Multiplicity: the Eye of the Artists at Izen Miller Gallery

Scattered Glow Katherine Kean
oil on linen on panel 42 x 52 inches

I'm excited to be in this group exhibition at Izen Miller Gallery's new location on El Paseo in Palm Desert.

Artists include Carole Beauvais, Carol Bishop, Ilana Bloch, Catherine Bohrman, Philippe Chambon, Michael Davis, Downs, Vivian & Ed Flynn, Ruth Gonzales, Marcy Gregory, Katherine Kean, Masha Keating, John Luebtow, and Barry Orleans.

 
Opening Reception: 

Saturday February 18th, 6:00 - 8:00 pm 

For more information, please contact Deanna Miller: 760.898.0223
deanna@izenmillergallery.com  or visit IzenMillerGallery.com. 

Izen Miller Gallery

73-740 El Paseo
Palm Desert, CA 92260

ECO ART an exhibition January 10 - February 15, 2017

Sheltering Cloud, Restless Land, Desolate Tree
Katherine Kean
oil on linen 16 x 16 inches

I'll be exhibiting two paintings in this group exhibition. It opens next week.

ECO ART an exhibition 

January 10 - February 15, 2017  

Opening Reception Thursday, January 12  6:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

GWC Community Art Gallery

Fine Arts Building, Rm 108 

15751 Gothard Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92647

Free Admission 

Open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

Special viewing appointments may be made by calling the Foundation Office:
(714) 895-8316

Click here to download digital postcard with 

Free Parking Pass for January 12 6 - 8 p.m.

Planning, Intuition, Imagination

"Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success." - Picasso

Cloudburst Over Marsh work in progress
©2016  Katherine Kean
oil on linen 40 x 40 inches

Do your paintings talk back to you as you paint them?

During Anselm Kiefer’s talk at the Getty last week, he mentioned that he starts a piece with an idea in mind, but during the process the artwork will often transform into something else.

Usually I begin a painting with what I think is a clear intention of what the painting is about; the content, the subject, the mood and also the scale, the palette, and to what extent it will be painterly and textured.

Cloudburst Over Marsh sketch 
©2016 Katherine Kean
graphite 8 x 10 inches

I almost always go to Nature as the source of inspiration. I also make use of the many intellectual rules of composition. You know them: the Golden Ratio, the Fibonacci Spiral, the Rule of Thirds, etc. With these ideas in the back of my mind I rearrange the elements of the landscape to align to the framework of the canvas. Clouds up and to the left, tree down and to the right, the curve of a road from here to there, and so on.

Cloudburst Over Marsh study 
©2016 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 6 x 6 inches

Most of the time everything proceeds as imagined, and I’ll think I know when and how the painting will arrive.

Cloudburst Over Marsh work in progress 
©2016 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 40 x 40 inches

“An idea is a point of departure and no more. As soon as you elaborate it, it becomes transformed by thought." - Picasso

Cloudburst Over Marsh work in progress 
©2016 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 40 x 40 inches

Lately I find that as I approach this anticipated completion, I’ll begin to see something else and if I slow down and let it happen the painting seems to suggest a direction it would like to go – which may or may not be what I’d originally intended. 

Cloudburst Over Marsh detail 
©2016 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 40 x 40 inches

Often the shift is subtle, a part I wasn’t too concerned about starts to become more of a focus point. A section of sky asks to be darkened, a carefully painted cloud all but disappears. A faintly suggested tree demands attention and detail. Other times it might as well be a completely different painting. If I take the hint and follow up, the results often make sense and I wonder why it wasn’t part of my “original plan” – or was it? It’s hard for me to tell where imagination ends and intuition begins.

And yet, I’m starting to like this way of working.

“Picasso was writing about this subject when he said: “I consider a work of art as the product of calculations, but calculations which are frequently unknown to the author himself. It is exactly like the carrier pigeon calculating his return to the loft. But the calculation that turns out to be correct is unknown to him; it is a calculation that precedes intelligence.” - Keeper of the Flame, An essay on Max Shertz and his Art of the Unconscious. By Daniel Kaufman, Artist and Writer

Did you hear that?

It’s not very loud. Just a faint scratch on paper, or a soft blerp or splat or splosh or slosh of paint, and perhaps an occasional sigh. The sounds of the art studio and work being made with pencil and paint.*

First the thumbnail sketches...

 Then the studies.

Eventually underpainting begins.

And at last the first color layer.

That's not the end of it. There is more to come, so stay tuned.

"Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks". Plutarch

*onomatopeia - a word, which imitates the natural sounds of a thing.

