Sally Dean
Art gives me the power to connect with my inner child.
Instagram: @sallydeanart
Marshfield, MA
Mixed Media
I’m an artist because it’s the best career that supports my inability to pick just one discipline. I paint, collage, sculpt, glue things to other things, and occasionally build murals or paper-mâché parade puppets (my dog hates those!). Plein air painting is a passion; it lets me get outside on beautiful days and do what I love to do best: making art!
My creative process is powered by curiosity, a short attention span, and an abiding love for gardening, nature, and my dog Ricky (who is my best studio assistant). Whether I’m elbow-deep in paint or knee-deep in my garden soil, I like to think I’m cultivating beauty. Sometimes delicate, sometimes chaotic, always delightfully unpredictable.
I make paintings, prints, and 3-dimensional art. I also paint people, dogs, and house portraits on commission, and whatever else seems like a good idea at the time.
What’s the story behind your work?
I am a bit of a magpie. I am attracted to art with a playful, homey quality, and I enjoy the freedom to make whatever I feel. When the weather is warm, I love to sit outside and paint.
What do you hope people feel when they see it?
I hope that people smile and feel some joy.
How does your work connect to community or bring people together?
I have been making public art as well, and I think the murals I've painted and the parade puppets I've made are good examples of inviting the community to engage in the arts.
Who helped you along the way?
My grandmother and mother were always encouraging me to do my art.
How do you give back/support others?
I try to donate as much as I can, and I volunteer at the North River Art Society during the annual festival, working with kids to create a papier-mache puppet parade. It’s a lot of fun!
Write 75–150 words in your voice: what you’re exploring and why it matters.
