Karen Friedland

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via Karen Friedland.

FLATBUSH ARTISTS STUDIO TOUR THIS WEEKEND

This weekend is the Flatbush Artists Studio Tour here in Victorian Flatbush.  The Studio Tour is a self guided walking tour, including 18 artists in 12 locations.  You are welcomed into the homes and studios, giving you a glimpse into some of the beautiful Victorian homes in this community, while showcasing the artwork of our painters, photographers and sculptors.

I invite you to visit me and see my work at 1890 Ditmas Avenue, corner of East 19th St. where I am being hosted by artist Karen King in her spectacular turn of the century mansion.  You can get more information on the tour and its artists at www.flatbushartists.org.   You can download a map at the website or get one from me when you come.

I’ll will look forward to seeing you and I’m anxious to show you my new work.   

Come join us for light refreshments as you peruse my paintings, prints, collages, as well as a new line of jewelry and notecards.  See you Saturday or Sunday, 12n-6PM.

Ole Miss

Greetings from Mississippi! Here I am at Henry Jacobs Camp, near Jackson, Mississippi, attending the 64th Mississippi Art Colony.  Despite ideas to the contrary, Art Colony does not foment revolution nor does it take any prisoners.  However, this week I have become prisoner to the charms, humor and dichotomies of Southerners and getting together a large group of artists is always a bit subversive.  Working independently in a variety of media, we are 42 individuals making art, sharing ideas, focusing on the creative.

We are guided this week by highly accomplished Providence (RI) artist, Bunny Harvey.  A Prix de Rome winner, Harvey has an illustrious exhibition career as well as professor of art at Wellsley College.  Look for an upcoming interview.

There is a custom here at Art Colony that the artists make ATCOs (artist trading cards) and exchange them as a fund raiser for scholarships. This was my first time making them and it was certainly fun.  Each one is a small gem, a self encapsulated work of art.  It turned out that I only needed five but ended up making 15. (You see them photographed here in groupings.) Hope to find other artists to trade with.

Continuing to work abstractly while here.  I started one piece about the earth and pollution to submit to a show called “Going Green II”.  I worked on it first day.

Decided to get some distance from it and on the second day started this large (apx. 60″ square) non-objective painting.  Here it is in an early stage.

It’s another gorgeous, warm day here in Mississippi and I need to scurry off now to see what these pictures become.

UP, UP AND AWAY

There were three interesting stories on “60 Minutes” this week, all of which were pertinent to my life: on Art (my life), Sugar (my downfall) and the Space Program.  Now, you might not think the space program to be of personal relevance but this story struck the very heart of my being.

I was only a little kid when President Kennedy challenged a generation, at his inauguration, to put a man on the moon. Not only had he set forth a task that was the stuff dreams were made of, he gave us a deadline–10 years.  It was a stunning call to action, exciting the pioneering spirit of Americans and firing the imagination. We met Kennedy’s challenge and achieved so much more as we discovered and invented applications of what we learned from the space program to our lives and the body of scientific knowledge.

I think this is what was seen by much of the world as American arrogance.  It wasn’t that we were conceited, we had worked very hard and accomplished an almost unimaginable goal.  There was a national pride, based in this achievement.

Barely six months ago, the space shuttle Atlantis flew it’s final voyage, being decommissioned after flying only a third of the flights it was built for.  The promise had been that a new space program, Constellation, would be launched.  But first the funding was cut and then Congress de-funded it completely.  The people at Cape Canaveral disappointedly call the defunct program, Cancellation.  This was personally devastating to the individuals involved, who had their lives and lifestyles shattered by the change in the economic tide, evidenced by each one breaking down as Scott Peley interviewed them.

But it was devastating to me, too.  This was a noble, pure and exciting effort that we created for the future, for the unknown, for the pure joy of being able to accomplish something heretofore thought impossible.  I am part of the generation that dreamed of stars and galaxies, constellations and deep space.  As we let our imaginations soar, we had a sense that anything is possible.

Now it’s over.  What grand challenges and great adventures do we now see for ourselves and future generations?  How do we now excite the imagination and believe that anything is possible?

"Dream" acrylic on paper 22" x 30" $1750- framed
This painting began as an exploration of shades and tones of red. As I started to add the warm, golden yellow forms, I saw the bird emerge. I had not planned to paint a bird and birds are rarely in my artwork. The etherial effect of the bird and veiling gives it an other worldly feeling, hence the title, "Dream."

