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Truly Love Ridden

To say that 2014 has been an emotional roller coaster so far, is a gross understatement. During the early part of the year I found myself struggling through a toxic mix of emotions I wasn’t sure I would be able to surface from, but as things slowly started to get better, I started to do what many artists before me have done, and put those powerful emotions to good use and use them to drive my work forward. It seemed like the perfect time to tackle on of the artists that has been on my “In the style of…” artists list since near the project’s inception: Oleg Dou. I’ve often found similarities between myself and Oleg Dou, both within his personal philosophy regarding his work:

“I am looking for something bordering between the beautiful and the repulsive, living and dead…” (x)

and the process used in attaining that work:

“Some people call me a photographer. It’s not true. I’m an artist who uses photography as a medium for my works” (x)

It is these similarities which have prevented me from taking on his work up to this point. I felt doing a self portrait reflective of his tears series was a good way to channel the tumultuous start I had to the year into paying homage to an artist I hold great respect for. Showing this piece as part of my final group exhibition as an artist at The Hive Artists’ Hub has been, in itself bittersweet for me. I will miss my dear friends that I’ve made in my 3 1/2 year journey as part of the hive family, but know that the connections I have made there will always be part of my life.

Love Ridden: ITSO Oleg Dou

Love Ridden: In the Style of Oleg Dou, 2014

As part of the same exhibition, I decided to do a tribute photo to another personal hero. This one from my childhood. What better way to lighten the mood and soothe tattered emotions than to assume an alter ego? Plus, I have the hair, so dressing up as Jem was a given, really.

Jem

Truly Truly Truly, 2014

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May 2nd Roving Art Reception

May 2nd Art Walk Invite

When the invite for next Friday’s Downtown Art Walk’s Roving Art Reception went to the printers, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to take part, but despite my name not being on the invite, I will be part of the group exhibition at The Hive Artists’ Hub. Sadly, this will be my last exhibition as a studio artist at the hive. After three and a half years there in different roles during its varied incarnations, I am at a period of transition in my life and have, at least for the time being, given up my studio there. It’s a bittersweet change, in a year that has already proven to be a big transition for me, but I look forward to what the future holds. To celebrate, I’ve got, not one, but two new pieces to share.

So, to all of you that have come out to support the Art Walk during my time there, or those of you who have wanted to but haven’t had the chance, come out on May 2, 2014 and say hello/goodbye.

ITSOODpreview
The main piece I’ll be showing, is the latest in the “In the Style of…” series. 2014 has been an emotional roller coaster for me so far, and taking on this emotionally charge piece has been quite cathartic.

 

May2-childhood-preview
The second piece is a bit of fun to make up for the heavy emotions of the first. Part of my Persona series, it will bring you back a few decades and perhaps pass on an earworm. 

 

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In the Style of Francesco Clemente

In the Style of Francesco Clemente September 2013

In the Style of Francesco Clemente
September 2013

Francesco Clemente was suggested to me by my studio-mate Wendy Struck to be included as part of my In the Style of . . . series. This piece was shown at The Hive Artists’ Hub last month as part of the Alberta Culture Days: Roving Art Reception.

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Knight Sisters’ Road Trip 2013

I spent the first two weeks of September on the road with my best friend, my sister Marjorie. The destination, although amazing wasn’t the only important part of the journey. The trip was centered around attending the Guthrie, Oklahoma stopover of The Gentlemen of the Road festival.

ksrt13

We took the long way there, and the long way home, travelling through a total of 12 states along the way. I brought 4 cameras with me and took too many photos to even think clearly about, but I wanted to share the trip with you while it’s still fairly fresh in my mind, so I present to you, Knight Sisters’ road trip 2013 in Instagram photos!

day 1

Day 1: Montana

Day 2: Wyoming

Day 2: Wyoming

wyoming 2

Devil’s Tower, Wyoming

Day 2: South Dakota

Day 2: South Dakota

South Dakota Animal Cookies

South Dakota Animal Cookies

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Day 3: South Dakota

Day 3: South Dakota

Day 3: Nebraska

Day 3: Nebraska

Day 4: Nebraska

Day 4: Nebraska

Penny's Dinner, North Platte, Nebraska

Penny’s Dinner, North Platte, Nebraska

Day 4: Kansas

Day 4: Kansas

Kansas is flat!

Kansas is flat!