Happy Holidays and a Cumulus Christmas

Billowing Katherine Kean ©2015
oil on linen 30 x 30 inches

Warm wishes to all for a beautiful holiday season!

A Collection of Clouds for Holiday Cards and Gifts

I've added Billowing Clouds to a Zazzle line of Holiday Greeting Cards. The inside message is "Happy Holidays". This card is fully customizable, allowing you to make the message your own and comes in three sizes, including a jumbo size. This link will take you straight to the card: Billowing Clouds Go By and By Greeting Card.

Cloud Chasing ©2015 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 30 x 40 inches

Cloud Chasing is now available from Saatchi Art as a 12 x 16 inch gallery wrapped reproduction, printed on a UV protected, museum grade, poly/cotton blend. You can choose either black or white for the 1 1/4 inch gallery wrapped sides. Here is the link to take you there: Cloud Chasing reproduction.

Gathering Point ©2015 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 24 x 30 inches

Gathering Point is available in an 8 x 10 or 11 x 14 inch reproduction on fine art paper. Framing is also available in either black or white. Here's the link: Gathering Point reproduction.

Billowing Clouds Go By and By
 ©2015 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 16 x 20 inches

Billowing Clouds Go By and By as also now available as an 8 x 10 or 11 x 14 inch reproduction on fine art paper. Available at Saatchi Art: Billowing Clouds Go By and By reproduction.

PSA 90th Annual at Whites Gallery

Sheltering Cloud, Restless Land, Desolate Tree
©2015 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 16 x 16 inches

I am honored and pleased to have two paintings accepted into Pasadena Society of Artists' 90th Annual Exhibition, juried by Scott Ward, Executive Director of the Armory Center for the Arts. The exhibition opens to the public this weekend at Whites Gallery in Montrose.

PSA 90th Annual Juried Exhibition 

Wednesday, December 2, 2015 - Wednesday, December 30, 2015 

Opening Reception: 
 Saturday, December 5, 2015 2pm to 5pm 

Whites Art, Framing & Restoration 

2414 Honolulu Avenue

Montrose, CA 91020 

Juror: Scott Ward, Executive Director Armory Center for the Arts 

Scott Ward has been the executive director of the Armory Center for the Arts since 2001. Prior to coming to the Armory, he was the executive director of the Palos Verdes Art Center from 1997 to 2001, and executive director of the Downey Museum of Art from 1987-1996. He has spearheaded a dramatic expansion of the Armory’s exhibition and education programs in the underserved neighborhoods of Northwest Pasadena. Ward also has extensive experience as an administrator, educator, curator, lecturer, panelist, executive coach, and artist. He has served as a speaker and panelist for National Guild of Community Schools of Art, The Wallace Foundation, and the City of Denver. As a grants panelist, he has served multiple times for the National Endowment for the Arts, The California Arts Council, and Los Angeles Metro. He taught Fine Art Photography at Loyola Marymount and was the University Art Gallery Director at CSUSB. He received his B.A. from the University of California in aesthetic studies, and earned his M.F.A. in photography from California Institute of the Arts.

Whites Art, Framing & Restoration
2414 Honolulu Montrose, CA 91020
Gallery Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 9am to 5pm
(818) 957-4071
www.whitesfineart.com

On the Easel

Here are some process shots of work in progress. Above, a storm in the Angeles Forest underpainting.

The storm painting with descriptive color layers. It's coming together fairly quickly. Another refining layer or two might finish it.

The first color layers of clouds over the Chain of Craters Road and a detail of the turbulence below.

Chain of Craters clouds painting further along. These clouds are complex. I suspect it will take some time to untangle all the shapes. 

  

And finally, a small volcano painting in the underpainting stage.

Someone's Desert Sunset

D's Desert Sunset ©2015 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 6 x 6 inches

Every now and then someone will send me an image, usually a sky, that strikes them in a particular way, and ask me to paint it. I'm happy to do that when the subject is already aligned with what I have set out to do. The painting above is one such painting, with a few details added from my imagination.

Angeles Forest Storm Wide

Angeles Forest Storm Wide ©2015 Katherine Kean
oil on linen 8 x 16 inches

There are times when the local landscape is especially inspiring. In this painting it's the mountains and skies of the Angeles National Forest.

In these links you can see the initial sketch and middle painting, and a companion painting.

Thunderhead Over Marsh Sketch

Thunderhead Over Marsh Sketch
©2015 Katherine Kean
graphite 7 x 8 3/4 inches

I'm eager to get started on this painting - looking forward to balancing deep, bright blue skies with luminous clouds, gold grasses, and dark rain clouds. I need to decide on the size. Maybe 40 x 50inches.

