Extinction and Existence: Watercolors by Kristina Knowski

Extinction and Existence

Watercolors by Kristina Knowski

The Health in the Arts Gallery is presenting an exhibit by artist Kristina Knowski “Extinction and existence.” The artist explores the relationship between birds and the ethereal and mythical unicorn. It presents images of an antediluvian world where real creatures and mythical ones contemplate their separate reality.  Knowski explores the exchange between creatures who confront one another in kind of spiritual dialogue, trying to to understand their similarities and differences. Her paintings and drawings, some of which are composed on an epic scale, seem to touch mythic chords involving the overlap of dreams and reality.

Robert Kameczura, Health in the Art Curator comments. “Kristina Knowski is an superb talent. She combines amazing technical skill with a refined and poetic sensibility. Her creatures inhabit desolate landscapes, often painted over softly atmospheric watercolor grounds. She has a great sympathy and identity with animals and has spent long hours at the Field Museum collections studying a wide range of birds, their various anatomies and characters. The exhibit will also contain paintings and drawings of animals done is an exquisitely refined style. She is the winner of several prizes. We are proud to showcase her extraordinary talent.”

Kristina Knowski is a recent graduate of fine art at the American Academy of Art. Working primarily in watercolor, Kristina has been a part of numerous group shows in the Chicago area. She was recently a part of Animalier: The Animal in Contemporary Art in North Western University in Oklahoma and Apocalypse 2012: Genesis 2013 at the Jackson Junge Gallery in Chicago. This is her first solo show.

The Health in the Arts Gallery is located at 835 S.Wolcott, Rm. E144, Hours are 10 til 4 weekdays only (Wednesdays 10 til 3).

Dates: Friday, January 18th – Friday, March 29^th 2013

Artist’s Reception: Friday, March 22^nd, 2013 from 5-8pm, the public is invited.

Light refreshments will be served.

For Further information: 815.546.0856
KristinaKnowski@gmail.com
website: KristinaKnowski.com­­

Robert Kameczura, Health in the Arts Gallery Curator, at (773) 205-1128

The Health in the Arts Gallery is art of the  part of the Occupational Health Clinic of UIC Public Health Program which has a comprehensive program for diagnosing, treating and preventing injuries and illnesses that are related to work in the arts. Directors: Dr. David Hinkamp and Dr. Katherine DuVall

http://www.uic.edu/sph/glakes/occupational/healthinthearts.htm

Sparrows, herons, and cranes....oh my!

I can't help it, I love birds. Do not tell me not to paint birds because all I will do is paint more birds! I've been trying to expand my subject matter this past month and have come up with a new Great Blue Heron painting, a Whooping Crane sketch, and an illustration of the head of a White-Throated Sparrow. Not exactly great strides in the right direction. How do I feel about it? Maybe I'll start a Eurasian Collared Dove next....

Whooping Crane sketch from journal

Head pattern illustration featuring a White-Throated Sparrow

A second try...Birding at Renwick

I somehow managed to get out and bird this morning, although it was much later than I had wanted. I was worries about the chance of being frozen outside in the icy rain that was predicted, but with a stroke of luck I was able to get out before the rain started to come down. It may have taken a lot to go out, but when I was finally out there I was glad I went. Sure, I was cold. But I admit that even the muted landscape of winter has it's own unique beauty:

(Horizontal flat landscapes: a personal favorite of mine)

I shouldn't have expected to see many birds, but that's what I was out there for. After almost 45 minutes of nothing but a stray robin and gull, I finally stumbled upon a migrating flock of American Robins feasting ravenously on winter berries. It was so nice to see a flash of bright color on such a dreary day. Plus, who doesn't love robins? I enjoyed their company for most of the next 30 minutes and got some decent reference shots:

While I didn't see many species, I did see a downy woodpecker (yay!), a few Canada geese flying overhead, some Starlings mingling in with the robins, a loud pair of chickadees, and a group of Am. Tree Sparrows. Anyone who has ever tried to photograph or sketch a chickadee knows that it is not an easy feat. These high-energy birds never seem to want to stay in the same place longer than five seconds. I was happy to get a few clear shots:

I sense some more small studies of birds in the future. I will have to put these reference photos to good use. Still working on a couple large projects in the meantime. I should have one done or at least a progress shot by the next entry. 

