| Mikael Carstanjen Mary Doering Atlantic Tiles and Design |
For the past twenty seven-years Mikael
Carstanjen and Mary Doering have been
known as the successful owners of Sea
Shell Pottery in Orleans. More recently
they have developed a dual reputation
as talented photographers. What started
out as an avocation has now become a
new focus for their considerable artistic
talent. As members of the
Photographic Society of America they
have won awards and recognition at the
national and international level. In 2003
the New England Camera Club
Conference awarded Mary best slide in
New England and the same year Mikael
won best color print in New England.
Other achievements the couple
have accomplished the past twenty
seven years include: Mary has won
awards in printmaking, painting,
photography, and poetry. Mikael has
won international awards for his model
ships and has had one of his handcrafted
musical instruments exhibited in a
collection at the Smithsonian
Eight years ago they began to
experiment with digital photography and
digital printmaking. Their photography is
a starting point for the images they want
to create. Then using computer
technology, the way other artists use
paint and canvas, they create
photographs with a painterly quality.
Mikael's beach series, lighthouses, and
local landmarks take on the look of fine
watercolors. Mary's background as an
abstract painter is evident in her
photographic images where layers of
color and marks splash across the paper.
Three years ago they began printing
their photographs on ceramic tiles. This
felt like an ideal combination of art and
craft. These tiles can be hung as art or
can function as backsplashes in the
kitchen and bath. Most recently they
have begun to print their photographs
on a variety of surfaces including metal,
gold leaf and Japanese rice paper.
Combining inkjet printing with traditional
art materials makes each photographic
piece a one-of-a-kind original.
Mary and Mikael are excited and
inspired by the world around them. Each
is passionate about recording their
unique vision and sharing it with the world.
Carstanjen and Mary Doering have been
known as the successful owners of Sea
Shell Pottery in Orleans. More recently
they have developed a dual reputation
as talented photographers. What started
out as an avocation has now become a
new focus for their considerable artistic
talent. As members of the
Photographic Society of America they
have won awards and recognition at the
national and international level. In 2003
the New England Camera Club
Conference awarded Mary best slide in
New England and the same year Mikael
won best color print in New England.
Other achievements the couple
have accomplished the past twenty
seven years include: Mary has won
awards in printmaking, painting,
photography, and poetry. Mikael has
won international awards for his model
ships and has had one of his handcrafted
musical instruments exhibited in a
collection at the Smithsonian
Eight years ago they began to
experiment with digital photography and
digital printmaking. Their photography is
a starting point for the images they want
to create. Then using computer
technology, the way other artists use
paint and canvas, they create
photographs with a painterly quality.
Mikael's beach series, lighthouses, and
local landmarks take on the look of fine
watercolors. Mary's background as an
abstract painter is evident in her
photographic images where layers of
color and marks splash across the paper.
Three years ago they began printing
their photographs on ceramic tiles. This
felt like an ideal combination of art and
craft. These tiles can be hung as art or
can function as backsplashes in the
kitchen and bath. Most recently they
have begun to print their photographs
on a variety of surfaces including metal,
gold leaf and Japanese rice paper.
Combining inkjet printing with traditional
art materials makes each photographic
piece a one-of-a-kind original.
Mary and Mikael are excited and
inspired by the world around them. Each
is passionate about recording their
unique vision and sharing it with the world.
