Katie Musolff

Plein Air Workout

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 20:37:00 +0000

Amish Sunday

Genoa Bluff


Stubborn tree and house

So, I have to prepare for this coming Door County Plein Air event in July. Here are some of my better attempts. If there is one thing I have learned from dating a hard-core plein air painter, it is that I am just not built for exposing myself to the elements for the sake of art. If I am cold- then that is all I can think about, if the sun and wind dry out my paint - then I get furious, and God help me if there are mosquitoes.

I much prefer my portrait painting ventures, where I go into some one's comfy house, they ask if I want coffee, I say 'yes, thank you' and we sit, enjoy each others' company and I get to paint. Doesn't that sound so much better? Oh, but where's the romance in that? We must suffer as artists, paint while standing in the pounding rain, work for hours in a dingy studio with bad lighting and no heat and be a slave to our overwhelming desire to create, no matter what the circumstances.

Yes, I take cream and sugar, you are too kind.

The Last of the Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:02:00 +0000

heirloom eggplant

tiny beets

The last things we collected from the near frozen ground outside were some last ditch radishes. Sad, it's all over. But, alas, the newest Seed Saver catalog came in the mail today. Tonight will be spent passing it back and forth with a pen in hand to circle next years potential harvest. I miss green already.

Our motto this fall, as far as the garden is concerned is, "Next Year." -often said with short authority. One of us will make a suggestion to improve things like, "Maybe we should space out the tomatoes more" or "look at this recipe for red currant wine" or "we should plant an apple orchard". To that we say, "Next Year". This statement is not meant to push things further off so as to not deal with them, no quite the opposite. It is a vow to embrace all of the before mentioned possibilities with a fervent sense that we can do anything................................ next year.

River Journal, opening and new work

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:28:00 +0000

5 Legged Katydid

Mini Perch

Back to the Crappie Hole

Thirteen-Lined Ground Squirrel

On September 2nd, I had an opening featuring the River Journal work at the Sharon Lynn Wilson Center in Brookfield Wisconsin. It was hot and muggy and the air conditioning broke down but still, people were brave and came anyway.(THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CAME) I was a little nervous, seeing at it was all new work, going in a new direction and I had never really done that kind of thing before - made that kind of change and then stand there and see if people except it. But I made it and the responses where more than I could have hoped for.

I hung 49 new pieces and watched as folks took to time to read the journal entries written on them. How invasive, but of course I was asking for it. I was most sensitive about the writing, painting I know I can do, writing, I think I can do. But I was very encouraged by all of the responses, so the wind is now at my back and I am doing more. I have no choice, I have another show in a week.... here's what I have that's new so far.

River Journal, New Project

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Mon, 30 May 2011 19:49:00 +0000

Broken Turtle

Clump of Sod

Flicker Back

Flicker Belly

Found Fish

Four Feathers and a Bluegill


Robin with open wings This is the new project. I am spending the summer out on the Mississippi River in Vernon County, WI. I am finding a ton of things to paint: animals washed up from the flooding, fish we've caught, road kill and other treasures It's important to stress that all of it is done from direct observation but nothing was killed in order for me to paint it.

Painted Sketches

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 01:55:00 +0000

1-3-11

For the residency, I agreed to paint four large paintings during the year. It's coming along just fine, I have one more to go, but for the last few weeks I've started a new series of work. I knew that there were more folks that wanted to get involved and sit for some work but they didn't have the time to commit to a large piece, so I started doing those sketches shown below. Now, I've got the same people sitting for just a few more hours and I'm painting these mini portraits. They are coming along great, they're lively, fresh and surprisingly true to the sitter. The down side is that I almost like them better than the longer, more drawn out work. uh oh. So, what now? I've started going back into the larger paintings with a new eye and energy. I want to breath new life into them so they have the same sense of vigor. It's a lot of pressure for the last leg of the residency, start a new branch of work and reinvent what I've already started. I can never do things the easy way.

Pfister Project / Hour Long Sketches

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 05:53:00 +0000

Well, now that I've been painting at the hotel for eight months, I've got more employees wanting to take their turn at sitting for me - which is great, but my time is running out and I can't paint every one. So, I've started doing these hour long sketches, they're quick and kind of intense, although it's my job to make it seem casual an easy. The pressure is on when I'm making one, I have to look over the person, say to myself, "what is most important here?" and go for it. The lines are deliberate, sure and straight to the point, no time for small talk. And the sessions are like interviews, I ask all the questions, "where did you grow up? What was that like?" It feels like this is a more challenging way to work and I feel more gratified when I can push through it.

Come On Joe

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 13:50:00 +0000

10-14-10

Joe started sitting for this portrait when in was nice and warm and sunny outside. Now that we both realize that winter is coming, we've been out there trying to get this painting done nearly every day. No time for problems to arise in the painting, strictly business. You can find us out there from 11-1pm on Wisconsin Ave just outside the Pfister. We see all sorts of people going by and commenting on the painting. We also regularly see the Jesus-Mobile go by around lunchtime. That guy in the station wagon (we all know who I am talking about) has a pretty regular schedule. Strictly business for him too.

You can always read more about what I'm doing at the Pfister by following THE PFISTER PROJECT BLOG.

