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An
Interview
with
Carolyn
Ritter:
painter |
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AOD:
Tell us a
little bit
about your
background?
CAROLYN
RITTER:
My first mentor,
a retired
art professor
from the University
of Maryland,
introduced
me to the
world of art
when I was
in middle
school. From
then on there
was no stopping
me! I recieved
a B.S. in
Art Education
from Auburn
University
and began
teaching in
schools and
workshops
in Georgia,
Florida, and
Washington.
I have always
explored new
techniques
in my painting
through workshops
(Fran Larsen,
Val Thalein,
Ed Betts,
and Plein
Air painters
of the Southeast,
Joe Perrin,
and Gordon
Anderson to
name a few).
I worked in
my husband's
animal hospital
for ten years
which sparked
my career
as a painter
of animals.
A painting
of my cat
was featured
on the cover
of the AVMA
journal in
October 2000,
and a painting
of a retriever
was chosen
for the Georgia
speciality
license plate
in 2006. I
have done
illustrations
for CatFancy
and have been
featured in
other national
magazines.
The State
Botanical
Gardens of
Georgia in
Athens, and
Callaway Gardens
have held
solo shows
my my work,
and ArtCandy
Editions has
published
many of the
botanicals.
After a recent
move to Florida,
I am anxious
to spread
my artistic
wings here.
The lush plants
and facinating
birds are
calling me!
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Lab
Adore |
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AOD:
Who or what
has influenced
your work? Are
there any artists,
in particular,
you admire?
CAROLYN
RITTER:
I am drawn to
the movement
and the intimate
views in the
paintings of
Georgia
O'keeffe.
The flowing
narrative landscapes
of Grant
Wood inspire
me. Joe Perrin,
Emeritus Georgia
State University,
taught me to
concern myself
with the process
rather than
the outcome
and watch the
painting unflold.
That changed
my whole approach
to painting. |
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Philodendron
2
30"
x 40" |
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AOD:
Your portraits
use a vast array
of colors to
capture emotions.
How did your
painting style
develop? How
do you select
a feature, such
as a face, to
focus on within
your paintings?
CAROLYN
RITTER:
My personal
style developed
by showing up
at the canvas
every day and
painting whether
I was inspired
or not. I just
let the color
and style "happen".
The most important
feature in animal
portraits to
me are the eyes,
and I focus
on that in the
beginning. |
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Palmetto
1
24"
x 36" |
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AOD:
What materials
do you use to
produce your
work?
CAROLYN
RITTER:
What ever it
takes! When
doing plants,
I use a variety
of tools to
achieve the
textures that
make a painting
so rich! I often
texturize the
canvas or board
before applying
paint using
thick gel mediums
mixed with gesso
applied with
a variety of
objects and
tools. I also
do a lot of
glazing and
layering of
color. |
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Eyeballing
Sparrows
20"
x 20" |
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AOD:
Take us through
the process
of one of
your favorite
paintings.
(From idea,
sketches,
etc.)
CAROLYN
RITTER:
In Philodendron
II, I began
by spending
time among
the plants
at the State
Botanical
Garden of
Georgia quietly
observing
and taking
photos. I
look for interesting
light and
shadows as
well as composition.
Then I do
thumbnail
sketches trying
to strengthen
the composition
and SIMPLIFY.
Back at the
studio, I
determine
the size and
shape of canvas
or board,
prepare the
canvas, and
do the drawing
in charcoal.
In this case
(but not always),
I do the entire
painting in
a flat pattern
of black and
white. While
that is drying,
I make a thumbnail
color chart
selecting
warm and cool
colors and
I write down
how I mixed
them.
Then the fun
begins and
I go with
the flow. |
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Callaway
I
30"
x 30" |
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AOD:
How do you keep
yourself motivated
and interested
in painting?
Do most, if
not all, of
your artworks
reflect your
mood at the
time of creation?
CAROLYN
RITTER:
I usually have
no problem being
motivated. What
always gets
me going is
a visit to some
good galleries
seeing what
other artists
are doing and
thumbing through
Southwest Art
Magazine and
Art Collector.
Also, I will
read some of
my favorite
books, The
Art Spirit
by Robert Henri,
Life
Paint and Passion
by Michele Cassou,
Point
Zero: Creativity
Without Limits
by Michele Cassou,
and Making
Pearls: Living
the Creative
Life by
Jeanne Carbonetti.
I don't think
you can keep
your mood out
of your artwork
if you are passionate
about painting! |
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Cactus
II
15"
x 30" |
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AOD:
Is
there any advice
you'd give to
those who are
aspiring artists?
CAROLYN RITTER:
I
would say not
to wait to be
inspired –
paint, paint,
paint! Take
plein
air painting.
It helps you
simplify your
work and zero
in on what is
important –
omitting clutter.
Talk and paint
with other artists
who are better
than you! |
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Cactus
Flower
30"
x 30" |
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AOD:
Any art showings
you would like
to share with
us?
CAROLYN RITTER:
I always have
work at the
Raiford
Gallery
in Roswell,
Georgia. Having
just moved to
Florida, I am
gearing up for
the fall and
winter season
so watch for
me in the Sarasota
area. Locations
will soon be
posted on my
Web site www.carolynritter.com.
Also, ArtCandy
Editions
has recently
released a new
print of one
of my flowers.
I have just
posted two new
animal paintings
on my Web site,
My Blue Heron,
and Eyeballing
Sparrows. |
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Blue
Heron
18"
x 24" |
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Georgia
speciality
license
plate
2006 |
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