Category: art

Behind the curtain

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Some things I find funny.

I found some of my old photographs that I took years ago.

Back in 2000 when I still had my maiden name and I was considered young.

I had a showing of this series in some off the beaten path gallery.

I wrote my artist statement the night before late.

It went something like this.

This series of photographs is called ‘Behind the Curtain’. It’s a subjective approach about cats broken down to its most simpliest form and enhanced by all elements that intervene to shroud the subject. Subtle transparencies emerge and shadows distort but the work is not about clarity but reality. The pictures bring the viewer closer to what exactly is present and in original form. The perception is geared toward the cat but the viewer keeps coming back to the curtain as the light intensifies, flattens and solidifies the curtain. The curtain stands alone with its subtle folds, elegant drapes and soft patterns. Even though we can’t get past the curtain the cat is still identifiable.

3 ways to deal with winter.

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Embrace the season

Just like our furred and feathered friends that make their home in Wisconsin, we humans have three basic ways to deal with winter – we hibernate, migrate or adapt.

Some of us grouse about the weather, hunker down, stay indoors and count the days until warm weather returns. Some of us lock up the house, forward the mail and take flight to someplace warm. Traveler isn’t passing judgment, if that’s what you prefer. We’re just suggesting you take this winter to adapt and embrace the season, start a new family tradition and get some fresh air and exercise while you’re at it.

Nature centers across the state will welcome you with open, parka-clad arms and may pass out hot cocoa as an extra incentive.

Kathryn A. Kahler is a staff writer for Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine.

Took our cross-country skiing out and hit the trails yesterday. We had a blizzard last weekend finally I say finally because it seemed like everyone else was getting snow all around the country except for us here in the tundra. It stayed cold all week in the single digits temperatures so the snow couldn’t melt. When Saturday came it got up in the forties so it was a perfect day for skiing. Basically it was wet, sticky, hazy and cloudy just the way we like it picture perfect. I took a picture of our ski’s up against our car afterwards as a keepsake. We might not get anymore snow this winter.

Can You Have too many irons in the fire?

 

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Can you have to many irons in the fire?

Can I have so many paintings in process?

Is it okay to have so much going on?

I get these ideas.

And it’s exciting to get an idea.

I just have to run with them for awhile so I drop every thing else I’m working on.

I take the idea and put it down on paper and visually create what was once in my head.

From there to the canvas

The little time I can create I create

It is a delight.

finished or not.

And this is what makes my life.

Is there is a thought process required for working big?

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Is there is a thought process required for working big?

The primary reason for creating large-scale oil paintings is the potential for expressing a sense of power.

A degree of exaggeration is required when painting on a large-scale canvas.

A huge composition with massive figures and images facilitating some sort of monumental event or picture.

It’s an opportunity to paint a biblical theme.

Are we living in a post-Christian America?

Large brushes and loose brushes strokes and entailed with subtle detail.

Gathering information and references.

Simplifying the composition as you work through the preliminary sketch and rough value and color studies.

Artist job is to select, eliminate, move, enlarge and shrink elements, placing them in shadows or light to create the best painting.

 

You must do the things you think you cannot do.

Eleanor Roosevelt