Gallery Night this Friday

Come on by to the hotel this Friday, 5-10pm - my studio is open and I'll be there. 9-11:30 - the Rouge Ballroom is open for the Gallery Night After Party featuring the work of Eriks Johnson and Chris Miller.

Sketches

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:54:00 +0000

10-1-10

Sometimes, I sneak into the Cafe for breakfast with my sketchbook and take advantage of the fact that people are innocently sitting down to eat and hold relatively still. The first sketch is of a table of people from a few weeks ago when the American Legion was in town. The second one is from the luncheon when Rocco Landeson from the NEA visiting Milwaukee.

The Pearl Street Project - Carol

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:44:00 +0000

9-28-10

Carol, continued.

So, this painting has gone through a lot. I haven't posted it for a while and if you scroll down to the last image of it, you'll see the difference. Not only did the painting itself progress, but the canvas size was altered. I felt that there was too much empty space surrounding the figure and that it seemed like filler, so I lopped off a few inches on the right and left sides, a good choice in my opinion. The painting isn't quite done yet. I had this project put on display at the Museum of WI Art for a while and it caused me to pause the project for that time.

And what a thing it is: to physically be restrained from finishing a painting for months and then go back to it. I feel like I'm a different person since when I last painted on this, so now what? I want to breathe a different sense of life into it, but do you do that when it is already so far along? I will. I feel braver and I can see how the changes might happen. Thank God Carol is patient.

The Pfister Project

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 21:35:00 +0000

Joe

Vernita

Clem

These are the three paintings I have going at the hotel. Essentially, the idea is that I am painting the employees that agree to sit for me. So far, these three have. You'd think more people would volunteer, but it's not true. I've got more people interested now, but it took some work. It is a time commitment because it takes about 20 hours of sitting in all, so I understand. You can see more progress by clicking the link to the Pfister blog.

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 03:06:00 +0000

The Pearl Street Project

4-18-10

Here it is, the beginning of the next painting if the next neighbor, Carol. It's coming along pretty smoothly, which always makes me weary. I know it will go downhill at some point and I'll have to rescue it. She's sitting in her parlor with the sun steaming in behind her which bleaches out everything and it makes me think that I'll stay kind of minimal with the heavy painting in order to keep the light feel. I joke that she is seated on her throne and she says that she never thinks of herself in that way. Carol loves to talk and give advice but not in a bossy way, she's gentle, honest and direct. Her husband Keith hangs about and watches sometimes. We'll see if he ever sits for a piece himself. I have my doubts but I like having him around because he seems to know more about the Mississippi river and all the animals that live within it than anyone else I know. I have so much to learn from him.

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:55:00 +0000

The Pearl Street Project

3-15-10

It's done! Actually it's been done for a week or so now but, here it is, the first painting of the Pearl Street Project. I have so many good stories that need repeating from painting Chink, my closest neighbor. If you see me, ask for one, I love telling them. Chink couldn't believe I actually finished it, every time I chose to re-work an area, he'd get confused.... as if to think that once I put a layer of paint down, that was it for that spot. When I worked back in to something, he's lecture me, saying that I "wasn't gaining anything today". And I would just let out a deep sigh and give him an evil look because honestly, sometimes that's how painting feels.

Good news, Chink introduced me to the next neighbors and they are both game, so I'll start on them soon. It's so exciting when you hatch a plan and it actually starts to work!

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:22:00 +0000

The Pearl Street Project

update 3-2-10

So, I am almost done with this painting. I plan to be finished with the sittings by this coming Friday. Chink is being a good sport. We sat a listened to an interview with Michael Perry on NPR today and he ordered us a pizza. I am trying to paint some gold finches outside the window at the feeders. They were visiting us like crazy two weeks ago but of course, now that I need them, they are pretty sparse. But they are slowly turning more golden as the weather warms which is refreshing. I want to get the feeling of movement and elusiveness from them in the painting to play off of the steadiness of Chink. He is a constant guy.

noreply@blogger.com (Katie Musolff) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 02:40:00 +0000

The Pearl Street Project

2-10-10

I've decided to make up a new project for myself. It's been a while since I've tried to tackle a series of larger paintings. My idea was to paint as many people that live on the block I partially reside on in Stoddard WI. I am starting with the next store neighbor Chink (Eugene). From there I will venture out to the other people that I don't know nearly as well.

I am spoiled because Chink is retired and we get along so well that I am welcomed to come into the house and paint anytime. He never locks the door and I keep all of my painting supplies tucked up in his spare bedroom. I am painting him in his room with his clothes hanging around him. I haven't decided what exactly to include yet so the surroundings are bare and I am just concentrating on him, how he sits and settles in to his chair, how he feels.... which is tricky. It's hard for me to paint some one I care deeply about because I feel obligated to portray them in a positive, loving way. Chink is elderly, he lives alone, he can appear to be isolated, which he really isn't but still it comes across that way. Everything in his room is old, sturdy, and worn down, like him. I don't want to paint him as a person who has seen better days. But sometimes when we sit, there are long terms of comfortable silence and his face settles into a state that says "Well, this is how it is". But I still want to cushion him with my feelings of admiration so it doesn't seem so stark. We'll see how it goes..