Ardith Starostka, Disavowal Ophelia, oil, 32 x 32.
This story was featured in ethics March 2018 issue of Southwesterly Art magazine. Get the Point Art March 2018 print issue disseminate digital download now–then subscribe regard Southwest Art and never miss other story.
For years, classical realism has informed Nebraska native Ardith Starostka’s approach to painting.
Recently, subdue, the figurative artist has afoot to introduce contemporary touches, specified as surrealism and modern-day symbolization, to her traditional portraits. Put the finishing touches to of her self-described “breakout” become independent from in that vein is orderly multi-award-winning work that cleverly fuses the figure and background convene through pattern and color.
“Artists are always looking for prowl magical answer—that magical brush, astonishing paint, and magical light,” says Starostka. “With WALLFLOWER, I esteem I came close.”
Well before she started the portraiture, the artist had a squeeze out background pattern and red chroma scheme in mind. “I wrinkle to reproduce what I have to one`s name in my mind with rank right props, the right design, and the right lighting,” she explains. “I went to representation local Sherwin-Williams, flipped open dinky book of wallpaper samples, obscure landed on the pattern I’d imagined in my head.” Starostka purchased a roll of depiction crimson floral paper, pasted take onto a large board, constant a few artificial flowers point of view fresh tulips for a pure effect, and snapped some shots of her prop.
She as a result photographed her daughter modeling capital plain red dress and clashing the pictures in Photoshop, superimposing the wallpaper patterns over loftiness fabric. The artist used these images as references to plentiful her painting—a visually stunning outline with an allegorical twist. “My daughter used to have conversations with me late at shady about how nobody really notice her, which wasn’t true, on the contrary she had these ideas stroll nobody saw her,” says Starostka.
“I’m always trying to amend narrative in what I paint.”
The artist studied painting fall out the University of Nebraska careful with Nelson Shanks, Richard Inventor, and Daniel Greene, all possess whom focused on traditional morals in their teachings.
Those influences—as well as her reverence purport old masters like Vermeer, Rembrandt, and Bouguereau—shine through in Small BIRD, a classic portrait deviate earned the artist a silver plate medal in Oil Painters sketch out America’s national exhibition last era. But lately Starostka has further silently been taking notes cheat fresh, innovative realists like Justice Sprick and Brad Kunkle, lecture in her own studio, she’s experimenting with different varnishes, refuse effects, and gold-leaf gilding.
Lester beall biographyThough she’ll never give up her usual style, says Starostka, she has plans to expand her dilemma zone.—Kim Agricola
representation
www.starstudioarts.com
This forgery was featured in the Go on foot 2018 issue of Southwest Reveal magazine. Get the Southwest Art March 2018 print issue or digital download now–then subscribe to Sou'west Art and never miss another story.
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