kk's blog

figurative artist, sometimes blogs about it

[artbyk2]

Going deep into the concept of #listening led to this #abstract #oilpainting.

#contemporaryart #figurativeabstract #oilpainting #paintingobsessed #fineart #torontoartist #karenklucowicz

#bornnaked #relationshipstuff

Artbyk2.com

[artbyk2]

when one painting leads to another

Last year, I did a creative retreat near Bracebridge, Ontario. Submersed in the nature of a northern part of Ontario, I recognized the importance of water to me and to my work. I had a vision in the water of two figures back to back as the sun set. I did a base painting at that time of this vision (entitled permission).

I just realized that the painting vision I had in the lake waters of Ontario last year, have led to the painting of another concept this year.

Recently, I started to work up permission and I began another piece entitled here there. Also based in water, this piece blends the waters of the lakes of Canada with oceans. Figures of different cultures coming together that draw on their roots, merge and bridge gaps.

hmm merging of cultures … often the basis of relationships work – theme? next retreat?

Going over concept sketches today, I discovered a series that I want to do (sketches after a trip to St. Lucia last year). Yup! water based - so I guess, apart from my love of water, that concept might have been the impetus for permission and here there! Mind you…here’s another piece I did several years ago.

Thinking I’ll paint one of the ‘where we are’ sketches out now - stay tuned for ‘ripples’…

[artbyk2]

purple is not my favourite colour

Recently I’ve been gifted several items that are purple in colour. I discovered that the reason they are purple is because my friends’ think that’s my fave colour. Nope. It’s red. This has happened several times in the past… so I decided to investigate the why. Surprisingly obvious once it was pointed out!!

Many of my paintings end up with purple figures in them. Sometimes I deviate from that when I paint with particular people in mind, or if I want to talk about something that I convey with a particular colour, but predominantly they are purple.

I gravitate to purple because I feel it neutralizes the culture (and sometimes the gender) of the featured figures. It also symbolizes intuition and wisdom to me.

Since the concepts to many of my artworks centre around personal strength and/or relationship development, I feel purple envelopes the ideas and reflects the intent.

‘support’ acrylic on canvas 30x24″

‘point of origin’ oil on canvas 16x20″

[artbyk2]

painting is like reading for me

                                ‘inclination’ oil on canvas, 6x6″

I have never been able to read one book at a time. I’m the same when painting. Always several canvases on the go - various sizes, different concepts.

I have a library of concepts on the go at any given time - in my sketchbooks, base paintings on canvas, notes on my phone - sometimes these concepts rest for years and percolate in my mind’s eye until I am drawn to finish them.

When I'm working on several larger pieces, that take extended hours to complete, I turn to small canvases and create little paintings that I can finish in a shorter amount of time.

With these little pieces I commit to different palettes, (once in a while the content is different from my usual series but inevitably I’m pulled back to my figure work) focused concepts, quick brushstrokes and alternate tools for applying the paint. Often these pieces transfer fresh and new techniques to the larger canvases and a development of my overall style. It also offers a sense of accomplishment as I continue with the larger paintings… 

                ‘envelope of edges, australia’ acrylic on masonite, 10x11″

[artbyk2]

Can you honestly say you live with ‘no regrets’?

A few weeks ago, I was scheduled and set to travel to Merida, Mexico. My mom had not been doing very well and the night before my flight, I felt panicky and nervous – my intuition told me I could not leave and at the last minute, I cancelled my trip. My mom improved in the first few days, but on Friday of that same week, she had a major set back. She spent the past two weeks in hospital and sadly passed away on Monday, February 29th.

Are there times when you think “I should have told her/him...” ?

The painting featured here is called ‘all my heart – mom’. I created and presented this piece to my mom last fall for her 90th birthday. I included a letter with the painting – weird to write to her instead of just tell her? Maybe. But I wanted her to know all that she meant to me and feared I would be too emotional to put it into words. I am so happy I did that letter – she loved it! I felt so good knowing she understood how I valued her love, strength, courage and beauty.

With my mom as the central figure, the abstract figures that surround her in the painting, represent my dad, the seven kids they had and the extended family that my mom embraced.

The colours I selected represent the pain, worry and sadness she lived with and the remarkable strength she demonstrated after the passing of my dad; and again after her youngest son and her eldest daughter passed away; and through the times of illness of another daughter, another son and a grandson. My own coping skills have been an on-going gift from my mom, learned through her example of love and strength.

