Treffinger Daily: Four Familes

Monday, March 9, 2009

Four Familes

Oil on canvas 40"x30" $1295 plus shipping
If you are interested in purchasing this painting please email me at katherine@katherinetreffinger.com

I did not finish any paintings this weekend, although there are 2 in process.
I am therefore posting a piece I recently reworked. I do that often. I may
even varnish the piece and send it off to the gallery. At some point I realize it
needs more or even needs to be radically changed and I remove the varnish
and go back in on it. I wish I could say I am headed for the gallery today but
I am not. Off to do the town thing.

6 comments:

Blue Sky Dreaming said...: Hope this one feels done for you...I like it!; March 9, 2009 at 10:36 AM
DMG said...: I've always loved Four Families. The combination of red, orange, and pink is very powerful. So you varnish a piece when it's finished? I wondered if some protective finish was necessary. Matte varnish?; March 9, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Katherine said...: Blue Sky it does but then one never knows when an artist is going to change her mind!; March 9, 2009 at 7:35 PM
Katherine said...: Kathy I combine Matte and Gloss to make a satin or I use Gamvar which is glossy and add some cold wax to matte it down a bit.; March 9, 2009 at 7:36 PM
Kayce aka lucy said...: great piece...i agree with blue sky, but then i imagine if the piece decides to change itself, you will know best :-); March 10, 2009 at 7:57 PM
Katherine said...: Lucy thanks for visiting. I like it a lot now. I doubt it will change, rest assured.; March 11, 2009 at 8:11 AM

The Art And Meaning Project

The Art and meaning Project is a series of responses from various artists to the question: "What meaning does doing art have for you? In other words why do you show up in your studio, or wherever, and pick up your tools day after day?"

This is something I have thought of doing for a while as
a book, but now I have the blog and, who knows, maybe
it could become a book. I am very excited about this. I love hearing the answers. Showing up for their creations is
often an irresistible pull for artists. Many of us at any given
time ask ourselves why we are doing it. All the answers have a different response. Most of us can relate to at least some part of every response.

I want to hear the artists' answers. If you are an artist
and would like to contribute please email me. I will not guarantee that I will post everyone's answer, I need to
see what you have to say first and if it contributes more to the project.

THE ART OF KATHERINE TREFFINGER

ABOUT THE ARTIST
www.katherinetreffinger.com

I spent my childhood in Sausalito, California in the 50’s. It was a magical place, teeming with artists and creative expression. Across the street from our house was one of the coffeehouses where the “bohemians” came to listen to music, and writers such as Allen Ginsberg, Gary Snyder and Jack Kerouac read from their work.

It was a time when San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley and Sausalito were home to the abstract expressionist and Bay Area Figurative movements. My missing toys were found in the neighbor’s sculptures. I was often on tiptoes, peering into the windows of nearby studios and coffeehouses. I thrived in the wondrous mystery of this world.

Later, as an adult I had the good fortune to befriend Joseph Raffael and spend time in his studio. This was before I realized I wanted to be an artist myself. I was greatly influenced by his enthusiasm, dedication, and his ability to create beauty.

In hindsight, there was nothing else I really wanted to be than an artist. I paint and draw because I love to … and because I have to. I am primarily self taught.

When I stand before an empty canvas or piece of paper, I am lost, unaware of what to do. In fact, my most satisfying work comes from staying ‘lost’. Navigational confidence is seldom productive for me. Each piece becomes the recording of a unique introspective exploration.