My latest exploration is of the worldwide web and my latest discovery, Posterous.  Have a look at my portfolio there and tell me what you think. ArtistKaren.posterous.com

MAGIC

Yesterday I was in the studio in a mild panic.  I had three canvases in various levels of completion staring at me.  They were each a non-objective abstraction, a somewhat new area of endeavor for me and each in a square format, 24″ x 24″, a new format for me.  This means that I am taking on two specific challenges simultaneously, as designing in a square is much different from design in a rectangular piece.

Instead of one of these paintings being under my brush, I sat at my desk staring at three canvases arrayed on the floor, propped against the flat file.  As they stared back at me in the chaos of my over-filled third floor studio, I wondered what to do.  I have been on an exploration of abstraction, progressively taking my imagery to the abstract, constantly aware that translating the world onto a two dimensional–flat–surface is an exercise in abstraction in and of itself. Painting is the endeavor of creating shapes and placing them on to the grid.  The grid represents the surface of the canvas, paper or board on which the color is placed.  This concept is complements of one of my teachers, a great artist, George James.  George takes his imagery, usually people, and creates an abstract composition that includes images of figures.

Looking at his paintings while squinting your eyes, you can easily see the abstract design in his work.  George emphasizes design as he teaches, noting that placing work on the grid matters little whether you depict things realistically or not, the design is what makes it work.

But to get back to my predicament.  What to do?  I really hadn’t the faintest idea.  I was sorely tempted to run downstairs, get on facebook and post “Baffled and feeling totally out of my depth.  Perhaps I am inadequate to the task.” Ahhh, what a crutch our technology is.  It would have felt like I was doing something while changing nothing except some people’s estimation of me.  So I toughed it out.

I kept mixing paint and putting it on those canvases.  Sometimes it was only a few strokes before I put the canvas back in its perch and pulled up another.  I had no idea what I was doing and where it was going.  However, I think this is where experience and knowledge come in.  My left brain (the logical side) could not, for the life of me, figure out what to do.  But the right brain (the side responsible for creativity, invention and putting you in the “zone”) took over the show, moving me back and forth between color, canvas and stroke.

Up to the last moment, I had no idea how any of the paintings would ever finish.  Then I placed a few more strokes on one that was very pale and that I thought would need to travel a long way to get done.  But it was complete.  I don’t really know how it happened.  It must be magic!

Here it is.  Working title:    Clearing

 Clearing — detail  This lets you see some of the texture in this piece.

close up view showing texture

Have you ever been surprised with magic?

DAYS OF WOMEN

A couple of days ago was the International Day of the Woman.  I was lucky to sit in on the art history class of Professor Maya Jimenez as she talked about a woman pharaoh of Ancient Egypt, Hatshepsut (1508–1458 BC).  She ruled for 22 years, having inherited her throne from both husband and father.  She was one of the most successful rulers establishing trade networks, thereby building the wealth of the eighteenth dynasty.  Yet, statues of her show her with head and chin piece as her male predecessors, depicted as a man.  She had to go a long way to prove herself.

We women have a long time before our equality is assured.  Those of us who were involved in the rise of feminism recall a different time, even though our daughters don’t.  Dame Judi Dench brings us up to date. 

Today, as I see the many artists in the New York area listings on Facebook and LinkedIn, they are overwhelmingly female.  Perhaps there is only one man for every 8 or 10 woman artists in my totally unscientific observation.  Yet, men are widely represented in galleries, professorial positions and command consistently higher prices in auction sales. I will profile, in future entries, exceptional women artists.  We must continue to work for equality.

Where do you see inequality?

“GUY”  acrylic  11″ x 8″

LEARNING EVERY DAY

Growing up, my father always said, “learn something new every day.”  He was obviously ahead of his time because, now, in arts education, the buzz phrase is turning students into   “life long learners.”  It’s an admonition I obviously took to heart as I have at various times pursued post college study in business (MBA), interior design  and travel/tourism (certificates) and now, two years of undergraduate study in art and art history.  I have learned many things in these classes but I’ve learned also learned a great deal from the people around me — friends, family, colleagues, fellow artists.

Working beside superb artists in a workshop enriched my experience immeasurably.  Not only have I gained wonderful friends but I also acquired knowledge of working habits and techniques of fine artists.  Among these artists is Kathleen Conover, a watermedia artist from the UP in Michigan.  She is vastly creative and innovative in her work, producing beautifully evocative paintings.  Recently, she created a video which not only showcases her prize winning artwork, including her Silver Medal from the American Watercolor Society in addition to demonstrating her working process creating an underpainting texture.  