We were so lucky to have my mom in our lives for so long. While she had endured tremendous pain for quite some time, we still enjoyed vibrant conversations and celebrated happy occasions. Every moment with my mom instilled me with new ideas and new ways of thinking – about people and about life in general.

Now, more than ever, I am convinced you should always listen to your gut instincts.

I have never regretted not having a regret.

I urge you to live the same way and hope you recognize the gifts of others as you live every day to the fullest.

karen

[artbyk2]

what colour is your skin?

No matter what your ethnicity your skin is made up of millions of colours.

Some readily apparent to the eye, some - not so much.

By now you know how much

I love colour

, lol. When I  first became aware of studying colour I discovered (and firmly believe) the best way to learn about colour is through

nature

.

Flowers, animals, human beings.

As my style and series evolved, I synthesized this to working with colours not typical to portraying people.

I work in an abstract, figurative style.

That is to say, while the figures I paint are usually recognizable they are often

abstracted in colour,

so that anyone can put themselves in to the image, and relate to the message of the piece.

I express with

colours and colour affects

to project

the essence of human

experiences

. It is also one of the reasons I return time and again to working in single colour, line

drawings

...

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone would see all people this way?

Try it the next time you meet someone that is not of the same ethnicity as you. It will eliminate so many barriers...

[artbyk2]

are you a romantic? is your partner?

Sometimes when we’re in a relationship we forget what the other person needs/wants. Romance is one of those things that sometimes gets lost in the mix of busyness.

                             This is your reminder.

Don’t lament over things you used to do, either re-initiate them or bring something new to the relationship.

We don’t always have the same definition of ‘romantic’ as our partner - you should find out what that is for them and tell them what it is for you!

You know what my solution is.

If you can’t bring the question up directly use art!

Show them what you want.

Hand-holding and cuddles?

Dinner and dancing?

A sexy scene of intimacy? 

Ask them what they want.

Their answer may surprise you and it will at least get a conversation started. You can even find pieces that you think answers that question for them and find out that way!

If you’d like to show you are romantic or show your partner you can be, do it in 2016.  

Happy Valentines Day! creatively yours, karen

[artbyk2]

5 tips to remember occasions. you’re welcome :)

I’m a terrible planner when it comes to addressing occasions like Valentines, birthdays, anniversaries but I love it when I remember! Yes I have a sometimes system and I’m going to share it with you!

here’s what I do - maybe you can incorporate some of the ideas…

I spend half an hour at some point to enter all the occasions on my phone calendar;

I set a phone reminder a few days to a week ahead of the date (you’ll feel ahead of the game!)

I have a stack of intimacy cards and gift scrolls that I draw on when the occasion comes up [you can too - they’re available on my site :) ]

When the reminder comes up I pull out a card or scroll, write my message and set the phone reminder to come up on the day of (you might want to reword the calendar reminder to remind you where you put it). [Sometimes I write a few cards at one time so there is a theme.]

Oh and put a note on the last event date you enter in your phone to stock up and enter new dates!

My phone calendar is my lifeline – my mom has said: “if you didn’t see her put it in her phone you can’t be sure she’ll remember” (lol it’s true).

You don’t need reminders like I do!?

Congrats - now get even more creative! Pick a series of dates when your partner won’t be expecting anything and send them private notes just for fun - you’ll love their appreciation ;)

[artbyk2]

do you have a colourful travel story?

Some are best left private !

What I’m talking about is memory recall in colour.

I work in series. The relationships or personal development pieces that I create are definitely influenced by my travel ventures. However I do work on other little projects now and again.

I call one of those projects ‘cities & colour’. Travel is a great source of inspiration for me and I like to paint those experiences.

I associate my travel destinations with colour. It’s not always the literal colours from the place, it is the colour I experience from that country.

I thought I’d show a couple of pieces I’ve done to share the stories.

Don’t touch the oranges! Roma Shopping of any sort is a true experience in Italy. On an early morning visit to the Spanish Steps a vendor had a mouthwatering display of oranges. Invited to select a piece of the fruit I was only allowed to point. He offered the piece for visual inspection only. After I accepted, he handed it over. Lesson learned. It was a great experience and the best orange I’ve ever had! My impression of Rome was of white sculptural architecture and that experience.

