13 minute read
A Visit with Some SoMinn Artists
from SCENE April 2020
by Kate Noet
A VISIT WITH SOME S O M INN ARTISTS Story by PAT GARRY Contributing Writer
Q&A with Barbara Kinnick, Mixed-Media Artist O riginally self-termed “collage artist” Barbara Kinnick has since transitioned into a “mixed media” artist, using numerous art materials and practices within the same creations. A Southeastern Minnesota Visual Artists (SEM VA) member, Barbara enjoys the process of getting an idea for a piece, thinking of the colors she wants to use, and digging through boxes of scrap papers, fibers, small objects or fabrics. “I find deep satisfaction in creating and “painting” with paper. Whether showing a playful or more serious story, I hope my work brings joy and pleasure to the viewer.” — B. Kinnick
Can you give me a little background, and do you work at a job other than your art profession? BK: I grew up in Michigan, and I am a retired piano teacher and RN.
make things with my hands--painting, knitting, drawing, sewing, playing piano etc. I love to create things with my hands. My father did not allow me to study art, so I went to nursing school instead. But the art and music has always been there. I took classes and continued making things as I could while raising a family. When my children reached adulthood, I was able to devote more time to making art. I have always loved art and just naturally drew and painted growing up, but pursued nursing as a profession.
What is your artistic medium of choice and why that medium? BK: I work in mixed media because that’s what works for me. I use mostly papers and fabrics to create my images, but also may include ink, pastels, watercolor and found objects in my pieces.
What inspires you to create your material? BK: I am inspired by color, texture, nature, and ideas that come to me. I love to work with my hands. My process is very messy, and so is my work area!
also run the household, so I am not able to work on art every day. I do not have a regular routine, but I try to get to my studio 2-3 times a week.
How do you deal with low-creativity times? BK: When I get stuck on a problem, I put that piece aside and move on to another work in progress. I usually have at least two going at the same time, often more just for that reason. I find I need a reason to get myself into the studio, and so I show my work and enter special art projects that will motivate me to create. For example, right now I am in a group project creating art to educate the public about the MN Driftless Area and the ecological importance of it.
Where do you sell your work? BK: I am a member of SEM VA Art Gallery in downtown Rochester-an artists’ coop, and I show and work there. I also have a website and a business Facebook page for my images. www.barbarakinnick. com
What’s the best advice you ever received about your passion? BK: T he best advice I ever heard regarding making art is to just get in the studio and get busy-like any other job! It works, and so do things like deadlines and prompts for creating, and I use those tools as well.
Q&A with Alan Wiltgen, acrylic paint-on-stretched-canvas artist
Alan covers his anxiety with paint and hangs it on the wall. For him, painting is healing. Wiltgen says that it’s the most honest way to bring his feelings inside-out.
“I treat painting as a form of communication. When I am finished with a painting, I feel a new release and understanding of why that feeling existed in the first place. This process cultivates compassion to one’s self. And once we find compassion in the mirror, it becomes easier to find it in another being.” — A. Wiltgen
Can you give me a little background, and do you work at a job other than your art profession? AW: I grew up in Harmony, MN and graduated from Fillmore Central High School. I moved to Rochester, MN to get my associates degree at RCTC . In Rochester I acted in many community theatre productions at RCTC and The Rochester Civic Theatre. I then moved to Minneapolis to pursue a career in theatre. I got a
job at Brave New Workshop Comedy Theatre and was assistant manager there for 6 years. I would say it wasn’t until 4 years ago that I picked up a brush and decided this is the path I wanted to go down and further pursue. Currently, I work part-time at Two Bettys Green Cleaning Company, as a house cleaner. They actually employ several artists in all types of art forms. They do a great job supporting artists by paying a living wage and respecting artists’ time/schedules.
Tell me about the first time you knew you wanted to become an artist. AW : W ell I have been doodling and creating things ever since I could pick up a pen. I have enjoyed creating in just about ever y art form. But I would say it wasn’t until 4 years ago that I really knew I wanted to be a visual artist in a professional way. I was going through a rough break-up at the time and needed to do something to get through it. Art has always been therapy for me. I had always been interested in painting, although I hadn’t really ever had much formal training in it. I just decided at that time that I needed to do this. So I bought a bunch of painting supplies and canvas, turned a small spare bedroom into a studio and just started to paint. I fell in love with it; in a way that I hadn’t loved any other art form. It was an addiction. It soon felt odd to have multiple days pass without painting. The more hours I put into painting and the more that I learned, the more I realized this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
What is your artistic medium of choice and why that medium? AW : Acrylic paint on stretched canvas. I use acrylic because I can work fast. I like to get my paintings out start-to-finish in one sitting. Acrylic dries fast enough to allow me to layer colors and textures while still moving at my desired pace. For me moving fast allows me to capture what is coming through in that specific moment.
What inspires you to create your material? AW : Life. I use painting to help release past traumas, capture current emotions, and understand difficult questions. The way I paint is the way I eventually aspire to do everything; and have a complete trust and understanding with each moment. In my paintings there are no mistakes and no plans. I sit down to a blank canvas and I know in 4 to 6 hours something unique will show itself to me. I just have to get out of my own way and let the creativity appear on the canvas.
