Where ART Lives Magazine Volume 2 Number 4 | Page 62

Out
Side
The
House
“I am an artist. That totally defines me. I couldn’t imagine being anything else. If I am not
in my studio painting then I am seeing the compositional arrangement of this world around
me.
I studied art in school and eventually chose the direction of graphic design. It was a wise
decision that I made. At a relatively young age my husband died of a heart attack and I was
left to provide for my three children, aged 12 and younger. I was able to start my own
at-home business and am still working at it many years later.
Although graphic design offered me creativity on a daily basis, I still wanted to just paint. I
had always been comfortable with oils and pen and ink. I had never used much watercolor.
At the time I didn’t like the washy, pale color of watercolor. But, when my kids were
toddlers I packed the oils and ink away. Too many chemicals and too many permanent
pigments. I then turned to watercolor.
I started painting with watercolor more in the nature of oils than watercolor. I painted on dry
paper. I tended to use more pigment and less water. As time passed I discovered the beauty
of glazes and how to let the color shine through. The use of many glazes created such depth
and richness of color. I was in love!
My graphic design background has given me the ability to see the underlying design
necessary in any good composition. In fact, I see my realistic work as abstraction when I am
painting. I see the shapes and elements that are created by darks and lights or by folds in a
cloth. The importance of color, whether complimentary or analogous, and their placement
in the overall design is paramount.
Still lifes are my signature works. I have painted them longer than I care to remember. I will
occasionally dabble in other areas but I am always drawn back to still lifes. My thought is
that I haven’t finished yet. There is still more for me to discover.
I have recently relocated and am looking for a good balance of graphic design and fine art.
I find that I want to spend more time painting and less time at my computer. It seems to be
the time to do that: new area, new house, new studio, new chapter in my life. I continue
to paint my watercolors, but am now spending some time with the new water-soluble oils.
Who know where this will take me. But it will be an exciting journey. Stay tuned!”

www.chriskrupinski.com
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