Juxtaposition: layers of Hong Kong  (that’s the painting at the top of this post) A fabulous cacophony of people, sound, architecture and smokey blue moments. My visit to Hong Kong was an amazing venture of masses of people in one moment, beautifully lit buildings, a ride on the ferry and a hike up a mountain. The painting above was my memory of my view of the 'new' airport and it captures all of my feelings in line, form and colour that this beautiful culture evoked in me.

btw...

I’m off to Merida, Mexico in search of more experiences (a city full of art-love it!) next week.... nos vemos más tarde (see you later)!

[artbyk2]

how to embrace the february blues

       If you let them in they should only be in the form of paintings!

Did you know that blue is deemed to be the most preferred colour in the world?

There has been significant research to support this. My take on it - blue is found everywhere in nature and so it brings huge comfort on one level or another.

We all interpret colour differently. Some feel blue is romantic, peaceful, sexy, powerful... others might take away feelings of force, oppression, dispassion...

When I work with blues on a canvas it takes on many of those emotions and I infuse the blues with other colours (like red, greens, yellows) to make sure there is a depth and range in tones. I believe that is what appeals to people that enjoy the figures and environments I paint. If you look closely at the work you’ll see that there are many colours used to make up the whole, even if the piece appears to be ‘blue’. The painting in this post is called ‘know it here’. It is about the intense physical feelings the figure has captured from another’s hand to her heart. (You can see other examples in my gallery where I use blues - commissioned pieces, gift scrolls, my relationships series...)

Think about your favourite colour

My favourite colour is red. My bedroom walls are red, I have red accents throughout my home, in my wardrobe and I use it in my paintings frequently. I love the energy and depth of feeling I get from it. It has a warmth to it that I count on for strength, stability and moving forward.

What’s your preferred colour?

How does it make you feel?

Do you surround yourself with it?

[artbyk2]

warm up to winter with art

[Hang a new print in a dining room - this is a Gorky ‘The Liver is the Cock’s Comb’ - hot colours (and content)]

For me the greatest way to ‘warm’ up to winter is to escape to the sun :) but when I’m home...                                                 I like the art that surrounds me to do the work.

I thought I’d share a few tips on ways to work with your art to warm up your interior up.

These tips are in addition to adding faux fur throws, lighting the fire and adding hot coloured accessories around your space - red candles, orange glass vases, yellow cushions! (I can’t ignore my love for interior design!)

heat things up with your art

. add a new piece to your collection that features hot colours. Basically any of the colours from red/purples to yellow/blues will do that for you;

. the content of a painting or photograph can make you feel warmer - beach scenes, lots of sunshine, flowers in full bloom - but no matter what the content the colours in the piece will do that for you too.

For example warm siennas (well and this example is a hot topic too!) will feed information to your brain and give you the feeling of warmth.

(this painting is from my ‘tantric musings’ series)

. highlight a painting on the wall with a picture lamp (no need to hardwire spotlights in, there are plenty of options that clip to frames);

. put a spotlight on a piece of sculpture;

. display a piece on an easel or relocate it low on the wall - create a vignette by adding floor cushions or an ottoman in front so the viewer can have an intimate experience with the piece;

. group a collection of sun-holiday photographs to relive great experiences (you can rotate images each season);

. start an art chat about a piece in your collection - with your partner, with friends - good dialogue certainly spreads warmth (and you can often bring subjects up that are more difficult to address)

or

my favourites... . spend a leisurely afternoon in an art gallery or museum;

. pick up a paintbrush, explore your creative, play with colour on a canvas, that’s what I’m doing :)

[artbyk2]

live with art - inside & out

I believe everyone should live with art. The experience at 13th Street Winery in Niagara, Ontario is an ideal way to do so. From the moment you arrive on the grounds, you’re greeted with a lovely sculpture outside of the entrance and then, when you go inside, you’re surrounded with paintings, sculpture, handcrafted furniture. The expanse of windows gives an amazing view of sculptures outside. Well done @13thStreetWines !

As one of my newsletter subscribers you have received my ebook “artful pleasures” and it has a few notes on collecting and installing art (if not sign up here!).

When you visit 13th Street it will inspire your own interior. I know I’m looking at the art around my home and thinking I’ll add to it and rotate some pieces. Maybe an outdoor sculpture this year!