The generosity of artists sharing their knowledge and techniques is a source of pride and wonderment to me.  You can go on the video sharing websites and have artists impart things they have acquired through years of study and practice.  See what you can learn on the internet.  It may be something that will enrich your life.  What have you learned on the worldwide web?

Talking about relationships, in a recent visit to my daughter in Lincoln, Nebraska, I was reminded of the location of a painting of which I’d lost track.  It is at her house!  The painting, “On The Path” also employed a texture technique.  In this painting I adhered glass balls to the canvas surface before painting.  I like the rustic feel it provides.

"On The Path" acrylic 14 x 11

Collage #7 artist painted papers 9" x 6"

Traveling with great frequency is certainly fun but it also means being away from the studio.  For many years I have packed art supplies and brought them with me.  Sometimes I even schlepped various sketch pads, drawing and painting materials as my carry on.  Invariably there would be another passenger next to me, thereby making it almost impossible to do any art.  So I would take the course of least resistance and read my book.  I get a lot of reading done on trips.

One time I was able to make art on a trip was when I followed the recommendation of Marilyn Hughey Phillis.  Marilyn is an inventive watermedia artist with whom I studied several times.  She told me she takes collage materials with her and creates art with paper and glue.  This was before tightened airport security so she was able to take scissors with her.  Flying to China gave me lots of time to make art with paper; luckily I rip it and don’t need scissors.  I completed several pieces on that visit, one seen above.

During my recent trip to Florida, I wasn’t able to sleep one night (strange bed, strange place) and decided to put the time to good use by making this drawing.  At 6AM, after it was done, I went to sleep.  Better than an ambien.  What do you do when you can’t sleep?

SLEEPLESS, drawing in charcoal and conte crayon, 13" x 17"

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

As I just returned from a visit to Florida, it got me thinking about “home.”  Not my home in particular but the way each place we occupy becomes a home for us, regardless of the time we spend there.  The shelter a home provides–a place to rest, to refresh and cleanse-these things create a home wherever we light.  Of course, not every place is “homey” and I was reflecting on what made someplace so for me.

First stop on our trip was Fort Lauderdale where we spent a couple of nights in a 1970′s  family hotel with a bedroom, efficiency kitchen and bath.  The overall decor of the place was vegetation: you entered through an ivy covered arbor and fencing to pool and patio area, the sun shielded by swaying palm trees.  But when you got the room, the plantlife was dusty, faded silk flowers in vases everywhere.  Kitsch decor included wall art of celadon plates, sconces overflowing with silk ivy and god-awful motel style beach pictures.There was a couch but no place to sit because it was the only place to put suitcases.  It wasn’t terrible but I found it oppressive to be in that room.  It was only when I discovered my favorite place to sit that the place felt more like home.  Under the outdoor canopy on the patio, there were two weathered rattan armchairs.  Originally white, they were now a soft grey, time emphasizing their supportive weave, with cushions in a bright blue of the deep ocean, piped in pristine white.  From there, I passed pleasant time reading, chatting, checking messages.  It made that place a home.

On to Orlando for a convention that we attend each year and always stay in the wonderful apartments of the Royal Palms on the Marriott property.  Each time, I wish I could take our digs and plunk them down in Manhattan, just the way they are (preferably with the daily housekeeping).  Here too, I immediately staked out my favorite chair that became my “home spot.”  Different from the other, it still cradled and comforted while providing a safe perch from which to survey the world.  Unfortunately, the artwork here too, was pathetic palm tree pictures, the frames being the best part.

I don’t understand why well decorated hotels use such terrible art.  They find one image (or group of images) and use it over and over in each room.  I find it mind boggling when there are literally thousands of artists who would be happy to sell their work to hoteliers for a very fair price, making each room unique and personal, as well as beautiful.  Let me go on record right now that I would be happy to let any hotel brighten their business with my artwork.

As for chairs, they have always represented home for me.  Chairs evoke shelter and stability in a sometime precarious world.  I love that protected perspective, being part of but, at the same time, away from, in order to keep my perception clear.  Hence, my large, ongoing “Chair Series.”

"What's A Prince Without His Crown?" 30" x 22" watercolor

What makes someplace home for you?

ARTFUL INSPIRATION

MIRAGE acrylic 24" x 24"

While I am a little late on holiday greetings, I hope all had a good season.  It was exceptionally busy and happy time for me with school, family and friends.  But I just wanted to share a song that has provided me with inspiration with its powerful message.  (“Light One Candle” by Peter, Paul and Mary, one of my favorite groups.)

What art inspires you?