Karin Richter Fine Art

Newsletter
April 2014

Even though there is a blizzard outside on this first day of spring, I am determined to bring some inspiration and interesting tidbits to my colleagues, friends and supporters. I hope we havent lost too many artists to the winter blues. More than one of you has reported feeling uninspired, even losing your muse! I must admit that my usual gusto has been a bit flat lately as well. I dont feel that I have much to say but as I am sitting down, surrounded with notes and information to share, I slowly feel inspired and so it is with making art. Once you put yourself in the midst of what you love, your art materials, magazines, books etc., your muse shows up, first a little timid, then giving you a push saying: Come on, you still have it in you! If you are somebody who needs being in nature as a catalyst for your art, then being cooped up inside for so many months can take its toll. Like famous Canadian painter Mary Pratt, the artist in us can, however, find things to paint in our intimate surroundings, our home, our kitchens. While at home with 4 little kids, Mary painted what was right in front of her, everyday objects. Fruits and vegetables make for good subject matter or one can arrange a still life out of the wine bottles left after drowning ones artistic sorrows!

Pears & Company, Pastel

Wine Anyone?, Pastel

My plan this winter was to attend more art openings and I did make it to a few. Before Christmas I had the chance to see a comprehensive Maxwell Bates Exhibition at Masters Gallery in Calgary and listen to a presentation:

Cocktail Party

Nancy Townsend giving her talk

Bates, a Calgarian, belonged to a group of artists revolutionizing the local art scene. I was drawn to the exhibition because the work resonated with me as I grew up with German Expressionism. My teacher in my formative years as an artist was

a prodige of Oskar Kokoschka, the famous Austrian expressionist painter. Expressionism is defined as being a subjective art form where the artist distorts reality to achieve an emotional effect.

Oskar Kokoschka Self-Portrait with Crossed Arms

In classes and workshops we were asked not to duplicate what we saw but find another way of expressing ourselves. Dont let me catch you painting forms the way you see them I can still hear my teachers voice. For many years I followed that man tra. When I started to enter the art scene in Calgary, however, I became more realistic in my work and looking back now, that was a good thing for my learning. I am trying to come full circle now and become more expressive in what I do, evident in my semiabstract and abstract work. What also struck me in Bates exhibition was the diversity of his work. As artists we are always told to be consistent but most creative people will go through several periods of growth in their lifetime when they try to experiment with different media and techniques. It is all part of the journey. Ted Godwins retrospective/celebration one year after his death, just finishing at Wallace Galleries in Calgary, illustrates this point. He went through many creative phases, always looking for different ways to express himself. He left a wonderful legacy.

I hear a lot about authenticity these days. Maybe all those cookie-cutter things out there dont cut it after all. Maybe, just maybe, a personal, unique kind of expression is a concept that is on the rise again one can only hope! I have a lot of newsletters coming to my email inbox and the advice is always the same: develop that part of you and your art that makes you uniquely you be authentic! It is certainly something I stress in my teaching which brings me to a related topic, that of evaluating/critiquing artwork that may be different either in style, technique or concept. I attended a talk by Chris Willard recently, head of the Painting Department at the Alberta College of Art, who challenged us to consider that the criteria we most often use to judge a work

of art may not be the only one valid. He reminded us that most of the world out there does not necessarily subscribe to rules that are based on European art history. He encouraged us to have strong opinions but be open to being wrong! If you submit artwork for judging anywhere you have probably experienced rejection along with acceptance. What one judge will reject, another may give an award to that is part of the subjective jury system. It is important not to give up when you believe your work has merit. It can be frustrating, a feeling shared by many now beloved impressionists who were rejected by the annual Paris Salon. A revolt ensued which resulted in the famous or infamous Salon des Refuses in 1836. I guess it did not hurt that this exhibition had the backing of Napoleon III.

Salon de Paris

Edouard Manets Dejeuner sur lHerbe

The concept resilience comes to mind and if you feel so inclined, check out Mark McGuiness book with this title, obviously something we as artists need to conquer if we want to stay in the game without being tempted to cut off our ear!

When hitting a slump, I find it helps to turn away temporarily from ones usual pursuit and try something different. I have dabbled in

alternative art forms from time to time and always found it to be refreshing. As photography has gained respect over the years, I have also submitted and am showing some subjects caught with my camera. One of the fun things I have done recently is to photograph the leftovers on my painting palette. I call this series Remains of the Day.

Remains of the Day I

Remains of the Day II

A palette is an integral part of the painting process - it is the place where colour choices are made and worked out before being applied to canvas or paper. Unlike the finished work, the palette has a story to tell, of trial and error and success and failure. I enjoy the abstract patterns that are left behind. Ultimately, the mystery of process is discarded as the finished painting takes centre stage. For those of you on my mailing list who like to travel, I need you to let me know where you would like to go. My trip to Morocco May 1 is now a done deal and I am looking ahead to 2015. One holiday I

have planned for artsy travelers is the one going to France in early September of 2015. Do check out www.levieuxcouvent.com, an absolutely wonderful place. I will have the trip posted on their site and my own website in the next few weeks and will take early registrations later this summer to save you a little money. As you know I am more than happy to go back to Tuscany in the spring of 2015 as everybody loves La Foce (www.lafoce.com). I do have a running list of people interested in my Art-at-Sea trips (Gulf Islands, Haida Gwaii, Whales and Totems and Alaska) (www.mapleleafadventures.com) but need a couple of people in each of these to make serious plans. In the past, participants in these holidays have had a wonderful time and most of my travelers are repeat customers. There is nothing better to refresh ones batteries than an art holiday! I keep my website up to date with assorted classes and workshops coming up throughout the year. Check it out from time to time. Keep well and keep in touch!

All the best in life and in art! Karin

karinrichter@shaw.ca (403)272-1471 www.karinrichter.com

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