Karina Allrich

wish I had a river

2010-11-28T11:11:00.000-08:00

acrylic and gesso on canvas
48 x 48 inches © 2010 karina allrich

winter

2010-09-18T17:53:00.000-07:00

winter

acrylic and gesso on canvas
60 x 60 inches © karina allrich
private collection

drench

2010-09-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

drench
acrylic on canvas
40 x 40 inches © karina allrich
private collection

blue : in progress

2010-06-15T12:11:00.000-07:00

Multiple layers of paint, gesso, glaze await.

details of reworking : in progress

2010-06-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

Details of the reworked painting, layers, in progress.

starting over - phase 3

2010-06-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Adding an area of color, letting it drip to create vertical interest.
In progress, acrylic layers.

starting over - phase 2

2010-06-03T14:44:00.000-07:00

The wash of warm color is scumbled and wiped to reveal the underlying texture created by Gesso. Using warmth beneath cool tones adds depth and shimmer (warm and cool tension).

starting over - phase 1

2010-06-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

I painted out the previous design. It didn't feel right. Layering with cool toned gesso. Building up texture. I'm going to wash this surface with warm ocher tones.

the painting wants what the painting wants

2010-05-04T17:48:00.000-07:00

A failed painting makes for great texture for the repaint.

When you begin a painting you never know where your process may take you. At least I don't. For me, painting is like jazz- you improvise and respond and improvise some more. I don't set out with a fixed melody in mind. Or a blueprint.

So sometimes the piece surprises me.

And I don't like it.

day four

2010-05-04T10:19:00.000-07:00

Morning light on yesterday's work. Another layer (more paint, charcoal, writing, and scratches). The surface is building, developing depth. I feel I'm getting a grip on it.

Today will be interesting.

praying for alchemy

2010-05-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

The final layer of today's session- a warmer tone for tomorrow's work
(I work warm to cool, cool to warm, in layers).

Failure isn't fun to talk about. But here I am. Talking about it. I didn't start writing studio notes to write idyllic posts about how wonderful the process of painting is. Most days, it's hard. Because painting- the verb- is a mirror.

All your fears, your hopes, your skill and your lack of skill, your relationship to authenticity, your past (the ugliest aspect, with all those wing-clipping voices chewing at your resolve), who you are- and who you may become- blend on the palette along with gobs of cerulean and yellow ocher.

So when you fail- as I failed today- after three days of working on a piece, it is tempting to internalize the experience. To identify with the visual mess in front of you. To believe the doubt. To give in and give up.

You can put your foot through the canvas. You can grab the bottle of Jack Daniels. Or you can just mutter Fuck it, and paint the whole thing over with a dark warm tone. This creates a rich, textured surface for tomorrow.

When you feel the ridiculous urge to try again.

work in progress

2010-04-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

Morning view of the piece I started yesterday.

I wasn't convinced I could even do it. Paint again- like this, I mean. Big. Standing for hours wasn't even possible a year ago. Hell, six months ago. Navigating physical limitations since hip surgery has been hard. Harder than I imagined it would be at the moment of impact. Harder than I admitted during those long, dull weeks of healing and atrophy.

Maybe this will work?

triptych

2010-04-21T14:23:00.000-07:00

triptych

acrylic on canvas
30 x 10 inches © karina allrich

amethyst

2010-03-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

amethyst

acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches © karina allrich

intermezzo

2010-03-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

intermezzo

acrylic on canvas

30 x 30 inches @karina allrich

wave

2010-02-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

wave

40 x 30 inches

acrylic on canvas ©karina allrich

nuevo series .10

2009-05-22T12:04:00.000-07:00

nuevo series #10

gouache, acrylic, pastel on gessoed paper
7 x 5 inches © karina allrich

taos

2009-05-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

taos

acrylic on canvas
30 x 30 inches © karina allrich

sky poem series : near dark

2009-05-22T08:08:00.000-07:00

sky poem series : near dark

acrylic and gesso on board
7 x 7 inches © karina allrich

a terrible beauty

2009-05-21T10:29:00.000-07:00

a terrible beauty

acrylic & pastel on gessoed paper
7 x 9" © karina allrich
private collection

santa fe .4

2009-05-21T09:49:00.000-07:00

Santa Fe, April

asia

2009-05-20T14:06:00.000-07:00

asia

abstraction

2009-05-15T11:16:00.000-07:00

abstraction

horizon

2008-08-23T14:28:00.001-07:00

morning, ojo

2008-08-22T16:06:00.000-07:00

morning, ojo

safe harbor

2008-08-22T16:01:00.000-07:00

safe harbor

thicket, map

2008-08-22T15:40:00.000-07:00

thicket, map

ojo series .9

2008-08-22T14:54:00.000-07:00

ojo series #9

desert rain

2008-08-22T14:41:00.000-07:00

desert rain

gouache, acrylic, pastel on gessoed paper

botany lesson

2008-08-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

botany lesson

acrylic on canvas