Mobile Photography & Art – ‘Intimate Interview’ with Lydia Cassatt from Brooksville, Maine, United States

I always wanted to be an artist. My father told me that I was drawing and painting at four years old. When I was ten, I found a matchbook from the “Famous Artists School.” I copied the drawing and sent it off to the school, unbeknownst to my parents. Later, someone called from the school and came to visit. My parents wisely decided that I wasn’t going to be educated through this company and I was able to take art lessons every summer after that.

I was recognized for my artistic ability in the 8th grade and allowed to study with older, high school students.

My mother was a great believer in giving back to the communities that we lived in and at eleven years old, I became a volunteer at a local hospital for two summers. I helped aides serve meals to people in the hospital on Sunday evenings.

I was educated at private girls schools.

I went to Moore College os Art and Design in Philadelphia and graduated with a BFA in painting.

I was fortunate to have wonderful painting and drawing teachers in art school. After college I worked with an interior designer, painting murals, I painted houses, worked with a caterer, whatever I could do…Unfortunately, a BFA does not necessarily help one to provide for oneself. I have no regrets though. It was a wonderful education.

I have always been a walker and a hiker. I practice Iyengar Yoga three to five days a week and walk every day. I tend to travel to places where there is a lot of walking.

Talent is very important but ambition keeps one motivated.

I am extremely politically committed. The result of our presidential election in 2016 was devastating. I had been coasting when Barack Obama was our president and that all ended with the current occupant in the White House. I have marched, I call and write Senators and Representatives and donate to progressive causes. I will be volunteering with Planned Parenthood in some capacity. I am extremely liberal and will work hard for a change of regime in the 2020 elections.

I don’t want to possess anything.

My biggest extravagance is travel. I am extremely fortunate to have a husband who loves travel as much as I do.

I adore Scotland and Hawaii. Both places make my heart sing. I also love the extreme north. I love Alaska, Greenland and Iceland and would love to go back to those places.

I would like to have more shows of my photography.

I think that inspiration drives me on. I have been on a wonderful journey of photographing peonies since April. I started with a bouquet that I bought in Edinburgh and I just keep going. Peonies are in bloom in Maine right now and I am begging every friend that has them to let me photograph them!

My husband and I sailed the north and South Pacific for six years from 1990-1995. We sold everything and took off. It was a great journey and I never dreamed that I would be able to do something like that. We traveled from Alaska to New Zealand. It seems like a dream now and we still keep traveling.

Negativity. It doesn’t solve anything and we need positivity more than ever in these challenging times.

I think she would be amazed. I wasn’t self confident and I was shy. I am a different woman at 64!!

Climate Change. Without a healthy earth, how will we survive?

I still grieve for all the dogs that have been in my life. I have had dogs since a I was a baby and they have been the greatest source of joy, companionship and solace. We just lost our little Jack Russell, Mitzi, very recently. It’s always hard losing our beloved pets.

When my most recent dog died, I pictured her being with her greatest friend, our Airedale who died last March. It was consoling to me. I have studied Buddhism and I do feel that there is the possibility that we keep going in some way. It’s the great mystery.

I am deeply fortunate in my life, even with all the hard times. I have good health and hope that continues as long as possible. I have so much gratitude. 10.

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