Local Artist Inspired By Farmington

Impressionist artist Dawn Nolan Lombardi has found her inspiration and a home in Farmington.

“As an artist it is great to live in Farmington. There is so much natural beauty, as well as an active art community” Nolan said. She was raised in western Massachusetts, but “I chose Farmington seven years ago as the best place to raise my children,” she said.

Nolan works in any atmosphere, but prefers plein air, capturing sunlight. She was a fixture at the Hill-Stead Museum’s Farmers Market this summer, delighting visitors by painting the vendors.  

“Artists are controlled by the sun. The time of day is key- 4 p.m. is perfect,” she said while finishing a “20-minute painting” for a talk at the Farmington River Literary Arts Center Sunday Readings by the River series this past Sunday.

For the center’s January theme, “Interpreting Images to Poetic Form,” Nolan talked about her own artistic journey as she stood behind her easel at the window painting the river view below. The audience checked on her progress frequently and asked many questions.

“I always knew I wanted to be a painter. I come from a family of artists,” she explained. “I have taught, but now I paint full time, which is great.”

Nolan has shown her work at exhibits across the country and has won many awards for her art, including White House artist in 2002.

Her next local show will be at the Barney Library Hoppin Gallery in April. Collections of her work for sale can be viewed on her website and Facebook page.

Nolan’s painting will be on display at Milrace Books and owner Jan Owens invites visitors to come in and be inspired to write a poem by January 31 in a mini-contest with two categories — published poets and 'wannabee' poets.  The bookstore is open 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and Sundays, 12 noon - 6 p.m. For more information, call Jan Owens 869-677-9662.

The remaining January Sunday Readings by the River are:

January 23rd Former West Hartford Poet Laureate Maria Sassi, using “Fluid Poetics” by Minerva Neiditz and Ronald Mallory, will show how language, melding with visual art, may create an ekphrasic poem.

January 30th David K. Leff, lecturer and author of non-fiction and poetry books, will share the inspiration that lead to the publication of “Depth of Field” which interprets photography to poetic form.

Millrace Bookshop is located at 40 Mill Lane.