Category Archives: mixed media

Soulful Art Exhibit & Cocktail Party, Oct 1st, 2016

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Casting Off: an Opening and a Closing. 7-10 pm 1065 Paiute Way, Suite 120, Bend, OR 97702.

Come celebrate this opening and closing of a body of work by ME! This work chronicles the year long journey of healing from breast cancer. Everyone is faced with unfathomably painful events during their lifetime and this body of work looks at how I moved through the fear, the pain and the grief of having cancer to find the gift on the other side.

My narrative paintings tell the story of different moments where instead of collapsing into myself I opened up to what needed to be expressed and got busy with my canvas, paint and brushes. This body of work has never been viewed in its entirety in one space so this evening represents both an opening and a closing of this journey and this work.

There will be an Opening Ceremony by local artist, Julia Junkins to set the soulful intention for the evening at 7pm followed by music, cocktails, food and interactive surprises.

I believe my work is especially poignant when you consider that I am a retired Marine Corps Captain who served a tour in Fallujah Iraq in 2006. Military women are 20 – 40% more likely to get breast cancer than their civilian counterparts. Just saying.

 

saturn-rising_web

Saturn Rising by Katariina Agnes Fagering          30×30 on canvas 

Artist Statement from Katariina:

Katariina Agnes Fagering is a midwife of possibilities, collector of sacred stories, and a motorcycle-riding warrior for truth, beauty and above all things- love. Her paintings explore that ethereal world that is often experienced on a subconscious level, reaching into your memories and pulling out something that can’t always be articulated right away. Mystical animals, women and ancient symbols appear on the canvas often even surprising Katariina. She believes firmly that every painting she paints is painted for another and just needs to find its match, because this happens over and over again.

She lives here in Bend with her family.

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/339302846418457/

exhausted_for-web

Exhausted by Katariina Agnes Fagering     30×30 on Canvas

 

 

the new girl . . .

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the new girl

Yesterday I had a very productively creative day. In the morning I had my Monotype class at the Art League of Houston where I made three new prints & started working on another.

Then I drove home went straight to my studio & started painting. I haven’t done that in a while & before I knew it I was lost in the creativity & the love of my new palette of three colors (thanks Misty Mawn & mary beth). Quinacridone gold is currently the most magical color in the entire world – YES in the entire world, possibly the universe.

When I was all painted & done I realized I was sitting with a new girl. Where did she come from? It was a few serendipitous glances, connections with other’s art, stories of a monkey named cookie, softening, becoming less precious with my strokes, allowing, opening a little & there she was, “the new girl.” I’m not sure what her name is just yet. She looks a bit surprised to be here possibly just as much as I am surprised she showed up. I’m thinking she needs a crow or a fish or at least a few flowers to keep her company or perhaps another friend to sit next to her.

I also added some cool embellishments to my photo of three stuck leaves in Nosara, Costa Rica at the Nosara Retreat Center (that’s a nod to the fabulous Abbie who owns the property).

don't rescue the beautifully stuck

monoprint - waterfall

new monotypes

All in all, I would say it was a lusciously, creatively, productive day. But what is really cool is that I know I’m doing what I’m meant to do for now at least because I can so easily lose time when I’m painting or creating. It’s either that I lose time or I step into an alternative time sequence that measures time in a totally new way either way I love it.

art asylum Houston . . .

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bits & pieces

The coolest, cheapest place to find amazing doo dads & doo hickeys to use in collages pieces, assemblage or whatever you like is at The Art Asylum on Houston Ave. If you are not careful you will miss it because from the outside it is just a plane white
building but inside is a whole other story. Inside there are shelves & shelves of about anything you can dream of have been donated by others for artists to use.

front door - its easy to miss

not sure but they look fun

discarded dolls

old albums

i think she is scared of the skull next to her either that or she wants her body back

bowls of beads, bobbles & buttons

On this visit I found a little, string-less, cracked guitar that I’m going to decoupage for fun, a doll that I’m going to papier-mâché into a statue, and an amazing old photo
album – for a story to tell. And doilies of course, you can never have too many doilies.

the photo book treasure

so many possibilities for filling these pages

 

we need each other . . .

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oodles of supplies to play with

Last Friday night my dear friend & fellow artist, Sara came over for a little art/craft playtime in my studio. It was our first creative get together (first of many) & we had so much fun (we hope to grow our gatherings to include others). I was feeling a bit melancholy that day for no reason other than the earth turned & I woke up feeling this way. But I was able to create through it & Sara was gentle & compassionate with me.

