Mark Rothko � An Abstract Expressionist with Complex Intrigues - by Annette Labedzki

absolutearts.com Portfolio

 

Marcus Rothkowitz or Mark Rothko, as he was better known, was born on September 25, 1903, in Daugavpils, Latvia. He was one of the faces of the "Abstract Expressionist Movement" sharing stage with the likes of de Kooning, Pollock, Guston, Kline, and Newman. Belonging to a Jewish family, the Russian community never accepted Mark Rothko. Therefore, he left for the U.S. in 1913, where he led a simple life, until his father passed away in 1914. To support his family, he worked at his uncle’s warehouse, distributed newspapers to the employees. Rothko was a bright student at school and he completed his studies with honors from Lincoln High School in Portland, in June 1921. He enrolled for studies in Liberal Arts, from the Yale University, during the period 1921 – 1923, but dropped out without acquiring a degree.

 

Mark Rothko was largely a self-taught, highly appreciated artist to emerge from the New York art scene. He co-founded an organization of like-minded artists, famous as "The Ten," in 1935. He also established an art school in New York, named "Subjects of The Artist," in 1948. The early works of Mark Rothko mostly included 'Expressionist' portraits and urban landscapes. Later, however, he moved towards more 'Surreal' themes, under the influence of the works of Arshille Gorky. In 1947, he started painting his now famous, "color-field pieces," characterized by simple bright or dark colors to convey his emotions. By 1950s, Mark Rothko started getting recognition as the master of "Abstract Expressionism."

 

Most of Rothko's works were unnamed or had forgettable names, such as "Black, Maroons and White (1958)," "Four Red (1957)," & "No. 6 (Violet, Green and Red)." In 1967, the artist joined hands with Johnson to make 14 related works on a church in Houston, Texas, which was posthumously renamed after him. For most part of his career, Mark taught in several universities and colleges, including Center Academy in Brooklyn, from 1929 to 1952, the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco in 1947 and again in 1949, Brooklyn College from 1951 to 1954, the University of Colorado in 1955, and Tulane University in the year 1956. In addition, Mark Rothko exhibited his work regularly in 1940s and 1950s. He was eventually allowed in Venice Biennale in 1958 & the Museum of Modern Art in the New York City in 1961.

 

Ironically, Mark Rothko had always maintained that he is not an abstractionist and is not interested in the relationship of color or forms. For him, his paintings displayed basic human emotions like anger, tragedy, loss, etc. Despite his professional success, Mark Rothko could not be considered a happy man. He had two failed marriages and throughout his life, Rothko had to struggle with penury. His heavy thinking also led him towards depression and alcoholism and eventually, he committed suicide on February 25, 1970, by cutting his wrists in his New York studio.

 

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com

 

absolutearts.com Portfolio

Criminal Activity - by Annette Labedzki

absolutearts.com Portfolio

 

 

It all started in the year 2000 to 2006. We were unlucky enough to experience a long string of burglaries, break-ins and thefts. Vancouver is so beautiful and the climate is mild. We really don’t have any winters; a couple of months of heavy rain and that’s about the extent of our winters. This climate is perfect for every homeless drug addict from all across Canada to meander over here because they can survive the winters on the streets. Where there is addiction and poverty there is crime.

We had a small gallery which had been broken into one night. All the art was stolen. We felt like we had been a bit naïve because we didn’t have an alarm system set up. So we got our act together and had a security system installed. A few months went by and we were broken into again. The criminals actually snipped the wires and stole the alarm system (talk about desperate!)

In the following years only some minor incidents. Cars that were dumped behind the garage or in front of the house, and sure enough when I phoned the police the cars had been reported stolen. My husband finished work one day and went down to the car lot, only to find his car had been stolen. One other fine day he discovered that his new lap top had been stolen out of the office in broad daylight!

