There Can Be Only One - NOT!



"Baoding Balls"      oil       6x8"

Happy Fall!
Hope your summer was as refreshing and inspiring as mine.  Monhegan did it's thing and I came back with a lot of good studies for paintings that will make for a strong basis of next year's open studio.  I also came back with memories and experiences that fuel ideas to carry over into the fall and winter studio here in PA.
The open studio was well received and a bit different with a mix of mediums and subject this year.  Charcoal and graphite, some oils that I have been pushing into and, of course, watercolors. I also included more works of still life and some of my PA work was there as well. Many visitors remembered me from previous years and saw my work outside of marine/coastal watercolor for the first time. It was interesting to hear visitors' reaction to the mix.  Most enjoyed the variety and the feedback was very, very positive. Only a few asked which medium was my "favorite" or that I "identified with". My reply was that I am an artist and I use whatever medium a subject calls for.  I realized that there can be a certain expectation of artists and some viewers expect to see a certain type of work when they walk into a studio so I will write a bit about my take on choosing what to paint and how.
I'm not sure where the idea of using one medium and sticking with it came from but I think it has something to do with "branding" or "marketing" or some other sales mumbo jumbo you get in art business brochures and email spam.  Maybe it came from that movie The Highlander where all these immortal beings have to fight and behead each other until there is only one left because, for some weird reason that is never fully explained, there can be only one immortal (come to think of it, I have no idea what the heck any of that movie was about). Anyway, while it's all fine and good to become known for something, I think there is a danger of getting stuck in this and stunting one's growth as an artist. Similar to an actor being typecast for only one kind of role, artists can be boxed into one type of work.  Most successful artists I know employ several mediums in their works. And by successful I mean they are constantly growing and honing their skills. Variety helps this by keeping things fresh and one technique will begin to lend itself to another.  Sargent, Zorn, Wyeth and so many other fine artists proved that one doesn't need to be locked down to just one avenue. I am not saying that I am in their league. I just don't feel the need to be known for one type of medium but rather for my style and voice. It's more important to put together a piece with quality and integrity, no matter the subject or medium.  I guess I choose a subject the same way a collector chooses a painting. I've been known to tell people that if they find a painting that resonates and connects with them then they should buy it. If I find a subject that resonates and inspires me then I will paint it.
The little painting at the top of the page happened this way.  I found these baoding balls in one of my favorite PA thrift shops and liked the idea of the challenge of painting something with a mix of so many colors and surfaces. I saw a chance to grow and stretch my skills. Watercolor would not have captured the cloth box or enamel surface of the balls to my satisfaction so I chose to do this painting in oil (after making my usual graphite study which is here):

"Baoding Balls"        graphite         6x8"

The painting, "Baoding Balls", is a smaller work and is slated to be part of the winter show at Patricia Hutton Galleries in Doylestown, PA.  This was a lovely show last year with the gallery decked out for the holidays and it promises to be that way again with this year's event.  Information about the opening reception will be posted on my web site www.katharinekrieg.com as the date gets closer.  Hope to see you there!  Other shows further on the horizon are keeping me busy as well. I am pleased to once again be part of the group show at Historic Yellow Springs in Chester Springs, PA. This show happens in mid April into May but again I will be sure to post the exact dates when they are announced.
Fall is my all time favorite season and I hope it brings as much enjoyment and invigorates you as much as it does for me.
Best Wishes!

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