Presents
On the Threshold: Ellen Howard, Tia Kratter and Kim Lordier
3 Women, 3 Mediums, 3 Views
July 22 through August 26, 2023
Reception for the artists, Saturday, July 22, 2023
From 2 - 4 PM
Exhibition co-curated by Tim Holton and Ellen Howard
To simply have the opportunity to admire three exceptional painting talents seems reason enough for a show featuring Ellen Howard, Tia Kratter, and Kim Lordier. But this is a show with an especially compelling and timely theme. The pictures are inspired by the notion of thresholds-transitional and often transformational passages in both space and time, when matters undergo qualitative shifts. Imbued with significance and meaning, thresholds and liminality (from the Latin word for threshold, limen) have always been a motive for the arts. But in human history, the significance of thresholds is felt most acutely in transformational ages such as ours.
In this show, each of the artists has focused on one expression or example of the threshold theme- seasonal changes, boundaries between abstraction and reality, dusk and dawn.
It's worth noting, though, that picture-making itself, as a creative act, is the crossing of a threshold, a becoming. Something in the world catches the eye of the artist, meets the human spirit, and is transmuted by the artist's hands into a fresh picture, a new prospect, a new possibility. Crossing the threshold of the frame, the visual image conceived and transmuted through the human spirit-observed, imagined, remembered- is made present again (re-presented), joining present reality and offering to affect the world it encounters. -Tim Holton, The Holton Studio Gallery
OIL PAINT
Feeling the juiciness and richness of the thick paint on my brush and applying it to the canvas is a true joy! I also relish the challenge of mixing colors; the options are limitless. - ELLEN HOWARD
ELLEN HOWARD
The threshold of each new season is a space in time for us to look at what has been and what is to come. The paintings in this show represent my creative journey, from the quiet dormancy of winter to the exuberance of spring, vitality of summer and the warm comforts of fall. Painting through the seasons allows me to boldly embrace change and listen deeply with intention to my creative calling.
Favorite Walk Home
In my painting, "Favorite Walk Home," I wanted to capture a feeling of nostalgic beauty. This path is one of the regular hikes that I take, and it is a special place for me. My painting depicts a well-worn path winding through vibrant, blooming flowers, leading towards home. I tried to evoke emotions that would transport the viewer to a cherished place of solace and comfort. It is my hope that this work invites the viewers to embark on a personal journey, evoking memories, and stirring the imagination.
Interconnected
In my painting, “Interconnected,” I wanted to portray the intricate web of relationships and inter-dependencies that define our existence through the beauty of the aspen trees. I enjoyed working with a higher-key palette and mixing the variety of vibrant yellow and oranges occurring in the vast aspen groves. This palette reminds me of the comforts of home and the subtle changes in our environment as we say goodbye to summer and welcome the slower pace of the fall season. My hope for this piece is that it serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of humanity and our shared responsibility to protect and cherish our planet. It invites contemplation and reflection, prompting a deeper appreciation for the delicate balance and beauty that surrounds us.
Springtime at the Baylands
In my painting, Springtime at the Baylands, I depict a vibrant scene brimming with life and color. The painting showcases a tranquil Baylands environment, teeming with lush grasses, graceful eucalyptus trees, and majestic mountains. I enjoyed working with a vibrant palette of spring hues that imbued the artwork with a sense of joy and vitality. In “Springtime at the Baylands” I wanted to evoke a profound connection with nature and inspire a renewed appreciation for the changing seasons and rebirth that occurs in the spring.
Light Dusting
Light Dusting is about the ethereal beauty of a winter landscape touched by a gentle snowfall. Tahoe is one of my favorite places to paint and I was lucky to visit it on a day when we received the first snowfall of the season. Painting the winter landscape allows you to work with a subdued palette of cool blues and whites which I feel lends to the painting's overall sense of tranquility and evokes a feeling of peacefulness. The winter season serves as a gentle reminder to slow down and appreciate the subtle beauty that can be found in the simplest of moments. It is my hope that this work exudes a sense of serenity and offers a respite from the busyness of everyday life.
