Essdras M Suarez/Globe Staff
Beth Dacey at her SOWA studio.
BETH DACEY
Age 60
Occupation Artist
Residence Boston
What inspires your paintings?I work from vintage black-and-white photos from the ’50s, ’40s, and ’30s. The subjects are my relatives, my friends’ relatives — they’re found photographs, not from a published book, but in a shoe box or a closet.
There needs to be a question or some tension in the photo. The happy accident, though, is that they happen to have cool clothing on as well. I love painting the flow and drape and gesture of clothing.
Has paying close attention to fashion in your paintings influenced your own style?I don’t think so other than the fact that I do like drape and angles. I like fabric that drapes and moves and angles in an interesting way. My paintings aren’t that colorful either. They’re subtle shades of various neutrals, but people always comment on my pops of color. I guess I do that when I dress as well. — Rachel Raczka