisfied hers. I feel that way about photography. As a person who has worked with the written word for many years, I find relief and real joy through photography -- being able to express myself through images vs. language. It is good not to have to talk sometimes. The photos somehow say things I cannot say with words.


Summer Porch with Red Chair (Wells Maine)

5) What inspires your art and what are some of your other interests/loves in life?

I am an empathic and an emotional person. I am drawn to images that are evocative in nature. I am a ruminator and an over-thinker, so it is interesting to even me -- that the scenes, people, things and places that spark my interest are quiet, and I am I told, soulful in nature. My first book of photography was called SOLITARY SOUL (Lorimer Press) for that reason. 

I am an art lover. I have many favorite artists, but have a special interest in Jackson Pollack and Edward Hopper: I adore Maine art. I love New England, the coast and in particular, Maine, where many of my photographs were taken.  I am also a design enthusiast, a collector (ephemera, art pottery, tin lithographs, old toys), an animal lover (I have two cats - Benjamin and Lucy and a schnoodle named Teddy, who we adopted just four months ago)and a scrabble fanatic. I play on line with people from around the world every morning.



Monhegan Laundry (Monhegan Island, Maine)
6. Please tell our readers about your book. ( I understand there are many comments from best-selling authors on Amazon regarding your book)

My book of photography SOLITARY SOUL was published by Lorimer Press in November of 2013. A reviewer called my work "painterly and unpretentious;" that was my favorite quote. I have another one in the works right now entitled, I'LL BE SEEING YOU and am in the process of looking for a publisher. www.sandragoroffphotography.com.



Skiff (Cape Porpoise, Maine)
7) Sandra, Do you have any upcoming exhibits;  where can our readers find and purchase your photographic works of art?

In addition to taking photos....I am focusing on my prints right now - -signed and matted and matted and framed which I sell online through www.sandragoroffphotography.com. I love working with designers and enjoy doing custom work which means you can order a really large print for a special wall or space. I can be reached at sgma@aol.com.

Red Stairs (New Bedford, MA)
8) Sandra, what words of advice to you have for the aspiring artist of any age?

Practice, practice, practice. Be observant. Be loving and see beauty everywhere. Don't be fixated on pretty or perfect. The most mundane objects possess a beauty all their own. And most, importantly, take your camera everywhere.


**Sandra is offering a 20% discount on her prints to anyone who mentions my site during the holiday season.**


Thank you to my Family, Friends and Followers who support The Arts

Please do leave a comment as they make my day and Sandra's (today is her Birthday!)

Sign up for by email to be notified of my latest features and please add me to your blog rolls!



xoxo
Karena
The Arts by Karena



Again, be sure to visit Sandra's website at www.sandragoroffphotography.com

Her book, Sandra Goroff Photographer, Solitary Soul is Available at independent bookstores and amazon.com
www.solitarysoul.net

15 comments:

donna baker said...

Love her pics.

Jennifer said...

Fabulous!! Little Girl On A Foggy Beach is just mesmerizing to me. I love everything about it. Thanks for letting me know about her art. You do a great service for these artists and your readers. I learn so much when I visit here! Have a great day.
XX

Linda Merrill said...

Sandy's work is lovely and really captures the essence of New England!

Preppy Empty Nester said...

OMG I am in love with these gorgeous photos! My fave is the little girl on the foggy beach. Have a great week.

La Contessa said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SANDRA!
MY son's is tomorrow!
YOUR PHOTOS ARE STUNNING............I will look for YOUR BOOKS!!

Shirley@Housepitality Designs said...

Oh my goodness Karena...these photographs are stunning!....I love them all, especially the ones of Maine. I do love the girl on the foggy beach and the awesome boat and its reflection, then there is that window box ...oh I could go on and on.....Sandra is such an incredible photographer and artist!

Karen said...

Karena,
More than any other art form I think I wish most that I could take beautiful photographs. These examples of Sandra Goroff are striking.
Thank you for providing us with our daily dose of artistic beauty.
Karen

amilee@wendtdesign.com said...

These photographs are understated yet very beautiful.
Thank you for giving the public an opportunity to see what you see ...

Amilee Wendt

Decor To Adore said...

Wow! Her photography makes me think of home and feels so familiar and cozy.

Have a wonderful week!

Leslie said...

Hi Karena, That first photograph is my favorite. Like you, I appreciate the simplicity and peacefulness I feel when I look at her work. Thanks for sharing!

Tamera Beardsley said...

Such a well done interview my dear! I find her work mesmerizing … Especially the Skiff … the image just grabbed my soul!

Hope all is well with you and yours my dear!

xox
Tamera

Burlap Luxe said...

The images speak to me! And I hear you about framing images before you owned a camera, I love this statement, Karena I was given a camera from my grandparents one year at age 8 never understood why until I started blogging it was then seeing all the images bloggers capture I then knew what the eye sees is not only in the eye of the beholder yet for the taking of how it touches others.
I have always been fascinated with photography and how it speaks to you. I love the beach scenes but have to say the red steps speak to me, haunting lonely beauty.

You always inspire art, how it speaks to you, and how passionate you are about it. I long to make the time to really get to know the art of photography so much better.

A wonderful post.
See you soon beautiful and all you inspire.

Xx
Dore

Sandra Goroff said...

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments. We are having a holiday special -- signed and matted prints seen here $150 plus shipping. we will even gift wrap and post. Special thanks to Karen for sharing my work.

LBDDiaries said...

Beautiful artwork! I love the people in the fog ahead of the little girl - sort of like aging people ahead, little girl just starting out - amazing. Good interview. I am going to check out her prints!

Haddock said...

Some wonderful pictures here, especially that little girl in a foggy day.

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