Tell us a little about yourself and what you do
“Art is my Life” – My Mantra
I’ve been living art since I can remember. My parent’s house was very cultured in music and art. I knew very early on I wanted to be different. You’re the artist of your own life-make it beautiful.
After completing an apprenticeship in ceramic sculpting in Germany, I furthered my education in painting at Oskar Kokoschka’s School of Art in Austria, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oskar_Kokoschka . Later I studied in Germany with Professor Erich Schmidt-Unterseher http://www.erich-schmidt-unterseher.com/ , who was my mentor for many years.
I needed to create an existence in art to support my son and I. Luckily I was offered a job as stage designer, enhancing my understanding of color and design. For the next 20 years I was a docent for art, at the very prestigious http://www.schwabenakademie.de/cms/startseite/ Swabien Academy – Germany, teaching different methods of painting from Life Drawings to Mixed Media, founding a method of teaching “The Pathways to Abstract Art.”
Andy & Marilyn
I’ve developed a few studios in various places in Germany, and the US. “The Malerhof” outside of Munich, Germany was great fun and a wonderful opportunity to teach art in a very private atmosphere of my studio. We all learned from each other in some way. I supported young students to achieve their goals in the arts and adults, wanting to express themselves painting.
I love being an artist with compassion for different genres. See my website www.jarmolinski.com .
Walking my dog is fun and way to meditate as is cooking for family and friends.
Who (or what) inspires you to do what you love in your own creative business?
My father always told me to do what makes me happy and to always experience first before saying no.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”
Beautiful nature, especially trees, music.
The tattooed women with the green hat in the urban jungle II
Where do you get your inspiration from when you design/paint?
Kandinsky, von Jawlensky, Picasso and Andy Warhol have inspired me.
These artists changed the world of art.
Since studying art in Europe, I leaned towards the Expressionists and American Pop Art.
I love the colorful palettes used to express their art. Since I have found my love to photography as a sketching aid to my work I have developed a liking for Pop Art. I love doing Assemblages and Collages, first introduced by Matisse, Picasso and Braque-later carried out through by Robert Rauschenberg and other American Pop artists.
I am an Abstract Expressionist and Pop Art enthusiast, thanking these great forefathers for their inspirations being stepping- stones for all artists to come.
“Pop Art is a way of liking things.”
Andy Warhol
http://www.wassilykandinsky.net/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexej_von_Jawlensky
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Rauschenberg
Art is what you can get away-with
What are the five words that people who know you would use to describe you?
Laughing, spiritual, a serious artist, innovative and connecting
Tell us about your very first job and what path have you taken since then?
My very first job was after school working at Friendly’s grilling hamburgers. After graduating High School, I traveled to Europe to study art.
I traveled to see the world, as far as my coins could take me. I wanted to understand different cultures converting this into my art.
Teaching art was fruitful – giving, sharing and taking I ventured on to free-lance positions teaching art in colleges and in my own studios, wherever I lived. Connecting with others is important for artists to evolve, learn and give back to society. Art became my life.
Blue Angel
Describe a typical day in your studio space?
I have no typical days-Coffee with my love. My dog stares at me in the morning to walk her – then I meditate with scents, and vocational figures I’ve collected.
I return to my studio- mostly clean up the mess I left from the night before. Choose the music of my moods and then this takes me right into working on my canvases. Colors and more colors-on my table, used as a palette. The paints speak to me and then the inspirations begin. Very often I carry a topic with me for years, it pops up and the solutions are found in my paintings.
Mostly I have a preset topic. I like working on series.
I work, work and work. My world is my paints, my visions-my art-Narcissist? I guess you could say so. So be it.
As an artist/designer, what is your biggest frustration?
My biggest frustration is the time spent to market my art. I know it is a necessity, never-the-less I feel it takes time away from my actual time to create.
Earning a living as a professional, free-lance artist has not become any easier. Art prints is a venue for buyers to purchase cheaply, making the sales of art more difficult.
