Impressionist Immersion

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Deborah Cotrone
“Vero Beach Day,” oil on linen, 30 x 30 inches

 

John Stringer, owner of J.M. Stringer Gallery, phoned Connecticut-based artist Deborah Cotrone last February and asked, “Are you sitting down?”

He had a unique offer. A Connecticut couple for whom Cotrone had just completed a large commissioned painting was so struck by the artist’s talent that they wanted to show their gratitude in a meaningful way.  

“They want to be your patron,” said Stringer. “I don’t know how else to describe it. They believe in your artistic abilities, and they want to give you the opportunity to focus on your painting here in Vero. They will take care of your living expenses and anything you need for three months, allowing you the freedom to paint and expose your art to more potential customers.” 

“I felt like I was in a dream,” recalls Cotrone, whose light-infused, impressionist New England landscapes have earned her a loyal following among A-list collectors. “It was an extraordinarily generous offer and a rare opportunity.”  

Indeed, patronage is the ultimate vote of confidence for any artist, and it is a practice rooted in the history of art.

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