Watermedia Works: Magma

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Magma

Received notification along with a catalog, certificate, check and disc Saturday from the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies representative for the Arizona Watercolor Association via snail mail informing me that I had won the David Gale Memorial Award (2nd Place) for this painting in the WFWS 35th Annual Exhibition being held at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, May 14th - June 26th. The juror was Carla O'Connor AWS, DF, NWS. I probably would have gone to the opening in Utah had I known what the award was.

13 comments:

UnknownTuesday, May 25, 2010 at 1:11:00 AM MDT
so beutiful !
Congratulation , with the price !
B. Liv
ReplyDelete
Replies
-DonTuesday, May 25, 2010 at 2:26:00 AM MDT
Too cool, Stan! Congratulations for this well-deserved accolade...

-Don
ReplyDelete
Replies
Rosalie WronaTuesday, May 25, 2010 at 4:17:00 AM MDT
Congratulations .. Your watercolours are really interesting to look at.

Rosalie
ReplyDelete
Replies
UnknownTuesday, May 25, 2010 at 5:35:00 AM MDT
Congratulations, Stan! This is a very deserving work of art, and recognized by an highly accomplished judge. You must be on cloud nine. Your work is transcendent. Magma - I studied it for years as a geologist. This looks like a batholith fed by the aesthenosphere :-)
ReplyDelete
Replies
Myrna WacknovTuesday, May 25, 2010 at 3:00:00 PM MDT
Yeah, what Kathy said! Beautiful work. Congratulations on a wonderful honor!
ReplyDelete
Replies
AnonymousTuesday, May 25, 2010 at 7:49:00 PM MDT
SPECTACULAR!!!! I'm so thrilled for you- and it is clearly deserved!! What a tremendous honor. This piece is simply gorgeous. I love it!!!
And thanks Stan for joining my new blog- it means a lot to me.
ReplyDelete
Replies
Stan KurthThursday, May 27, 2010 at 11:35:00 AM MDT
Thank you everyone, I'm honored that all of you take a look at my blog.
ReplyDelete
Replies
SKIZOSaturday, May 29, 2010 at 9:29:00 AM MDT
Great
Work
good
sources
of
Inspiration
ReplyDelete
Replies
Stan KurthSaturday, May 29, 2010 at 12:31:00 PM MDT
Hi SKIZO - Thanks!
ReplyDelete
Replies
Sharmon DavidsonSaturday, May 29, 2010 at 8:27:00 PM MDT
How fantastic! This is a beautiful piece, and very deserving of the award. Congrats!
ReplyDelete
Replies
EvaMonday, May 31, 2010 at 10:54:00 AM MDT
I'm behind visiting your blog as usual, but it is always a pleasure when I do. This is a wonderful piece and deserving of the award!
ReplyDelete
Replies
Stan KurthMonday, May 31, 2010 at 12:34:00 PM MDT
Thank you Sharmon and Eva, I very much appreciate your comments. Seems like I'm always behind on the blogging scene. There are so many nice blogs and so little time.
ReplyDelete
Replies
RH CarpenterTuesday, June 1, 2010 at 5:51:00 PM MDT
Congratulations. Beautiful piece!
ReplyDelete
Replies

Add comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)

Statement

One definition of intuitive includes words like feeling and instinct. These terms are mildly interpretive, and who can argue with artists who “feel” their way through paintings. My definition of intuitive painting is beginning the work without any preliminary thoughts or plans for a particular object or subject as an end, but rather starting on a blank substrate, making marks with a variety of tools, creating a library of design elements and applying design principles until a personal aesthetic is achieved. I do not use any external reference.

Marks are mostly random early on, but sometimes lines or shapes of thoughts occur during the process. Many of these are repetitive, my archetypes. It is not uncommon to find vague human anatomy, non-specific animals, interiors, buildings, furniture, vessels, surreal botanicals, automobiles/parts and a multitude of objects I have found interesting over the span of a lifetime. Some of these shapes may look familiar but are ambiguous enough to allow the viewer a personal narrative. This may be intentional or not on my part. I prefer mystery and intrigue over the obvious.

As paintings progress, more elements including color are introduced. These are random at first but as the process continues a shift towards design takes place. A dominant color temperature may emerge, or a glaze might unify colors beneath it. Values can shift to dominant light, mid or dark. Elements are enhanced, obscured or covered up. There may be multiple layers and quite often evidence of the beginning will peek through. I use a variety of tools to apply pigment or remove it in varying degrees. These tools include brushes, palette knives, scrapers, sticks, sandpaper, my hands, my fingernails and more. Gradually principles such as rhythm, harmony, unity, pattern, gradient, conflict, dominance, contrast, balance, repetition, alternation and movement coalesce into a composition I find esthetically pleasing.

It is one thing to make a pretty picture with good composition, but quite another to bring the viewer into a painting by such means and hold their attention with content. My objective is to evoke a pleasing visceral response from the viewer.

"There's a complex simplicity in Stan Kurth's paintings that is both paradoxical and straightforward. As he works with multiple layers of watercolor and gesso, his provocative images emerge. Ambiguity and form coalesce into a singular, cohesive vision that holds the viewer spellbound"

Betsy Dillard Stroud - Watercolor Masters and Legends: Secrets, Stories and Techniques from 34 Visionary Artists

About

"Artist and workshop instructor Stan Kurth has drawn and painted most of his life. An aunt, who was an artist and art instructor, became a big influence even before he began school. Stan lives with the conviction of “fear not” and that same attitude permeates not just his life but his art. His focus and dedication to his work have earned him signature member status in several watercolor societies including the National Watercolor Society, San Diego Watercolor Society and the Western Federation of Watercolor Societies - Master. He currently lives in Arizona."