What kind of creative patterns, routines or rituals do you have? AW: Usually I paint at night. I start with being totally accepting. The background layer of my paintings are always improvised, abstract paintings. During this part of my process, I use music and dance to help guide my brush. After I have the background layer down, I squirt a blob of white paint over the top of the abstract background. I move the blob around until I see a form. It’s almost like carving out a figure. The figure will show itself to me. The physical form of the character then informs me on a narrative of the painting. For example, if the character’s arms are close together in the air while standing straight up, maybe I think this character is fishing. Then I go from there to build the narrative of the painting. The most important part is finding the character from the blob of paint. T hat is the part that often feels like pure magic. But after I have the background layer set, the character fully formed, the setting and narrative of the painting complete; then I basically sketch out the edge of everything with black paint. The black paint makes everything in the painting really pop.
How do you deal with low-creativity times? AW : I think being inspired is important. If I am feeling stuck and sluggish, I will look at my favorite artists’ works. My artwork is heavily influenced by German Expressionism and Cartoons. So when I’m feeling not so creative, I just look at paintings by Max Beckmann and E rnst Ludwig Kirchner. Or I will watch my favorite cartoons like Ren and Stimpy and Rocko’s Modern Life.
Where do you sell your work? AW : C urrently, you can see all my work on Instagram @alwilt and my website alwilt.com. You can contact me through my website for commissions or browse and buy original work there.
What is your favorite thing you’ve ever created? AW : I think the entire painting process I have…is the favorite thing I ever created. It has taken 4 years and continues to grow and expand. It is something that I have been successfully able to share with other people; people that don’t even consider themselves artists. It is just so therapeutic and fun, that I think it could be beneficial to a lot of people.
What, in your opinion, is the hardest step in creating a masterpiece? AW : I think letting go of expectations. I never think “I am going to create a masterpiece”- W ell I probably think it, but tr y to quickly let that thought pass, and move on. It’s about allowing the process to be the result. I get the most joy from painting, not selling the painting, or posting the painting, or seeing the painting in a gallery. I love creating, and the only way to keep creating in the volume that I create, is to just let go of any expectations or self-judgments.
Do you have any interesting anecdotes about an experience involving your artwork? AW : I sign my paintings with my initials, A W. I sign them in a special way that is in every painting I have ever made, which at this point is over 400 paintings. I thought when I started, this was a cool, unique signature that I created. Unfortunately, my brother informed me a couple of years into my painting, that I stole this signature from him. He has the same initials as I, and sure enough, as I looked back at his artwork from high school, he had the same signature. Thankfully, he let me keep this signature as my trademark. I like to think we collaborated on its creation :P.
certainly did as a kid. You picked up a crayon, with no idea what you were making, and when you were done, you had something that came from pure curiosity and creativity. All I do when I paint is tap back into the space, we all used to live in as kids. You are the only artist who can make your art. And I believe so strongly that we are all artists.
Professionally speaking, what is your goal? AW : T o relentlessly keep painting. My goal is to keep following my creative spark and curious nature. I want to collaborate with other artists of all mediums. And I would love to share/teach my process with as many people who want to learn it.
Q&A with Larry Ricker, Nature Photographer
Larry’s work has appeared in Canoe & Kayak, The Boundary Waters Journal, Canoeroots and Sports Illustrated magazines; in addition, his material has been featured in several camping, canoeing and Boundary Waters-related books.
larly enjoy being in wild areas of northern Minnesota. Traveling as I do, allows me to experience beautiful areas that few people visit. I photograph to preser ve my memories of these special places, and I love sharing the beauty with others – through my photos.” — L. Ricker
Can you give me a little background, and do you work at a job other than your art profession? LR: I am a retired IBM electrical engineer; and a mostly self-taught nature photographer. I learned the art through books, magazines and the occasional community education classes and seminars.
Tell me about the first time you knew you wanted to become an artist. LR: Growing up, I loved the photos in National Geographic and similar magazines. It was always a dream to become just like the photographers featured there.
What inspires you to create your material? LR: Simply put, Nature inspires me. I love being out and about in natural settings; camping, canoeing, hiking, etc. Whenever I’m out, I find inspiration in the beauty of the natural world.
How do you deal with low-creativity times? LR: I try not to stress about it, knowing that something will come along to trigger the creativity. I’m never under any particular stress to produce. Where do you sell your work? LR: My work is in the SEM VA (Southeastern Minnesota Visual Artists) Gallery. During the summer, some of my work is in “The Cabin”, a gift shop in Ely, MN. I also participate in a handful of art shows throughout the year. My work can also be found online at Fine Art America/Pixels (https://larry-ricker.pixels.com/). I’m also in the process of increasing my online presence with my own websites: https://lhrimages.online and https://lhrimages.photography.
What is your favorite thing you’ve ever created? LR: T his is a super tough question to answer. I have many favorites, but it’s very hard to pick just one. I guess one of those favorites is a photo I made during an October Boundary Waters trip a few years ago. We had an awesome, foggy morning, with the rising sun turning everything an awesome orange. My trip partner paddled out on the lake to collect water. I captured an image of him, silhouetted by the sun and surrounded by wisps of fog.
What, in your opinion, is the hardest step in creating a masterpiece? LR: For a photographer, it’s difficult to get all the required elements to come together at once... subject, lighting, background, foreground. While it’s possible to control some of the elements, there are others that simply can’t be controlled. You just have to be watching and waiting for those elements to come together.
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