WATERCOLOR
I love how watercolor behaves. I may have a big, complex painting on my board, but I can get caught up in the raw minutia of how it works- the actual flow of the paint; how it drops into the valleys of the paper, how it moves when it’s really wet and gravity is pulling it in a specific direction, how some pigments are heavier than others and there’s a raw separation of color. -TIA KRATTER
TIA KRATTER
Threshold: that sensitive fine line between abstract and reality; what we think we should see and what is reality. There's an opportunity to look more carefully at that tipping point; whether it's a reflection, a play of light, or perhaps the translucency of objects.
I aim to look for visuals that blur the line between real and abstraction.
Walk With Catherine
If I had to pick one street in San Francisco that I had to commit to for all my reference, handsdown it would be Grant Street in Chinatown. I am continuously returning there for superb images. Whether it’s the ornate architecture, the cacophony of trinkets in stores, or the unique food, I love it all. During an early-morning walk with a great friend, the light cutting through the street was casting all sorts of complex and interesting shadows onto buildings. My favorite part of doing this particular painting was capturing those shadows cast by the fire escape. I didn’t really even notice it when I was taking the photo, but it was something that would speak to me later. Sometimes I’ll take photo reference because one thing appeals to me, and later, after going through my images something else will jump forward that inspires me to paint.
Taxi Stand
I’m challenged by watercolor’s actions. It’s hard to alter the paint once it lands on paper. I can’t paint over a mistake or erase what’s landed. That forces me to be very mindful of how I apply paint as well as accept those things as I drop them on the surface. Sometimes there are new discoveries to be made when I physically apply the paint to paper, and I have grown to love its spontaneity.
Serengeti Reflections
We’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Africa a few times, and while I’m not an animal artist, I find the colors and patterns of Tanzania’s various cultures incredibly appealing. Before heading out on safari very early one morning we quickly downed our requisite coffee, and I spotted a water glass that was reflecting the placemats on the table. I may have been sleep-deprived and pretty hazy but I knew there was a fantastic image at hand and snapped a few photos. As I was working on this painting I thought of it almost as if I was painting a quilt with it’s partitioned color blocks. I ignored that it was a glass on a placemat and simply observed the various color shapes. I tend to gravitate towards pattern so this subject matter, though different from what I usually do, was very rewarding to paint.
Distorted Protea
This is a painting where I embraced odd proportions. I was interested in how the bulk of the flower dwarfed its tiny vase. I am always drawn to painting certain objects: looking through water and how it distorts shapes, crumbled paper, patterned fabrics. I like to set up my own still lives, photograph them, and look for secondary details that might be overlooked. This protea offered a nice chance to look at a familiar object in an unusual way.
PASTELS
Playing with pure pigment is like dancing with color. My hand moves across the sanded surface lightly glazing, then firmly pressing, with a staccato ending. I'm ever grateful for the opportunity to visually express my voice with the pastel medium, examining the patterns of nature and how light transforms the mood of an environment. - KIM LORDIER
KIM LORDIER
Threshold
As the sun descends behind the earth, we sit within the threshold of darkness. Richly painted skies sink to the depths of our souls. A whisper of singing light floats naked on the undulating water ways, while the marsh reeds and stately Cottonwoods meet the edge of night.
Morning serenades. Bird song, rippling water and the buzz of flying critters break the silent sun rising. Pastel skies promise the beginning of a new day.
This series of paintings are based on the exploration of dusk to dawn. Illuminated crossings through a threshold of light and absence of detail.
Evening's Threshold
This piece sang to me. From the first strokes of my under-painting I felt the calming atmosphere emerge, and then pushed the drama with dancing lights. Much like that feeling of awe before the sun sinks low and the quiet descends.
On the Threshold:
Ellen Howard, Tia Kratter, Kim Lordier
3 Women, 3 Mediums, 3 Views
at
July 22 through August 26, 2023
Please join us for a reception for the artists,