We drank banana smoothies with just bananas & a few cacao nibs and I showed her some of the ways that I create collages on wood with paper, paints, stencils, inks, stamps, words etc. Our rules were – Don’t be too precious & move quickly so as not to engage the brain.

Sara's collage

We talked easily about ideas, thoughts & then a magical thing happened. While our fingers were busy painting, gluing, cutting we shifted into a place of creative flow &
started putting pieces of big dreams together. We talked of ideas of collaboration,
unique & different ways to exhibit. Then our biggest dreams swooped in from
those hidden places we barely allow ourselves to visit & it was this kaleidoscope
of exhilarating dream sharing.

my collage "hey cupcake be curious"

We can’t wait to do this again. Next time Sara is going to show me how to make milk paints or encaustic painting.

Sara told me today that her creativity is buzzing to create more & ideas keep flowing it of other paintings she could do. We’ve continued our collaborative dream building these last two days through text messages back in forth.

It’s amazing how when we sit, create, share, witness, truly see, collaborate on ways to  fully blossom together.

I recently learned that if the dream is big enough for me to carry out, it’s not BIG enough. We need each other.

sporting new luggage . . .

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my new luggage

So this is what I played with in the studio today. I bought a piece of vintage luggage last weekend at TExas Junk Store with the intent of painting it. I worked on one side today. I actually got this idea from a magazine that I can no longer find, but thank you for the inspiration who ever you are that was published in whatever magazine that was.

another look at this.

Also this painting has been hanging over our bed for quite sometime, but I haven’t really liked the color (it’s my mission to REALLY understand color) so I changed the color up a bit today. So a new take on an old piece.

the remix

Lastly this crow print/painting was created last week on a spur of the moment decision to create something that day & everyday for that matter. But this is what I came up with. Interesting stuff showed up in the scribbles. Like a black & white TV with the word “ouch” next to it. It’s an image from childhood. Crow is the protector of the castle. I am the castle.  Hmmmmmmmm?

the year i was born . . .

enamored with red & green at squam . . .

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i love training my RAZ to see one color & then capture that color with my camera. I was drawn to the greens & reds everywhere i walked. words cannot do justice to the inspiration I felt while walking the trails at Squam. enjoy & let the color soak in.

love this skirt

the edge of richness - I love edges!

art in the woods - created by a beautiful soul

ondawa - place of joy-filled crocheting in circle of women with roaring fire

the inspiration i bathed in . . .

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I went to Squam Art Workshops not knowing a lot about what was going to happen. It was my first time & I didn’t know anyone. I went with an open heart just to see what this would be & eager to learn all that I could. My creativity is still in a development stage & I’m just trying everything on to see how it fits, flows & brings joy. I keep reminding myself that I’m just playing, nothing serious is going on here.

I was lucky enough to be in the airport shuttle to the camp with five amazing women who so funny & kind – we laughed the whole way there & I knew the weekend was going to wonderful. I can’t even begin to list all the things I learned & all the ways I was changed, but I am NOT the same woman who arrived that day.

If anyone is interested in expanding their world of creativity, no matter where you are today, I HIGHLy recommend you getting your butt up to New Hampshire (bring your winter clothes) and dive into this lake of beauty, community, creativity, laughter & color called the Squam Art Workshops. Join me next year!

Misty Mawn taught my first class on Painted Icons. I have been a fan of Misty’s work for some time now so I was a little star struck when I first met her. I was giddy to be able to play with paint with her & the amazing women in that class. The paintings that we created that day were all so gorgeous, emotive & unique in everyone’s own expression.

Here is what it looked like:

Misty Mawn

Misty Mawn

icon sketches

start of icon - I used Iraqi girl photo to left, Our Lady & the Santa Fe sculpture for inspiration

my icon

Icon painted by Jenica McKenzie - I LOVE this !!!!!

Then I learned how to crochet a necklace in a cold, dark room by the colorful Alix Bluh. Alix is an amazing jewelry artist (think blacksmith or smithy) in San Fransisco. The class ended up in front of a roaring fire crocheting, telling stories & feeling great. It was so old world (perhaps not the right term) but I loved it. I wish I had more of that.

my talisman creation - I stamped BIG LOVE on it!

On Saturday, I spent the morning mixing paint to create color pallets with Mary Beth Shaw. This class fit right into my desire to understand color better. Mary Beth cleared a lot of my confusion around color palettes. I still have some, but I think the more I play with it, I will gain an intuitive sense of works for me.

painted palettes

one of my palettes

It’s hard being back & trying to get into the oh-so-different pace of this world with baby, teenager & husband all wanting my attention but it is also so nice – it’s always good to be home when home feels like home, & this home does.