I look forward to the next birding adventure. I may not be out for that long or see a lot of birds when I do, but it's nice to be around nature and breathe some fresh air, even if my fingers are numb. 

Birding at Lake Renwick and some small paintings

I feel like I've been posting show after show and not much work lately. I am making a very conscious effort to journal my artistic process more and give a more "inside view" on my working process. Part of the working process for me is being an active birder. While there are times I would much rather paint, as a bird painter and  illustrator I need to have a good understanding of my subject matter in their natural habitat--that includes studying and becoming familiar with different environments, their patterns, the way birds perch, fly, and even sit perfectly still. While birding may sound like a simple past-time, it is an essential part of my understanding of birds and nature. So, I decided to brave the cold weather and go to Lake Renwick, a local rookery in Will County, on my free morning this past Saturday. It was a glorious morning, though windy and cold. I haven't seen the sunrise like that since my school days in May.

As beautiful as the morning started, my mom and I had gotten there a little too early and there were no birds to be seen or heard. After about a half hour or so, the sun started to warm the air and I started to hear some White-Breasted Nuthatches in the more woody part of the preserve. Anxious to see these little birds, I forced my mom to follow me again onto the path we had already taken. From there we saw a decent number of species, but nothing too grand or exciting:

White-Breasted Nuthatch

Downy Woodpecker

Red-Bellied Woodpecker

American Goldfinch

Am. Crow

Canada Goose

Am. Robin

 B/C Chickadee

European Starling

N. Cardinal

Am. Tree Sparrow

There might have been more, but I can't recall them now. There was a strange duck-like bird flying onto the lake near the many flocks of geese but I couldn't identify it. I'm going to try to go back with my scope to see if it's still there next week. I was eager to reach the other side of the lake and hopefully see some more birds as well as sit down and sketch for a little bit, but the sky had clouded over and the wind bit right through my thin gloves. I was starting to get chilled. I decided to call it quits early, only because I wanted to get back into the groove of birding and I knew I could return more prepared on a later morning. 

Not the most exciting trip, but it helped me for future bird mornings. This weekend, I managed to also finish some paintings I have been late with, but I think they still came out well and I enjoyed painting all four. I had painted these small bird studies for my friends at work as a late Christmas gifts:

 

 

Right now, I'm working on a large painting that I hope to finish before the end of the month. I will also be working on some smaller studies like the ones above to have ready to sell in a pinch. I will have that opportunity soon for a show in the Health in the Art program at UIC. More details to follow about that.

Centerline 2012 "State of Mind" book available!

If you didn't get the chance to catch the show, the entire exhibition from the Zhou B. Center this past December is now available in book format for purchasing! My painting is included on page 28/29. Check it out!

http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3965368

Also, here are some illustrations I have recently completed for a client. I thoroughly enjoyed painting them both!

December Shows

Almost forgot:

Remember the Swell Gallery? I'm honored again to be a part of this gallery where I had my first show about seven months ago. Great people and amazing artwork up there in Dundee! Don't forget to check  it out if you can! Opening is this Saturday from 5-9pm.

http://swellgallery.com/

I also have work in another show that is currently up right now at the Zhou B. Center in the show "Centerline: State of Mind." My piece there, titled "Unicorn's Woods," reflects the landscape of nothingness in never existing. One of my most abstract paintings, I tried to focus on the idea of what my minds looks like when I think of nothing. What an appropriate place for a unicorn to dwell, in nothing. All of the pieces in the show are all unique to the theme "state of mind" and I highly recommend taking the time to check it out. The show will only be up for a little longer. 

 

http://zhoubartcenter.com/current

Think spring with warblers!

November was a super busy month for me: I had two commissions to work on as well as some illustrations to finish in my free time. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of time to update my blog but at least I had fun painting. This painting was done on two separate sheets of paper and I added them together on Photoshop for the final presentation. My first extant warbler species, the Yellow-Rumped Warbler (breeding plumage, myrtle population):

I really enjoyed painting these birds and more warbler species to come hopefully! Also, I'm itching to try some pyrography. I have all the tools and materials, I just need the time. So, more updates to come with in the next month... But until then, try to enjoy these species of birds that are one of the few warbler species in our area that are seen in the cold winter months.