Frustrating is also the development of the art scene, allowing everybody to be called “artist.” I needed at least 20 yrs. to call myself such.
Christina and her students in the Malerhof, Germany
Tell us about how you prioritise your studio work.
I try to be honest with my work and myself.
I answer emails asap and stay connected with the collectors of my art.
I’m a member of major social networks.
I stay in touch with galleries and participate in art shows.
And of course I have an elaborate website, blog and stay in touch with the press.
How do you connect with other artists, and your clients (i.e. how do you network)?
Connecting with other artists is fun. I belong to a few art groups, exchanging views of art and the execution. I go to gallery openings to connect with artists and collectors alike. After my relocation from Florida to Maryland, I need to start connecting a new. It’s ok- keeps me going in the right direction.
I keep in touch with the collectors of my art, mostly via email and Internet. I can accomplish this world-wide, which makes it very exciting. Networking is great. I have a wonderful partner in life and in the gallery, a web designer, who has helped me along with the technicalities and I am progressing nicely.
Frida in fields of flowers
What advice can you offer other creative people who are just starting out and following their passions?
Experiment; don’t put yourself in a box or drawer after making an accomplishment. Listen to other artists- some have great tips and also help you out in times of frustration-the will be there.
Trust in yourself and your art.
Be adamant. Don’t give up! Being a professional artist means biting through hard times. Believe in your art.
Be passionate. Live- have fun, read-lots about other artists, philosophers and travel.
If you can do this, then your life will be that of an artist.-very unique and very special.
Learn to enjoy this God- given gift.
“Art is everywhere around us-open your eyes and see.”
Two friends reading under the tree with dog
What dreams do you still want to achieve or fulfil in your life?
My dreams are to show my work in New York, Washington DC, San Francisco, and other large metropoles.
What is your proudest moment so far?
Accomplishing as much as I have – teaching art, designing and executing the school facade in Germany Art in Public Places. I’ve been an Art Curator and teacher, founded and curated “The Malerhof” , an art school for students and adults. I have organized and taught classes in Abstract Painting, Life Drawings with life models, Mixed Media, Art Appreciation and Ceramic Sculpture.
And my proudest Moment is my son, who made his doctorate in law and is an accomplished lawyer and he is a great person!
Maria Magdalena
Who do you most want to meet and why?
Dalai Lama, Shirley MacLaine and Obama and his wife, Michelle.
Dalai Lama is the epiphany for peace in our world. God bless him for his presence. I am a Christian practicing Buddhism. The Dalai Lama is a saint.
Shirley MacLaine is a advocate for metaphysical teachings. Through her books I was inspired to find myself. I think she is a magnificent and courageous person.
Obama- America needs this leader to focus on the collectiveness of our nation. His efforts for Health Care for everybody, his concern about the nutrition, his attempts to keep peace in our world and the trying to balance our Eco System shows of his attempts to fight Congress and its old, conservative, policies, primarily financing and profiting richly from the wars of the past decades.
As an artist, we must all be concerned about politics and the future of our kids and species.
Nativity Scene
What is the most important lesson in life that you have learned?
Believe in yourself. Believe in your art, be adamant and free.
Life is a great experiment.
What book are you reading right now, and do you have a book you would like to recommend?
Eat, Pray, Love-This book is parallel to my life.
I would like to recommend The Law of Attraction.
Where do we find you and your product?
www.jarmolinski.com
www.dekoter.net
www.syzygygallery.com
Arts For Act Gallery –
www.artsforactgallery.com
Twitter
Google Plus
Linked In
Face Book
YouTube
Saatchi Gallery
www.dermalerhof.com
http://www.examiner.com/article/arts-for-act-bids-adieu-to-artist-christina-jarmolinski-with-farewell-show
Are you feeling Inspired?
Do you have a creative passion to share with the ArtSHINE community?
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