Coincidentally we have been having amazing Thunderheads appearing over the Angeles National Forest. Yay, El Nino!

Sketches: El Niños and Other Atmospheric Conditions

Angeles Forest Storm Square Sketch
©2015 Katherine Kean
graphite 8 x 8 inches

Conditions are good for more storm cloud artwork. It looks - and feels - like an El Niño year and my favorite weather blog confirms it. El Niño is already here and is expected to be one of the largest, in fact, "a majority of the global atmosphere ocean models are currently suggesting the potential for an event rivaling the strongest event in the historical record." Even though El Niño doesn't guarantee rain, it does draw the probability closer. And even though it won't solve our drought, it can't hurt.

Chain of Craters Clouds Sketch
©2015 Katherine Kean
graphite 8 x 8 inches

 The sketch above is from Hawaii, along the Chain of Craters Road. Storm clouds are much more dependable there. They also have a different look. I'd say the clouds are taller - loftier - and brighter.

Volcano Fumes at Night Sketch
©2015 Katherine Kean
graphite 6 x 10 inches

This last sketch, also from Hawaii, is of the atmospheric conditions over the volcano. It wasn't easily apparent to me whether the clouds were from weather or from the volcanic fumes, or a mix of both.

Want to find out how these sketches look as paintings? Subscribers are the first to see. Sign up here: http://ow.ly/TDsVC

Storm Study

Storm Study Katherine Kean
oil on gessoed paper 4 x 6 inches

A quick small oil painting of local mountains and storm clouds. The palm tree probably gives it away.

Vertical Sky

Vertical Sky Katherine Kean
graphite on paper 6 x 4 inches

"It is more natural to me, lying down. Then the sky and I are in open conversation..." 

- Sylvia Plath, I Am Vertical

I'm trying to decide which piece to send to the Twitter Art Exhibit in Moss, Norway. It'll probably be this one, because it is right in front of me and it must go out now if it is to get there in time.

Artist's Choice Exhibition - Pasadena Society of Artists

Angeles Forest Storm Katherine Kean
oil on linen 8 x 8 inches

I'll have two pieces in this group exhibition of artists from the Pasadena Society of Artists taking place this month in Burbank at the Creative Arts Center.

Pasadena Society of Artists 

Artist's Choice Exhibition

January 9 - 29, 2015

Creative Arts Center Gallery

1100 West Clark Avenue

Burbank, CA 91506

818-238-5397

Please join us for the Artists' Reception

Friday, January 9, 2015

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Gallery Hours:

Monday - Thursday 9:00am - 9:00pm

Friday 9:00am - 7:00pm

Saturday 9:00am - 1:00pm

Sunday - Closed

Angeles Forest Storm

Angeles Forest Storm work in progress Katherine Kean
oil 8 x 8 inches

This is the beginning of a little square painting. I started with a tonal underpainting, as I usually do, but rather than wait for it to dry, worked over it wet into wet. It doesn't need many changes, but I will add some glazes to make some areas richer in color and others more atmospheric.

Angeles Forest Wide Sketch

Angeles Forest Storm Wide Sketch Katherine Kean
graphite 5 1/2 x 11 inches

"Walk away quietly in any direction and taste the freedom of the mountaineer. Camp out among the grasses and gentians of glacial meadows, in craggy garden nooks full of nature's darlings. Climb the mountains and get their good tidings, Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves. As age comes on, one source of enjoyment after another is closed, but nature's sources never fail." - John Muir

Angeles Forest Storm Sketch

Angeles Forest Storm Square Sketch Katherine Kean
graphite 6 x 6 inches

“Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in a while, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean." 
- John Muir quoted by Samuel Hall Young in Alaska Days with John Muir (1915) chapter 7

The Weight of Air

The Weight of Air Katherine Kean
oil on linen   48 x 48 inches

A combination of a Cape Cod marsh and imaginary - and much hoped for - rain clouds, this painting has fun details that are hard to see here. The foreground grasses are slightly impasto brushstrokes, as are some of the wind tossed 'debris' in the air.

As I was settling on a title, I looked up many weather terms: downdraft, microburst, wind shear, outflow front, to mention just a few. I finally went with the title that's been in my mind since I started.

Beach Day's End

Beach Day's End 2014 Katherine Kean
graphite 8 x 10 inches

"The sea does not reward those who are too anxious, too greedy, or too impatient. One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach - waiting for a gift from the sea." - Anne Morrow Lindbergh, Gift From the Sea

I don't spend nearly enough time visiting beaches, but when I do, I relish the feeling of being sun drenched, wind touched, and a little bit salty and sandy at the end of the day, don't you?

Have a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!