Share and Give - 2007 (SOLD) Don Cadoret has been telling stories in paint for over 30 years. His paintings, rendered in incredible detail and glowing colors, are a part of many prestigious public and private collections around the United States, Canada and Europe. Cadoret’s vibrant story paintings have also been exhibited in many galleries and public spaces, including the White House, the Frank Miele Gallery in New York City, Gallery Americana, Houston and the Le Musee D’Art Naif in Montreal.
His latest creations are shown at the prestigious American Craftsmanship Show in Wilton, Conn., every November, and at the Nantucket Folk Art Show in July. Cadoret also opens his Rhode Island studio to the public in December and August. The home studio remains open by appointment at other times of the year.
Cadoret paints every day looking out over the stonewall toward the salt water bay that provides him with a solitude and inspiration necessary to create at this level. Although he grew up in Central Massachusetts, the artist now makes him home with his wife Johanna in the Ocean State. Her wonderful skills as a kindergarten teacher keep him inspired to create through the eyes of a child. The home-studio is close to the water, reminding him of his youth and the many years his family summered on the shore of a lake in Spencer, Massachusetts. Those values and New England history he enjoys so much, are the substance for many of his story paintings. His work is based in nature, although he usually employs the aesthetic beauty of a rural setting and New England architecture in his paintings. Above all, his paintings explode with bold, vivid colors. Dramatic compositions and a simple story are also evident. Early influences for the artist were Grant Wood, Rockwell Kent and Brueghel. As in many of their works, the viewer is invited to get involved with the painting. Cadoret’s paintings also have an open invitation to peruse and stay awhile, as his illuminated inspirations transport you into the story.
His glowing colors are achieved through many layers of acrylic paint and glazes on a foundation of Masonite. There are sometimes as many as 20 layers of paint/glazes intricately painted on any given work, which means that even the smallest painting can take several days to complete. Larger paintings can take months to finish. Cadoret has also painted on raised wooden panels, discarded door pieces, curtains, window frames, the doors in his house, individual ceramic tiles, boxes, and frozen juice can lids. There is no limit to where and what he will paint. All it takes is a little inspiration or a challenge from a friend of cosignor.
Cadoret’s work has appeared on the covers of many regional magazines, in countless newspapers and magazine, on wine labels, Christmas ornaments, Cat’s Meow collectibles, occasional prints and cards, and puzzles. He just finished a major painting for the Battleship Cove Museum in Fall River, Massachusetts that is unveiled Oct. 19, 2006. Giclee prints, signed by the artist, are available at the museum store. Also, the artist is working on some collaborative Sailor's Valentines (see above) with shell artist Cindy West of Westport, MA. The results of this collaboration are stunning and hope to be on view late in 2007 and throughout 2008 Cadoret is currently working on a children’s picture book - One Blue Cat and a series of paintings that interpret many of the fairy tales that we’ve come to love growing up; and a selection of colorful gameboards - specifically checkerboards and parcheesi boards.
Detail of Sailor's Valentine - 2007 (Don Cadoret - Cindy West) For more information regarding Sailor's Valentines, and to see more of Cindy's fantastic shell creations, visit Cindy's website - www.westportshells.com Thank you.
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