... during its 15th year!
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| Cristine Crooks |
I believe that everyone is born an artist and if they are lucky, discover early which of the arts will enrich their life. I am a visual artist. I probably discovered my love for the visual arts in elementary school because I still remember the excitement of painting large murals for school plays, and glueing popcorn onto paper to make blooming apricot trees. I explored art in high school and college and earned a teaching degree and a BA in Art. I always used art in my teaching and spent many years working with other like-minded educators to train Alaska teachers on how to incorporate the arts into their classrooms. Now as a retired person I especially enjoy plein air painting and keeping illustrated travel journals.
- Cristine Crooks, February 2023, Douglas, Alaska
1 - What are the mediums (ie pastel, oil, acrylic, etc)
that you work in and love?
I am basically an eclectic artist. I have tried many mediums and find that I like to use different mediums for different things. When I travel I keep a small journal, so a very small watercolor kit, a mechanical pencil, and a brush with a barrel I can fill with water, works just about anywhere, even on a plane. When I paint outside, if it’s not too wet, I love pastel. Inside in my studio I play around with oil paints; alkyd because I’m impatient. But I also really love to collect papers and magazine clippings and do collage. And I love crafting handmade books. I have a BS in Art, (craft) which involved a little bit of everything. So being eclectic and trying new things suits my style.
2 - How do you name your paintings?
I try to follow the advice that Fairbanks artist Kes Woodward gave us
at a Plein Rein workshop a few years back. He suggested before we begin
our painting we ask ourselves what we’re trying to say. I try to do this and
call this my working title. Kes was right; having a working title helps focus
me on a few specific things in the landscape. It helps with my choices of
composition and color palette. Sometimes, though, paintings evolve and
I choose a title by what the painting is saying. I reserve the right to change
the title right up until the day I have to make a label for a show.
3 - When you paint en plein air, what size do you prefer to work with?
What surface?
I like to get a good start on my paintings when I’m at a location so 12 x 9 or 9 x 7 is a pretty good size for me. Once I thought I’d get back into the studio and make larger paintings from the “studies” I did plein air. But I’ve come to love the plein air paintings just for their spontaneity and even sometimes, their unfinished look. I love all the new pastel surfaces that have a tooth to hold the pastel and are sturdy enough to take a light watercolor wash. Clairefontaine pastelmat is my current favorite and it comes in a variety of colors.
4 - Do you have a favorite color?
Green, I’m partial to a lovely spring green or chartreuse.
5 - Do you have a favorite painting from history?
Andrew Wyeth’s “Christina’s World”.
6 - Who are your art heroes (living & in history)?
Some of my earliest memories of art were from illustrations in books, and W.C. Wyeth was an early hero. His work was so full of energy, color and emotion. I love photography and admire the black and white nature images of Ansel Adams. As I studied more art I loved the female artists who persevered against the odds, like Artemisia Gentileschi, Georgia O’Keefe, Mary Cassatt, and Sister Corita/ Corita Kent. And as I started studying a particular medium I discovered art heroes who were trying things that interested me like Wolf Kahn (pastel), Milton Avery (form and simplification) and Joaquín Sorolla (sunlight).
7 - Who are you inspired by currently?
Actually during the past few years I have needed to kick start my creativity
and found online art classes at Winslow Art Center and Carla Sonheimhave wonderful artists in a variety of media. I like the multimedia artist
Anita Lehmann, who challenges learners to improvise, explore, and design.
It was just what I needed to find a way to be more playful and less worried
8 - You are unarguably the leader of Juneau’s plein air painting group “Plein Rein”,
why is this group important to you? (Do you LIKE to herd cats?)
Thank you. I fear I became the organizer mostly because I don’t mind using
a computer and someone had to send out updates and reminders. I have the
honor of being one who has been a Plein Rein Painter since 2001. Over the
20+ years we’ve had lots of artists paint with us and it’s the generosity of them
sharing their work and being interesting companions in the field that make
me happy to help. Covid did seriously slow down our ability to get together,
so I think it helped me see how important having a group of creative spirits
is to my own creative journey. We’ve traveled together, had exhibits together
but mostly, just showing up together outside, sparks my desire to do more art.
9 - What is your superpower?
This is a very interesting and modern question. I never really thought that I had any particular superpower. But reflecting on what keeps me going I think I am resilient.
10 - How can people find you and your work?
I have not been good at keeping my blog updated; but this is a good incentive
to get things going again. PleinRein2020 My email is ccrooks@gci.net.
Thank you so much, Cristine!
Your answers and your beautiful work illustrate how dedicated you are to your art,
and you are very inspiring as well to me and many others.
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| The Last Bit of Light 2022 pastel 9" x 12" by Cristine Crooks Thank you for reading! 🎨 |
