About the Artist :: Daniel Corey
Daniel Corey is a traditional painter rooted in the aesthetic values of the Ashcan school and the impressionists of the Cape Cod School of Art. Inspired by light quality, color harmony and abstract shapes, his paintings are created from direct observation. Enjoying the challenge of painting nontraditional views and subjects, he finds the beauty in them, along with what he interprets as, “what makes Maine, Maine”.
Mr. Corey, hailing from Bristol, Maine, was named the 2009 Monhegan Island artist in residence by the Monhegan Artists’ Residency Corporation (MARC). The program provides lodging and stipend for a five-week residency on the island for an emerging Maine artist each summer.
“What I accomplished during my residency on Monhegan, is most simply stated as— growth,” says Corey. “I believe the time and surroundings provided through this residency allowed me to focus on what makes my paintings mine, and what makes me, me. Being familiar with the rich art history of the island and the part some of my personal painting heroes have had in it, made this residency very special to me. It was a priceless opportunity to experience the scenes they painted and walk in their footsteps, while having the time to paint my own personal view of the island. Hopefully I left a few footprints of my own. ”
For well over 150 years, Monhegan Island has inspired countless artists, including Robert Henri, George Bellows, Rockwell Kent, Reuben Tam, Elena Jahn and Jamie Wyeth, to name a few. While Monhegan continues to attract artists from across the country and around the world, it is increasingly difficult for Maine artists to find affordable housing for an extended visit on the island. The Monhegan Artists’ Residency is designed to give back to Maine artists part of their heritage and tradition. Each year the residency program offers one or two emerging Maine artists the opportunity to work without constraints on Monhegan Island. In 2009 approximately 40 artists applied for this prestigious honor, with just the one being awarded to Mr. Corey.