Friday, June 13, 2008

Suki, Studio, Mark Rothko and Friday 13th!

Thank you all for visiting and reading/commenting on the Conversation I had with Suki! She is an amazing artist and the experience for me was extraordinarily wonderful! Suki also has a message for everyone regarding her photos of which I had a difficult time with on blogger. Here is what she has also posted on her blog:

For some reason my interview photos uploaded to Kim's computer small and I noticed they can't be enlarged. Anyone who would like to see them larger can go here to a Picasa web album I created of those photos. You can click on the photos to enlarge them. :)

Thank you, Suki for this link as well as for the wonderful Conversation!
Now you are probably wondering what in the world I was doing while you were reading Suki's great conversation. I was working in the studio, of course :) The photo above is a quick shot of my work table. All of the canvases you see there are still wet...thus the cloudiness of the one canvas which has lots of layers of clear glaze. I am just beginning with the series of small, long canvases. Oh you can see what a mess I have made over the years from painting on this table.

You have seen this before and it looks no different, yet. I have been adding those clear layers, still. It probably has close to 75 thin layers of clear glaze by now. Actually, this one is also still wet with glazing...thus the appearance of the streaks...which will go away as the glaze dries. You can see the top part is clearing up.

Today, in my email I received an art quote by one of my favorite artists. Mark Rothko said:

I’m not an abstractionist. I’m not interested in the relationship
of color or form or anything else. I’m interested only in
expressing basic human emotions: tragedy, ecstasy, doom,
and so on.

What do you think of what Mark Rothko said? What are you up to for the weekend? Whatever you are going to be doing, most of all, Enjoy Doing It!

Happy Friday, June 13....the only Friday 13th in 2008!

14 comments:

sukipoet said...

Kim, I missed this earlier as my "igoogle" page no longer seems to be posting people's most recent posts.

thanks for all you said about me and for putting in that link.

Well, you have been busy all right. That's great. Hope you have more time this weekend to continue on.

What does layers of clear glaze (I assume with no paint in it) do for a painting?? Will you put more glaze with paint on top?

I love what Rothko said. I agree 100% and also think this is true of writing. It is the emotions that drive one to do it and that matter within the layers of paint and words. I love Rothko too.

I am still cleaning out the garage and I've started on the shed where there are gross looking bags of stuff and rats nests yuck. Plus, I am trying out some collage arrangements for maybe starting some more wax collages once I buy the crock pot to melt the wax in.

I also have been looking at the woman in the yellow dress and thinking of experimenting with more glazing on her dress and the little girls and the turkeys in the foreground and leaving the back ground kinda faded and dull.

Take care dear Kim. Namaste, Suki

~Babs said...

Hi Kim,,,your work table looks like it would be right at home in my mess of a studio room!
I can visualize you relaxing, applying all those glazes,,,,,nice!

I couldn't agree more with Rothko,,each to find their own expression,,,to me is what it's all about.I don't care what it's labeled.

Having just returned from the lake, my weekend is just one of catching up at the home front, and preparing to do the lake thing again next week.One of my Sisters is coming next Saturday to spend a week with us, and then we'll have the whole family at the lake for the July 4th. celebration. It's a very busy time, and I'm really happy that my sister is non-judgemental,,,as all I'm guaranteeing is that she'll have a clean bed and bath. The rest of the house is upside down,,,,and I don't care, LOL!!

Andrea and Kim said...

Hi Suki....

I meant every word I said! You are welcome to be sure.

I also hope to have more time this weekend to be in the studio.

Now, the clear glaze intensifies the colors which have been applied before. What I am also hoping to achieve with this process is to add another simple element to this painting which appears to be floating above what you see there. These are very thin layers...the same formula I told you about before. They do dry very quickly, but I have to get up there to apply them, too. The small painting green/purple on the table also has the clear glaze...and it feels smooth like glass. You can't feel the paint below it at all. The larger one has some areas of relief which can be still felt...hopefully by the end of the process those too will be smooth to the touch, but not the eye.

There was a time when I just couldn't get enough of Rothko and had to read everything I could about him. There is something about his paintings which speak to me on a level I can't explain.

Suki, you are one busy beatnik chick! :) I can't wait to see what all of your work produces! Wow...that is a lot of work to clean out a garage belonging to someone else. Wow...but your studio is looking good. Oh, another wax collage...they are so fantastic. I can't wait.

That would really make the background appear further in the distance, I think...it sounds like a great way to proceed...Please show it when you have it completed! That is exciting news!

Suki, thank you so much for all the time you have spent here this week! I know the readers love your responses to their comments and so did I...fantastic!

Andrea and Kim said...

And Babs! You sure do get the emotions out in your work! I can see that. I still keep thinking about the orange! Oh my, it is so incredible!

It sounds like you have tons going on there...like Suki! You two wild girls! :) I know you are looking forward to your sister's arrival...I am glad she doesn't see messes either. That means she is mostly interested in the person who lives there not the state of the house...you gotta love that!

