This month we Spotlight member artist Antonia Carriere from Northeast OR. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and take a stroll along Antonia's path as an artist and the visually rich northeastern OR Wallowa landscapes.
Member Showcase by:
Barbara Szkutnik
1. NPS: What is your earliest art-related memory?
Antonia: Kindergarten. Even then I wanted to go in my own direction, to find a twist on any assignment. So when we were told to paint a design I painted an old car. When reprimanded I turned it into the assigned design and it was chosen for an all-school show for the Los Angeles City School District.
2. NPS: Your biography at http://antoniacarriere.com states that you switched to pastel after a workshop at Central Oregon Community College. Do you currently work, are you considering working, in any other medium, and if so, what would that be and why?
Antonia: I really want to get back into in watercolor and figure study. And I’m a firm believer that an artist’s endeavors are enhanced by working in more than one medium.
3. NPS: How do you start your paintings? Is it always the same process?
Antonia: I usually start by toning the paper with terracotta to orange. I love the way it warms up the whole painting, even sky and water, and keeps greens from looking too raw. Then I make large blocks of color with hard pastel making sure to establish lightest and darkest areas. I will have made a very loose light sketch but rather than continuing with the idea of ‘drawing’ the painting I proceed, as taught, to break areas into smaller and smaller bits to shape things.
4. NPS: Are you primarily a plein-air or studio artist?
Antonia: So far I’ve been a studio artist, and that has been primarily a time issue We only just retired and work took up daylight hours. I never go anywhere without my camera though and that allows me to catch reference photos with exciting light.
5. NPS: What is your favorite landscape subject or location?
Antonia: I’ve yet to explore working plein aire but when I do location might depend on accessibility. There is such varied beauty here I’d be hard pressed to say what attracts me most, but I’m always turned on by the big repeating shapes like the intersecting wedges of canyons and the shadows they make, the massive blockiness of Hell’s Canyon, the planes of distances. I don’t think I’m ever considering what will make a beautiful painting but rather how can I express the sculpture of shapes.
6. NPS: What is the favorite part of the painting process for you?
Antonia: Absolutely, the beginning stages. I love laying out new pieces and often start several at one time. It makes me feel absolutely rich with the possibilities. I usually rotate working several painting at a time which keeps it fresh for me.
7. NPS: Tell us about the materials you use, or new materials you are interested in experimenting with?
Antonia: For go-to info and most of my supplies I rely on Dakota. My long time favorite soft pastels have been Unison because they were my introduction and I love their darkest darks, but lately I’ve treated myself to Terry Ludwig blues and some earthy shades of Blue Earth. Blue Earth are unbelievably buttery. I’ve used Kitty Wallis paper mostly but have been thinking of working on both much grittier and much suedier surfaces to shake things up.
View from our living room
8. NPS: Is there a particular painting you wish you hadn't sold?
Antonia: Nothing that plagues me although if something I love sells quickly I’ve occasionally repainted it from the reference photo with no real attempt to duplicate it but to enjoy the subject again, invariably in a different way
9. NPS: What do you think is the most distinguishing feature of your work?
Antonia: I love dramatic light, colors that are complex, and achieving those effects in the loosest, quickest way possible. The first comment that I hear from observers is that they enjoy the emphasis on light. One of the loveliest comments I’ve had was when I was told that I must certainly love the landscapes I choose and that it translates to the viewer.
Springtime view of our old pasture
10. NPS: How has your style changed over time and if it has, what changed it?
Antonia: Generally I think my style has become smoother and less busy. At least I hope more effortless looking.
11. NPS: Anything else you'd like to add? Any advice?
Antonia: The best advice I ever got was to just ‘play’, don’t take it so seriously and start a new one. Every failed painting teaches as much as the successful ones