Walk through your space...are you appreciating your art? Do you enjoy each piece the same way you did when you first installed it? If not it may be time to relocate or rotate it with another piece. Or maybe you need to add something new to your collection! (You can see a few neat ways to install here on my site.)

Have other business environments surprised you with a presentation of art? Like when you go to the SOHO Met in Toronto, Ontario and behold! a Chahuly overhead?! Or the Art Square Gallery and Cafe where you have a visual feast and time for food :)

Have fun and let me know if you know of other great spots to immerse yourself in art!

[artbyk2]

what do you see in this painting?

This is not an inkblot test -- it’s one of my paintings.

Recently I was reminded that not everybody sees the images I intend. I’m fine with that since I think everyone should take from art what they will. Too funny I have to share the story with you...

A friend sent a vacation photo of two people she was looking at, so I sent her a photo back of the painting I was working on (above) and said, ‘this is what I’m looking at’, her text back said ‘I haven’t a clue what that is’ and she resent her photo saying ‘this is what i sent’. lol she thought I had received the pic of the painting I was working on from her.

The person she was with explained that I am artist and I paint abstract. She said to me ‘not everybody understands abstract art’.

Lesson taken.

I will try and explain my art a bit so people understand it even if it’s not their style and I will try not to assume they know what is there. And for those that feel the intention might influence their perception and enjoyment of the piece - stop reading now!

The painting above is push and pull, in my where one leaves off series This piece features two figures (male and female). It’s about new relationships - the draw of one to another, the holdback and the attraction to commitment.

The background and figure colours are the possibilities they hold for each other. The infusion of those colours, each to the other person, and the overlap of the figures is to demonstrate the feelings we go through.

                             Hesitation, pull-back, pushing forward...

On the other hand, facebook did not approve of this image for an ad, saying it was too sexually provocative lol. And - yes! that was the intention so I guess mission accomplished. (This painting is one of the works for my tantric greetings cards valentines! entitled closeness.)

[artbyk2]

do you celebrate valentine’s day?

Infuse your relationship with tantric greetings.

I don’t know about you but traditional greeting cards never to seem to have the intimate message you’d like to convey. For years now I’ve been making my own cards to gift.  It brought me around to collaborating with a writer (correction an amazing writer) - Casey Chaplin - to create a series of tantric greeting cards (five actually).

                      I’m so excited to share them with you!

Tastefully sexy, these cards rock! The intent is for you to give the first one for Valentine’s Day and then the others every couple of weeks after. That’s bound to keep your relationship sizzling hot.

'closeness’  is the first painting (featured above) on the card and the theme of the writing (check out my site to see all of them).

oh and we did a limited edition print as well :) ‘tantric energy’ ... this is a detail from that painting

It was great fun to work with Casey and I know you’ll love his writing.

So the arguments go that valentine’s day is a ‘trumped up’ holiday but I say go for it anyway.

If you look back at the history of the day you’ll see that “Valentine’s Day” originated with a three day festival celebrating health and fertility (Lupercalia). Eventually the excess experienced at that event was frowned upon and the celebration narrowed to mean a show of love (although I would suggest you still include passion!).

Don’t worry that others think it was created solely for retailers ! By all means buy a gift if that’s how you like to present your love. Otherwise start your own  demonstrations.

Use the occasion to acknowledge the love and passion you hold for someone.

Simple pleasures go a long way.

           .a hot cup of coffee to your honey to start their day

                . a lovenote you put it in their briefcase, purse or pocket

                                 . a steamy text…

Yes, we should take the time throughout the year but we don’t always, so why not launch the year off on February 14th. It’s usually cold out, snowy in some places, and many start to get the winter blues. Love is a great way to warm up to the season. Turn up the heat!

creatively yours,

karen

(p.s. Of course, I believe in birthday seasons so I think you should create a festival around February 14!)

[artbyk2]

Commitment. Not for the faint of heart.

Are you still recovering from the holiday season or launching headlong into 2016?

I’m not really a new years resolutions person but I do like to usher the new year in with focused thoughts and actions to keep myself in line.

I call them new year’s re-commitments. Some are to myself, some are to others - all are for you.

I intend to continue creating art that speaks to you, for you and about you. To that end I’d love to hear from you whenever you feel like a piece I’ve done does that for you. It’s important to me and I want to know what you think.

