Artists Present Work at Community Theatre Through August

Joan Lamensdorf and Karen Matte are two Madison residents who share quite a bit in common other than being artists for a living. 

For one, both Lamensdorf and Matte are members of the Millburn-Short Hills Art Center (M-SHAC). They are two of the 56 New Jersey artists who are displaying their work through August at The Morristown Community Theatre. Matte also currently has her work on display at the Drip Coffee Shop in Madison.

M-SHAC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the development of local artists. 

"Their work is consistently one of the best in our shows," said Michael Fenton, president of M-SCHAC.

They met in an art class taught by Danielle Mick, who was very influential to them both in starting their art careers. 

Surprisingly, when Matte was promoting one of her shows, and passing out postcards to the neighbors, Lamensdorf realized that Matte was the same woman she knew from art class and she lived right across the street.

Both women left the lucrative world of corporate America where they each spent a considerable amount of time before becoming artists. 

Previous to her art career, Matte was a Goldman Sachs executive and worked in New York City.

"My father thought I was crazy to leave work; he would work till he was 100 if he could," she said. "I knew when I reached a certain milestone, I would leave and become an artist, one of my favorite quotes is 'The journey is the reward.' "

Matte paints landscapes, water views, interiors and still life with oil and mixed media.  

Lamensdorf previously worked at Pfizer as a Creative Director and Graphics Designer packaging, and marketing ads, and started painting in 2004. She uses a variety of media including pastels, acrylics, and collages and paints landscapes.

"I like light, a lot of color, and strong shadows," Lamensdorf said.

The two women became friends and companions as they walk five miles a day despite any and all weather conditions, often taking their cameras to snap any photo opportunities that may work as potential inspirational painting ideas.