Rock City Park, Minneapolis, Kansas

Rock City Park, Minneapolis, Kansas

The Linger Longer, Bennington, Kansas

The Linger Longer, Bennington, Kansas

 

gotr 4

Day 7: Arcadia, Oklahoma (before GOTR day 2)

Day 7: Arcadia, Oklahoma (before GOTR day 2)

Day 8: Oklahoma

Day 8: Oklahoma

Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma

Route 66 Museum in Clinton, Oklahoma

Day 8: Texas

Day 8: Texas

Day 8: Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas

Day 8: Cadillac Ranch, Amarillo, Texas

Day 8: New Mexico

Day 8: New Mexico

Day 9: New Mexico

Day 9: New Mexico

Day 9: Colorado

Day 9: Colorado

Day 10: Colorado

Day 10: Colorado

Mesa Verde, Colorado

Mesa Verde, Colorado

Four Corners

Four Corners

Day 10 Arizona

Day 10 Arizona

We had to drive through a flood in Norther New Mexico / Arizona after the rains caused a damn to break

We had to drive through a flood in Norther New Mexico / Arizona after the rains caused a damn to break

Day 11: Arizona

Day 11: Arizona

Day 12: Arizona

Day 12: Arizona

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon

Elephant Legs

Elephant Legs

Day 12: Utah

Day 12: Utah

Wilson Arch

Wilson Arch

Day 13, Utah

Day 13, Utah

Day 13: Idaho

Day 13: Idaho

Day 13: Montana

Day 13: Montana

Helena Montana

Helena Montana

Day 14: Alberta

Day 14: Alberta

 

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Friday: Roving Reception!

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The first Downtown Art Walk Roving Reception of the year is this Friday! Come down and check out the numerous locations participating with various art exhibits, live music and refreshments. Both the Gallery/Studio location and the Boutique for The HIve Artists’ Hub will be open. Come and check out our group exhibit. I’ve got four small pieces submitted to the show. Here’s a peek at one of them.

Venerable Mother

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“Draw if you want to, Darling.”

Nanny face doodle 2

When I was 7/8 years old my Nanny lived with us for a short while. She was the first person to ever encourage my artistic side. I remember sulking after having being given a lecture about doodling in my notebook rather ant paying attention in class (would have been 2nd grade), and Nanny sitting beside me at the dining room table where I was doing my homework. She told me that it was okay to draw if I wanted to as long as I still way paying attention, too. Then she asked me if I wanted to see what she could draw. Taking my pencil and flipping over my homework, she drew a simple sketch of a woman’s profile. 

When we were going through her things after her death earlier this month, we came across a zip-lock sandwich bag that had several pages torn from a small coiled notebook, all with a sketch of a lady in profile on them.
This is one of them.

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INSPIRED: In the Style of Edward Hopper

The latest piece in my In the Style of… series is a bit of a departure from the typical “portrait” the rest of the series involves. It was created for a group show that opened at The Hive Artists’ Hub on Friday September 28, 2012 entitled Let’s Do It Downtown. This is intended to be the first piece of a mini series with in the over all series, which will be all be in the style of Edward Hopper, and be set in various locations around Medicine Hat.

Edward Hopper (July 22, 1882 – May 15, 1967) was an American realist known primarily for his oil painting, but also worked in watercolour, printmaking and etching throughout his career.

Hopper’s most systematic declaration of his philosophy as an artist was given in a handwritten note, titled “Statement”, submitted in 1953 to the journal, Reality:

Great art is the outward expression of an inner life in the artist, and this inner life will result in his personal vision of the world. No amount of skilful invention can replace the essential element of imagination. One of the weaknesses of much abstract painting is the attempt to substitute the inventions of the human intellect for a private imaginative conception.
The inner life of a human being is a vast and varied realm and does not concern itself alone with stimulating arrangements of color, form and design.
The term life used in art is something not to be held in contempt, for it implies all of existence and the province of art is to react to it and not to shun it.
Painting will have to deal more fully and less obliquely with life and nature’s phenomena before it can again become great.
(source)

 

 

The making of “In the Style of Edward Hopper” from Susan Knight on Vimeo.

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Kaunas Photo 2012

Eager presented their Follow the Red Line project at Kaunas Photo 2012. I had the honour of being one of the artists selected to have a photo included in the exhibition. She more photos from the event on Eager’s facebook page.

Petra Oldengarm

Eager is trying to reach 2012 photos in the Follow the Red Line series before the end of the year. Take a look at the submissions so far, and consider submitting a photo yourself!