CHESAPEAKE BAY LANDSCAPES
(c) 2010 - Website & Photos by Gayle N. Mandell. Use of content or photos is prohibited without written permission.
Artwork of the Region by Gayle N. Mandell
Besides being my chosen vocation, art is my passion. I alternate between Impressionist-style
landscapes and abstract works in mixed media, finding that the landscapes challenge me to focus
on detail while the abstract work fuels my creativity. This process allows me to constantly learn
and change, seeing things in different ways.
Having grown up on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay I have always been inspired by it and my
landscape painting allows me to share the sense of calm and wonder I feel whenever I'm around
the water. Each piece of art that I create is a celebration of what I have seen. My palette reflects
both the subtle tones of nature and its intense colors. The brilliant golds and reds of autumn, the
purple cast of a shadow and the deep blues and greens of the water are all elements I try to
capture. My works on paper are created using conte' crayon, a form of pastel, sometimes in
combination with acrylic paint, colored pencils or inks. I work from photographs I have taken
during my travels & my pieces reflect the landscape, beaches, marshes, and country backroads
throughout the Chesapeake Bay region in Virginia and Maryland. Maybe you'll find a familiar
scene!
A percentage of each sale from this Web site is donated to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
Gayle N. Mandell, born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1946, studied art at Old Dominion University under the
reknowned Charles Sibley, then head of ODU's art department. Gayle's first acrylic painting was accepted
in the Chrysler Museum's juried Irene Leach Memorial Exhibition and today her paintings are now part of
numerous private and corporate collections including Bank of America, Dominion Bank, Kirn Memorial
Library, SunTrust Bank, AT & T, & the Philip Morris Corporation, to name a few. Along with her career in
art, Gayle was also one of the founding members of the d'Art Center in downtown Norfolk and has worked
as the art consultant for two Norfolk banks & served on the boards of several arts organizations.
Artist Statement
