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July 2014 Volume 3 No. 7
VISUAL LANGUAGE contemporary fine art
Janine Kilty
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Janine Kilty
When did you realize you loved art and wanted to be an artist? Although I have loved music, theater and the visual arts my entire life, I did not come to learn drawing and painting as a youngster– it was at the urging of my husband, Kurt, that I began to take lessons, first in drawing, then expanding to paint. Once I got into it, I knew I would never stop! Who has been your mentor, or greatest influence to date? My husband, Kurt – who perceived my talent and pushed me to take art classes. And Wade Schuman: master artist (of both painting and music!) and the most influential teacher in my life. Who is another living artist you admire and why? Besides Wade Schuman, who will always be uppermost in any catalog of my inspirations, I deeply admire the work of Jamie Wyeth, Bo Bartlett, Vincent Desiderio, Natalie Holland and Odd Nerdrum. More, I am sure, but these come to mind first. What is your favorite surface to create work on or to work with? Describe it if you make it yourself. I usually paint on pre-stretched, pre-primed canvas. I use both linen and cotton. I also occasionally work on panels. I further set up these ready-made surfaces by preparing a tinted ground on the canvas, and then I paint on this. This is the method used by northern European Renaissance masters, who I admired and strive to emulate. My three favorite grounds are “Chamois” (made up of white gesso tinted with raw sienna, burnt sienna and chromium oxide green), “Grey Mid-tone” (made up of raw umber, yellow ochre and a touch of black added to white gesso), and “Celadon” (made up of yellow ochre, black, chromium oxide green and white gesso). What are your favorite materials to use? I described the surfaces above – and I use linseed oil as my medium, with oil paints from several manufacturers (preference is based on particular colors), the manufacturers include Gamblin, Mussini, Holbein, and Williamsburg. I use both boar bristle and sable or sablette brushes from a number of manufacturers, predominantly filberts and rounds in a variety of sizes. I also occasionally use a palette knife for certain effects. How often do you work on your artwork? I actually have another career: I work as a Human Resources Consultant, which has me traveling with some regularity for selected projects. When I am not on a consulting project, and so, not traveling, I like to work in my studio about four or five hours each day, sometimes all seven days. I feel bereft at the moment, since I have been engaged on a particularly long consulting project that has kept me away from my studio for more than three months! What is the one thing you would like to be remembered for? Being a loyal and loving daughter, wife and friend.
Nocturne
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Janine Kilty
Winter Break
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Right Page: Companions II
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Janine Kilty
Feline and Firkin
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Still Life with Crow
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Janine Kilty
Red Scarf
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Winter Bounty
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Janine Kilty
Getting to know you Q&A What is your favorite color in your closet? I am somewhat red-faced to admit this: after I opened my closet to look, I found I had a tremendous proportion of black: pants and skirts, pinstriped, tweeded and solid… but, (sigh of relief) tops are more colorful: in addition to white and off-white, I have lots of teal blue, “pumpkin”, warm purple (the tertiaries!). What book are you reading this week? I always have two books going: one visually and one audio for my walks. I am reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tratt (absolutely fabulous… and coincidentally for this article, centers around a painting I have always found especially inspiring, by Carel Fabritius). I am listening to Careless in Red by Elizabeth George (a murder mystery). Do you have a favorite television show? My husband and I don’t watch much television, but we do enjoy “date nights” in our den, watching movies or “TV” shows that are strong on characters and narrative, like films. One favorite is House of Cards. We are also looking forward to the start of the second season of Orphan Black. We loved the first season. What color sheets are on your bed right now? I think the color is called “Beech.” It is a soft green – like a very pale moss color. If I were to mix it on my palette, I would use unbleached titanium, yellow ochre and a touch of black. What are you most proud of in your life? I have been a mentor and a coach to a number of people over the years. Several credit me with helping them achieve their life goals. Also I have been involved with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program over many years. One little girl I met through that program, and who is now an accomplished, beautiful woman, was someone who has been a particularly important part of my life for 25 years. I believe my husband and I made a real, positive difference in her life, and feel both proud of and blessed to have had such opportunity. Who would you love to interview? Of living people, I would love to talk with Cindy Sherman. I am fascinated and inspired by her arresting and deeply narrative portraits and would love to learn what she draws on for her complex, vivid images, what inspires her. Who would you love to paint? Malala Yousafsai, the Pakistan schoolgirl who survived being shot by the Taliban for her wish to attend school. I would love to look into her eyes and try to capture her courage, strength and young wisdom, along with her beauty.
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Abbey Road
Companions
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