I invite you to strive for that type of re-commitment in your relationships. It’s an opportunity to share and grow.

                     Be grateful,

                                show your appreciation

                                                          and dialogue.

This painting, ‘push and pull’, is part of my where one leaves off series. It’s about committing to a relationship and the conflict, confusion and work that comes with it.  

I wish you all the best in health, wealth and happiness for 2016.

creatively yours, karen

[artbyk2]

my art is for you

so I’m going to start blogging... I believe my art has something to say, which i guess by extension is me :). I also believe, by extension, that my art can speak to you, sometimes it’s about you and other times it’s for you.

My pieces have concepts that I think you can use to talk to others.

Yes. talk.

People tell me they always know where they stand with me and ‘wish’ they could be the same way with others. You can! Sometimes you just have to ‘bite the bullet’ (much like I’m doing blogging).

I paint and draw about emotions and how to recognize and communicate those feelings.

I do recognize that some people cushion or hold back thoughts or feelings but you can still be direct, open and honest. That’s what people get from me (I think). I also recognize that people sometimes need a little push to do so.

Enter - my art.

When I explain the concept to a piece I find it begins many interesting dialogues and clears up many a thought or preconceived notion with another person. You can use my paintings to do the same thing.

You will see (in the descriptions I provide) that the colours I use represent different emotions, the style, while abstract, is expressive, the content is always ‘human’.

My concepts are all about relationships and communication. Sometimes it’s about an individuals’ search for answers or development, other times about how one person influences another. For me, the best way to get these ideas out there is to use the human body.

While the figures are faceless the physical connections, each to the other and colour to colour, are telling the story. Some pieces are the very essence of the bodies i’ve put into the concept and it becomes very abstract - but the foundation is always the figure.

For example this painting is called ‘new beginnings’. It is the coming together of two people chest to chest. The reds are passion, the melding of colours from one to the other in blues and reds demonstrate the impact each has on the other, and the yellow and purple are new emotions entering the relationship.

I welcome any thoughts on works, questions on the concepts or how you might use (or have used) a piece of my work to start a dialogue.

I’m not a self-help guru. I’m sharing ideas with the hope that it will inspire and acknowledge strength and confidence in yourself, grow your relationships in a healthy fashion and of course have you fall in love with art :)

creatively yours,

karen

[artbyk2]

how you can use my art :)

A picture can be worth a 1,000 words, 100’s of emotions and present topics sometimes better than verbal communication.

Nonetheless I think it is important to talk too. So I hope that you can use my pieces to:                         start a dialogue                                             make your point                                                                  be heard.

Use art to help you in relationships

check out some of the info I share in the ‘about this piece’ in my gallery - if one resonates with you - show it to another person and have a conversation around the topic

if a painting has colours that mean something in particular to you i.e. purple for happiness, orange for a goal... show it and talk about what it means to you - ask what it means to him/her

maybe the figures are in a pose that implies contentment or struggle or closeness and you can use that point to talk about that part of your relationship

with individuals

Even though I am able to be quite direct and open with others there are times when I choke emotionally and so I will give them a painting or a drawing and tell them the intent behind it - the conversation begins with a discussion of the concept but then I relate it to the person I’ve gifted it to. Sometimes with a note on the back, sometimes with the title, and I talk about the colours I use and what they mean to me.

For example:

I did this painting above for my mother (her 90th birthday!). She had 7 kids, a bunch of grandkids and great-grandkids and she means the world to me. While I do try and show her that and tell her when I can - her birthday was special and so I did this painting for her (together with a letter) to show her.

She is the central figure to it, the background figures represent my dad, her kids and I used colours from her figure to the kids and back again to demonstrate her influence on all of us and the support and warmth we have taken away from her. She is also a very strong woman - having survived the passing of my dad, her youngest son and her eldest daughter and various illnesses of other kids.

I wanted her to know that she inspires me and how much I appreciate her.

so... you can use my art to

            1. send accolades & appreciation                                            2. provide stimulus                                                        3. encourage introspection

share stories

I believe if we share our stories and outcomes (good and bad) we help each other - that’s what I’m all about (that and the fact that I think everyone should live with art lol).

My stories present in a visual form with some explanation of the concept.

                            How do you share yours?