In 2002 one morning I woke up and came down to the kitchen, making coffee and getting ready for the day. All of sudden I noticed that the security bars on the outside of the kitchen window were hanging at an angle. We quickly went out on the deck; sure enough someone had patiently removed all the screws of the security bars and had managed to open the kitchen window. They got away with a cell phone and a briefcase which was always on the floor near the kitchen window. We called the police and when they arrived we noticed that a large kitchen knife was missing; so they must have heard one of us wake up to go to the bathroom. That really scared me when I saw that knife missing. I was upset about the stolen briefcase because it contained hundreds of dollars worth of watercolors and inks! I went to the front yard and to my pleasant surprise the creeps had opened the briefcase and then dumped the whole thing and the watercolors into the hedges!! Little did they know that one tiny tube is 15 dollars!

By this time I was getting really annoyed and fed up with all the criminal activity. We moved again and we figured it would be safer to have the security bars on the inside of the window. A few quiet months went by in the new house in a good neighborhood. One day I came home from work around noon. I heard some strange sounds before I even opened the door; I assumed it was the cleaning lady. I opened the door and walked right into a burglary.(He had kicked the basement door down) I didn’t know what was going on and by the time my brain registered everything the creep was one inch away from me. I think my height (I’m 5’10’’) gave me the courage to talk to him like a naughty child. I just looked at him and said” Oh my God, you better get out of here!” Of course I was in shock for quite sometime after that and I will never let a strange man in the house. The creep had left a drug syringe on the kitchen floor which the police picked up with her bare hands. The best piece of evidence was destroyed.

Well, since then we moved again! We have a lot of traffic and we also have a bus stop right behind our house. I think all the traffic keeps the criminals away!

My website is www.labedzki-art.com 

absolutearts.com Portfolio

Bookmarks-120 Art Websites, Art Galleries, Museums, Juried Shows and Art Dealers - by Annette Labedzki

absolutearts.com Portfolio

For many years I’ve been bookmarking websites that offer great information about art;art galleries, art directories, museums, art listings, juried shows etc etc. I was tempted to delete the bookmarks when I realized that I could create a “Bookmark” page on my website and share the links. The bookmark page is at the very top of the site in the right hand corner. There are over one hundred great and informative links. I hope you enjoy! Click on Bookmarks

My website address is www.labedzki-art.com 

absolutearts.com Portfolio

Every Artistic Choice I Make

Every artistic choice I make, from which paintbrush to use, to which color to pick up, is made directly in connection with, and in order to express, my mental and emotional energy. To engage with and release the maximum energy, I give my faculties free reign, for they are my strength. But what of beauty? Does the artist bring acceptance, honesty, and openness to her energies? With what attitude does she meet them? A native love of and passion for painting is the field into which my expressions consistently emerge. Power and beauty are the ultimate energetic combination, the combination and juxtaposition that create the quality of aliveness. For maximum constructive effect these must be in balance, or power is mere machinery; beauty hollowness. Triumph in the wedding of these two qualities, in artistic terms results in the second greatest gift humanity gives to itself: the work of art. It is an ongoing, dynamic relationship in which I am continually and vitally engaged day by day

The Color Red-Its symbolism and Meaning

Red is the most amazing and powerful color that we could ever hope for. Red symbolizes life, passion, power, heartache, heartbreak, anger and love. The color red is a stimulant; it is exciting. It has the most personal associations than any other color. Red draws attention; hence the “red carpet.” Red is also associated with poison, seduction, and passion. In many cultures red represents beauty. In Chinese culture red symbolizes fire. It also is associated with good luck and fortune in China. In England red phone booths and double decker buses are national icons. Chinese, Hindu and Islamic brides wear red. In the Aztec culture red is connected with blood. In Singapore red symbolizes joy. The color red is used for good causes such as the Red Cross and American Heart Association. The red ribbon is an international symbol of AIDS awareness. Red has been used in plenty of popular sentences; red tape, not worth a red cent, red flag, caught red-handed and the red-carpet treatment. When we think of red food our senses are also stimulated. Bright red strawberries, red apples, cherries and cranberries are all popular because of their color and taste. We see red food and we immediately believe that it will taste phenomenal

Top 7 Ways to Earn Money as an Artist - by Annette Labedzki

absolutearts.com Portfolio

                                        

Included in this article are the 7 most successful ways to market your art. Remember to always be professional no matter what path you are pursuing. These are the 7 steps you should follow:

 

 1.    Create a Professional Marketing Package.

 2.    Find a Gallery.

 3.    Become a member in an art club, association or organization.

 4.    Advertise for free or inexpensively.

 5.    Apply for juried shows.

 6.    Make prints of your work and other ways to leverage your work

 7.    Find Corporate Art Representatives or Rental Programs.

 

1. Create A Professional Marketing Package.

Included in your package should be a biography, artist statement, resume, slides or digital images, business cards, stationary, and a portfolio. An Artist statement is a brief description of why you do your art and what it means. A resume should include awards, exhibitions, collections, education, memberships, and commissions. Use high quality paper for your resume and business cards. You want your marketing package to be as professional as possible. Your slides or digital images should be high quality as well.

 

2.  Find a Gallery.

Commercial galleries have a small stable of artists therefore it is difficult to get in, but not impossible. Attend openings in galleries and always make sure you have your business cards with you. Introduce yourself and your work to the galleries that you have selected. It helps if you have insider connections with people in the arts; a gallery owner, or a museum director. Stay away from the galleries that want to charge you a fee upfront. These “vanity galleries” are not respected by other galleries.

 

3.  Become a Member in an Art Club, Associations and Organizations.

There are many organizations in your area. It is worth your while to join these groups because they have: gallery space, publicized shows, mailing lists, social events, art classes, art openings and an established clientele. Memberships look good on your resume as well. It’s a good idea to volunteer. The more you give of your time; the organization will keep you in mind for future important events. You will be able to network and promote your work through the people you meet while volunteering.

 

4.  Advertise for Free or Inexpensively.

One way to advertise your work for free is on the online websites. There are many websites that allow you to join and upload your images for free. Some websites charge an annual fee which is usually quite minimal. Another way is to have your own website. These can be designed for a low fee as well. Media advertising isn’t the right venue, because it is usually very expensive. You can also advertise your work on bulletin boards in community centers for free.

 

5.  Apply for Juried Shows.

You might not get accepted into every juried show you enter. Here are a few steps to improve your chances. Make sure you read the instructions carefully and follow all the rules. Do not send work that exceeds the size specifications. Do not send any artwork that is against the rules. For example, don’t send a collage piece if it is an oil painting show. Label your images properly. You can find calls for submissions in art magazines or on the internet.

 

6.  Make Prints of Your Work and Other Ways to Leverage Your Work.

Apply for a grant. This money is a gift to promote your work. Digital imaging is a wonderful way to market your work. Your work can be printed on canvas, watercolor paper, T-Shirts, and mouse pads. Phone your local printer to get costs on these items.

 

7.  Find a Corporate Art Representative and Look into Rental Programs.

Try to find someone who deals with supplying hotels, banks, and large corporations.

Interior Designers are also an excellent source to contact. Check out your local library and art gallery rental programs as well.

 

The most important winning steps in promoting your work are: always have your marketing materials ready. Try to market your art and yourself at all times. You and your art are one package. Be as professional as possible on your road to becoming a successful artist.

 

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com
Artists are welcome to join for free 

 

                                     

absolutearts.com Portfolio

Hitting the Brick Wall - by Annette Labedzki

absolutearts.com Portfolio

 

 

 

Everything seems to be running smoothly. I’m on a certain artistic path happily working on a number of different projects, setting plans and making goals. All of a sudden and with no warning, I hit the artistic brick wall. Everything comes to a dead end. I feel like the world has stopped. If I try to continue I’m greeted with a huge migraine. Over the years I’ve come to understand the symptoms and usually when I’m unpleasantly greeted with the brick wall it means two things. Either I have to change the way I was working from 2D to 3D or vice versa, or wait for an external change that is about to occur. Either way I don’t really enjoy the “Brick Wall” experience, however usually the changes that occur are for the best. Sometimes it just means that I have to slow down and rejuvenate the artistic batteries. These are some of the disadvantages of being an artist; there is no one who can tell you what to do. You have to figure it out for yourself; it is after all your own path!

Please visit my website at www.labedzki-art.com. Other artists are welcome to join for free and your image upload is unlimited.

absolutearts.com Portfolio