Friday, December 12, 2014

CLOUD ROUGE
new series


I recently started a new series, one I titled "Cloud Rouge", and it has a surprising "twist" and shift from my usually more organic palette. There is a sense of vitality and vibrancy in this radiant color scheme, and it is filling me with energy in these short grayish-cold days. 
I dip the brush in the lush cadmium orange and carmine paint, and I feel happy!





 "Cloud Rouge", watercolor on paper, 22"x30"



Thursday, November 06, 2014

 NEW WORK 

I have just shipped twenty new watercolors to my New York gallery Kathryn Markel Fine Arts
Here are some of the paintings from that group. 
Origin Cluster, 18"x24", watercolor and archival ink on paper

Origin Cluster, 18"x24", watercolor and archival ink on paper

Arcadia Cloud, 18"x24", watercolor and archival ink on paper

Origin Cloud, 18"x24", watercolor and archival ink on paper
Origin Cloud, 18"x24", watercolor and archival ink on paper
Origin Cluster, 22"x30", watercolor and archival ink on paper
                                      

Friday, October 03, 2014

LARGE SCALE
55"x93"

I have just finished my three large-scale watercolor commission and wanted to share the images.
I had such an amazing time working on these! The process of layering takes of course much longer and there is much more planning involved then when I work with my usual formats (18"x24",22x30"). Though I must admit there is something so empowering about a large format, that I can't promise this won't soon become "my usual format" ;-) 

The pieces belong to my Origin series and will be displayed together. I can't wait to see them installed!



Wednesday, September 17, 2014

"Trail to Arcadia"
South Suburban College, South Holland, IL

Closing reception September 17, 2014

Here are a few images from today's closing reception of my solo exhibition at South Suburban College. It was a great turn out and I enjoyed sharing about my process and inspirations, and hearing many interesting questions and comments from students.
I also felt the minimal and intimate space of this lovely gallery showcased my smaller-scale works beautifully.






Monday, August 18, 2014

"Trail to Arcadia"
Solo exhibition at Lee. E. Dulgar Gallery
South Suburban College
South Holland, IL
August 25-September 17, 2014

 Trail to Arcadia, watercolor 12"x12", 2013
I am very excited about my new solo exhibition at Lee. E Dulgar Gallery, that opens next Monday, where I will be showing my "Trail to Arcadia" series of watercolors.

 I started this series last year, while visiting a beautiful place from my childhood; Bovec, in Slovenia.
 This mountainous area, where my family and I used to spend many summer and winter vacations is truly enchanting, and each and every time I visit I am astonished by the transcending landscapes; crystal clear mountain rivers, creeks, lakes and waterfalls, whose colors range from light turquoise to teal, deep forests - their ground covered with moss, ferns and all kinds of lush green plants, while the cool air is so crisp and clean, one feels like ones lungs are breathing for the first time! A true harmony of nature.

I titled the series thus "Trail to Arcadia"; Arcadia being a repeated artistic subject since antiquity, both in visual arts and literature. It stands as a synonym for any idyllic location, a place where life is lived naturally, uncorrupted by civilization.
I am often surprised to discover how much of my inspiration is closely connected to my childhood impressions and memories. And though one could say this series is in a way inspired by landscape, it is much more about the "within", about the feelings that this "outside world" evokes to me.

Friday, August 08, 2014

Moving on to new challenges... 
As I am about to start working on a big commission of three huge watercolors, I am in the process of retracing my steps of painting on a more typical paper format (e.g. 22"x30", the one you can see me working on in these photos), and rehearsing the choreography for this exciting and somewhat extravagant dance I am about to perform (this time on a scale of 55"x93"!). 

 That is more then seven times bigger than what you can see in the photos here.

I like to compare my process to a choreographed dance, where at the same time I know exactly what I am doing, yet I am also being surprised by the flow of paint and its very fast and unpredictable "will".
 Watercolor is not a forgiving medium, as it cannot be painted over with new covering layers; like it is the case with oil or acrylic. 
I think the fact it has "a will of its own" is one of the biggest reasons I love it so much.
I have to conform to the unexpectedness and I have to accept that it can't be reigned completely.
Or at least, the way I see it, if watercolor is relieved of its unpredictable properties, it loses its splendor, its inner life.

So, curiously yet confidently I am throwing myself at this new challenge and can't wait to create, experience, and - witness these new, large paintings.

Friday, June 13, 2014

White Ripple Gallery 
Hammond, Indiana
June 14-July 26, 2014 
Opening June 14, 6-9pm
Tomorrow is the opening of I AMerican at the White Ripple Gallery in Hammond, Indiana. The exhibit aims to explore the intricate meaning of being an American from the eyes of a variety of artists of diverse cultural experiences. 
This intriguing exhibition, curated by Sergio Gomez, was initially shown at the Water Street Studios gallery earlier this year, and it will continue to travel to several more galleries, this and next year.
"I AM American explores the meaning of being "American". It is not a single perspective on immigration or ethnicity. Instead, using a variety of styles, visual forms, symbols and metaphors, each work provides a wide angle view into the bi-cultural experience. Some of the artists are first, second or third generation immigrants. Others, can trace their heritage back to the Native American Indians. In that sense, this non-literal exhibition on the American experience provides the viewer with ample room for conversation and personal interpretation. Some works directly approach the theme of identity while others delve on other subjects related to the American experience." - Sergio Gomez
Installation of  my piece "Gathering"; here a selection from a larger body of work comprised of about 100 ceramic vessels*

My here exhibited vessels are a fraction of larger body of work united under a single title "Gathering". These pieces are deeply rooted in my reminiscence of childhood, and the place of my hometown Vinkovci, in Croatia, where I used to spend weekends at my grandparents house. To me these vessels are both a connection to my childhood and homeland, as well as in a way, a recreation of the time past.


""Gathering" is a collection of over a hundred small vessels, incised with spontaneous marks and abstract drawings.  They were made as contemplative and intimate objects, to be held in the palm of a hand, and are deeply connected with my childhood. All of them were created after I moved to the United States, over a course of several years.

The city where I was born, Vinkovci, in Croatia, is rich with archeological findings. Many of these are richly engraved ceramic vessels from Vu
čedol culture, one that resided there from 3000-2200 BC.  Additionally, down the street from our house lived an old potter whose entire garden was covered with masterful and simple vessels. I remember often watching him work and procuring some clay to play with. My everyday exposure to these various ceramic objects – the ones I saw in the museum and the ones from down the street alike, created in me a sense of continuity, and connection with the soil.


Once I had moved to the United States, eleven years ago, these childhood memories started becoming more vivid and a sense of broken connection replaced the previous feelings of continuity and familiarity.
For me the act of creation of these small vessels, very primal and intimate, as well as the process of their accumulation, evokes my childhood, and is a reflection of an underlying search for reconstitution of what is familiar and comforting." -
Ana Zanic

Monday, June 09, 2014

                                  Evanston+Vicinity Biennial 2014
                                            Sunday June, 8th, opening reception

Yesterday I attended the artist reception at Evanston Art Center. It was a beautiful bright sunny day, and arriving there I already felt greeted by the site of lush green ivy covering the Art Center!


I got to meet and talk with many familiar and new faces. I thought the show was amazing and I am truly honored to be a part of it!




Barbara Goldsmith