About Eileen Dawn Skretch

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Born and raised in Southampton, NY to a farming family, Eileen Dawn Skretch has a natural affinity to the landscape. Her childhood lessons incorporated the observation and appreciation of the fields, waterways an endless sky. The love of those sweeping vistas has been directed into her landscape paintings. From the East End of Long Island to every travel destination she’s ventured, it continues to be the sweeping view that catches her fancy. “As enchanted as a medieval French town may appear, my heart goes out to the countryside...the colors in the pastures and dirt, that different color blue sky with heavy puffy clouds. I find even the color of fog can be very different from the East End and all very exciting.” Eileen paints with oil colors on wood. She begins with a 4x8 foot sheet of birch veneered plywood. Doing all her own wood working she creates panels as small as 4x6 inches to larger 4x4 feet, up to 6 foot lengths. The larger panels need extra support. She has utilized hollow core doors for her largest pieces and diptychs. The wood grain itself is an essential aspect of the design, becoming the pattern of the clouds or ripples in the water. Painting in plein air when possible, Eileen prefers working small, 4x6 or 8x10, then brings those studies and reference photos back to the studio for larger works. Exhibitions on the East End have included the Grenning Gallery in Sag Harbor, The Wallace Gallery in East Hampton, Bridgehampton Historical Museum, Southampton Historical Museum, The Clinton Academy in East Hampton. Mid Island shows include Harbor Light Images Gallery in Huntington and The Mills Pond House Gallery in St James, in Manhattan at the National Art Club. Her paintings are displayed year round at The William Ris Gallery in Jamesport.