You must be very, very busy getting things ready for the 4th at the lake! How much fun is that going to be? I am guessing your youngest little friend is going to be joining you? Well, we will all be waiting to hear all about it.

I have missed you this past week, but I had a feeling you were busy doing things at the lake! If I hadn't heard from you in the next week or so I was going to start asking around, though! :)

Thanks Babs...I know your time there is very precious, so knowing you took the time for a visit is indeed an honor for me!

Try to relax a bit, my friend!

Anonymous said...

Kim,
Thanks for the Picasa link. I was hoping to see Suki's art at a larger size.

Your table looks like mine when I get all involved in art making.

Rothko picked some extreme emotions there; tragedy, ecstasy & doom! He's an Expressionist. Does that make him a Drama Queen?

Andrea and Kim said...

You are welcome, Chewy!

I am glad my table is not so appalling to you.

Rothko's work evokes far different emotions in me than the ones he used to paint. I find a lot of joy and wonder in those squares!

Thanks Chewy!

sukipoet said...

Kim thanks for answering the question about the glaze. I have your glazing formula written down in my little art techniques note book but havent tried it yet. :) Also, so far have done no artwork this WE

Andrea and Kim said...

Suki, you are so very welcome. I am always glad to share what little I know. I am glad you have the formula if the time comes when it seems right to use it...and even if you don't! :)

I have been working in the studio this weekend. I do think it is sometimes important to have forced time away from your studio or from being able to work on things you wish to be working on. For some reason it seems to make a difference. Boy, but is it hard sometimes. What do you think?

Thanks Suki!

Lynette said...

Kim your tabletop looks like mine LOL and it looks like you have been creating some great pieces on it! I bet all those layers of glaze give a wonderful depth and translucence! I love Rothko's work and thanks for sharing his quote. I bought a new tabletop easel and I've been trying to get my messy painting room straightened this weekend.

Andrea and Kim said...

Well, I am so glad I am not the only one who doesn't take the time to scrub my tabletop! LOL

I have to tell you, Lynette, I adore this glazing process. I just wish I could show it better in the photographs. My son suggested a photo from the edge, so I might give that a shake. He noticed when you look at it from an angle, "it looks really cool, Mom!" You are right about the depth and translucence!

Rothko...is fabulous. I know he was one of those very depressed artists, but his work is not depressing at all to me! I suppose I am pretty pulled to those American Abstract Expressionists!

Now I am eager to see what you are working on so I will head on over to your blog!

Thanks Lynette!

Anonymous said...

Hi Kim,
It's Monday morning here, while you lucky people are still doing Sunday...
Your layers are amazing, Kim - I am lucky enough to have one :), so I know what you are saying. The word "glaze" is really appropriate - they look like they have a glassy finish, and that the paint in the lower layers is encased - rather like I do with the glass. Succeeding layers of paint seem to float above the base - VERY gorgeous! Do you have a favourite glaze product? I wonder if it is available here??..
Painting emtotions is something I dont think about, but I do think about putting the right colour on a body to heal or deal with emotions - then, within that, I play with pattern and shape - my beads are very "mood" oriented.
I must Google Mark Rothko - I've never even heard of him!
Love and hugs from the other side of the world,
Les.

Andrea and Kim said...

Hello My Dear Friend!

Happy Monday!

Thank you for your kind words about my layers! I really love doing them and they are so meditative. It is very glassy, that is true. And if I put enough layers on, then paint something and add lots more layers, it should look encased. I am working on this one now to see how that works out.

Les, I make my own glaze with glossy medium and distilled water. I will email you the recipe. You can find it there...no problem.

I think your glass work is very emotional. You are so right about them being mood oriented, as well. I adore your beads and you know I think they do heal the body...I know they heal mine along with bringing me peace, joy and great love from you! :)

I think you are going to like what you see about Mark Rothko...use the link here, I think that might be a good place to begin to explore if you like.

I send you lots of love and hugs back from this side of the world, too, my friend!

PS For those of you who read here, Les lives in New Zealand and is my fabulous glass artist friend. The link to her web site is listed on the blog as Glitz Art Glass.

Unknown said...

Oh my I missed this post. It is great to see how things are going with this painting. It develops (or better: you develop) more and more depth, and I'm amazed to see how the process works! I'm so grateful that you share you work in process views with us, thanks for being so genereous with your tips and tricks, what a pleasure it is to paint with you:):)

And I love to see your workspace and the new series of long canvases your are preparing. They already look dense and good like that:)
love
Andrea
Andrea

Andrea and Kim said...

Thanks Andrea...

I think you are right....I develop! Right now it is really a process I am very attracted to doing.

Yes, it is a pleasure to paint together! I love that expression of just how it feels for me.

Oh, those long canvases really changed a lot over the weekend. I think watch this week and maybe there will be a glimpse of them. You know, though, I liked them that way, too! They are really small...only 4 inches by 12 inches (I think that is like 12 cm by 33 cm).

I love this sharing we do in blog land!

Thanks so much, Andrea!