BRADENTON BEACH – Stroll along any of the beaches on Anna Maria Island and you’re likely to walk past local artist Cory Wright. After falling in love with the Island during regular trips here with her family, Wright, her husband and two teenage children decided to sell their home in Apollo Beach and move to AMI.
“We would come every single weekend with our kids when they were little, and we would get depressed on Sunday when we had to go home. We finally decided to sell our home and everything in it, remodel the condo and move to the beach,” said Wright, who hasn’t regretted that decision in any way. “Normally moving with teenagers to a three-bedroom condo would be tough – it’s a lot less square footage, but a lot bigger backyard, since our backyard is the beach.”
Wright has enjoyed a long career as a professional artist, beginning at age 15 when she began painting murals and faux finishes. She was able to have a successful career lasting more than 25 years, making a living doing what she enjoyed. Wright went on to major in painting at the Rhode Island School of Design and spent a year in Italy as part of an honors program.
“In 2011 I took a workshop in Tuscany with an artist whose work I really admired. He painted ‘en Plein air,‘ which is a French term meaning out in the open,” Wright said, explaining how her love for painting outdoors really began to take off.
Unlike painting in the controlled environment of a studio, light and shadows are constantly changing when painting outdoors. This is the challenge facing any artist who paints in the en Plein air style. Wright says she usually has two hours to complete a painting when she’s working outdoors. The heat and humidity don’t affect oil paints. The reason for the two-hour window to get a beach painting completed is completely due to the changing position of the sun, which will alter light and shadow, as well as water levels rising or receding.
In addition to painting for sale in galleries and commission work, Wright is also an accomplished teacher. She is happy to work with any artist of any skill level.
“All you need is interest, and an openness to try something new. Your work may not turn out perfect, but you’d be surprised how many of my first-time students say their work turned out much better than they expected,” said Wright, who offers two-hour lessons on the beach, which includes all supplies. If you’re interested in a lesson with Cory, you can find all the information at her website.
Artwork by Wright is currently on display and for sale at “Cove” on Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach.