Big Love, Katariina

crow . . .

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crow stamped on wood

I signed up for a Mono-type class for this semester. It’s starts in a few weeks. I’m so excited. In fact so giddy about it that I had to make my own crow stamp now, before the class starts. I just got this stamping rubber stuff at the Texas Art Supply & drew a picture & started cutting away. It’s so fun that I can’t stop stamping everything!!!

testing, testing,

above studio sink!

on beginning of painting

I’ve had this idea for making an american flag to hang outside on our patio fence. I wanted it to look old & add my style to it. As I started working on it further I decided that it would be a painting about the Marine Corps & war, but a light one. Really maybe it is more about how I joined the wrong Corps. I should have been in the Peace Corps instead. but I don’t know, I was probably right where I needed to be and odd duck. No regrets, some sorrow, sadness, anger, but no regrets.

Everyday as I gain more insight into who I am, really am, without influence from others, I move further away from those things that hurt me more than bring me joy. I seek out those things, people, experiences that are in alignment with who I am. This lessons the dissonance & increases the resonance. I don’t resonate with dissonance.

I visited a gastro doctor last week who told me that my colon was like a jazz band all the parts doing their own thing, not playing the same tune together. I guess Jazz has its place just not in my gut & not in my relationships or work environments.

make art not war

My stars are flowers. USMC is going off the canvas. 83 was the year I joined the Marine Corps. I wrote, “make art not war,” “all we need is love.” “love is all we need,” oh &
“war is never the answer.” Then of course, there is my crow.

Crow is the protector of the castle, the castle being your psyche. He also is a trickster & a shape shifter. Two aspects I love expressing. Tricksters make us think about things that are so firmly embedded in our beliefs that we don’t even think to question. I was a trickster in the Marine Corps.

This painting is about the healing & coming home to me, the me that was me before the Marine Corps.

 

Sunday Creating . . .

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The beginning

Today, finally, after weeks of not painting I finally went up to my studio & worked on a this painting that had been sitting on my easel forever. It felt so good to be painting & creating again, without any expectation of what I would end up with. I just flowed in & out of colors, designs, scribbles & so on! I am not done with it just yet, but the most of it is done.

The words say, “Girl you’re amazing, just the way you are!”

The first step is to cover a your canvas (in this case it is a piece of cut up tempered hard board from Home Depot) with paper & paint in any pattern really, just to create some dimension to the piece. This was done weeks ago so the glue was dry.

Next is to wash over the papers on the canvas to create a backdrop for the image that will be painted. This can be so hard for me to do, but I’m learning that it is important.

wash it all away

Next I pick out the main image I want to focus on & either transfer, paint or collage it on. For this painting, I had planned to transfer this image on but I used too heavy of paper & then it didn’t work properly (these sort of flubs happen frequently) so I rolled with the punches & collaged the failed transfer image onto the canvas & then painted over it. Then I just added embellishments, a bird, some words, & other designs as they flowed out. I wish I had a better plan, but I usually don’t plan much, so the color & layout just evolve as I progress with the painting.

Anyways, it’s fun & highly therapeutic. The teacher from last week’s workshop saw some of my photographs & was so impressed by them that she asked me why I bothered with painting. It sort of hurt or rather cut at me because here I was working on improving my painting skills but it was a compliment as well. It just felt like an insult to my desire to paint better – or more betterererer.  But I thought about it & realized that I paint because it’s therapeutic. It just feels good to be in a creative flow with paint splashing everywhere & layering & layering. I love the process, it really doesn’t matter to me if I ever go anywhere with it. I’m enjoying creating now & watching my deeper creative emerge ever so slowly the more I am able to quiet the outside voices. I think if you have the inner urge to create, then we are obligated to create, even if it just to find some inner peace.

almost finished

updated version . . .

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i birthed a beautiful being (finished . . i think)

So I think I’m done with her for now. I lightened her face a bit, added more details & it feels good. One of the ideas i was playing with was using different tones of white. I had some warm whites & a cooler white-painted around her to make it a little more dynamic. I actually learned about that idea from an article in a magazine about Flea Market Decorating where this woman had a house of different shades of white. It doesn’t exactly show up in this photo but the actual painting is distinctly different. I also like the contrast of the paint against the charcoal. It gives it a gritty sort of dirty imperfect feel.

Now to move onto the next painting.

Thanks for witnessing this journey with me. Blogging makes me feel not so much a lone on this path.

Big Love,

Katariina