life of an artist

Winter walk

2009-12-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

I took a long walk into the winter woods this morning with my husband. Besides the season of light and love, for me - its the season of sumi-e. Those lovely black forms against a winter white sky, boughs glistening with their first snowfall - magnificent!
I am thrilled again by the beauty of God's creation and filled with the wonder of a child....

Take a walk on the wild side

2009-10-23T13:02:00.000-07:00

For all my friends, family, and dear students.

"Take a walk on the wild side."

This is good for all of us to remember. Go visit your local parks and wild areas. Really experience them. Sit quietly and just breathe, in and out, slowly.

"I had the feeling that this was the first day, the first sunrise, the first time when the earth took a breath.
And I was all alone but I felt I was in the presence of everything around me and I was never alone..."
Shelton Johnson, Yosemite Park Ranger

Honor those places in the world around you and don't forget to honor the wild places within you - they can be your source of strength, peace and creativity.

As the short northern day merged into night...

2009-10-15T17:13:00.000-07:00

I am honored....
This painting of mine recently won a prestigious award at the international juried exhibition 'Sumi-e for Today' in Toronto, Canada. It was juried by the internationally renowned sumi-e artist, William Ho. The international show is on exhibit at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre in Toronto, from Oct 2 through Oct 29, 2009.

This is so exciting for me...

jewel of the aegean

2009-09-07T12:58:00.000-07:00

"paying it forward"

2009-09-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

my work is largely abstract and impressionistic
derived from hours, sometimes days
spent out of doors in contemplation and reverie.

I don’t always go to sketch
but to simply drink in all of my surroundings,
to be at one with the world around me.
I have always felt the power of the land, the beauty of the earth
and through my art yearn to pay forward
just a little of the wild peace and wonder that I find.

ANNOUNCING FALL SUMI-E PAINTING CLASSES

2009-07-31T06:01:00.000-07:00

For more info, go to: http://www.karenssumi-eprints.com/upcoming-sumi-e-classes.php

I'm excited to announce Sumi-e Painting Classes are set!!
At the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art
Classes begin Sept 5!
To reserve your spot, or questions, contact Karen at karenkurkajensen@gmail.com

Enroll early to assure having your materials here for class.
2-hour Sessions on Saturdays in September through December
Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, Cedar Rapids, IA

The Spirit of Sumi-e: Introduction to East Asian Brush Painting
Painting classes with Karen Kurka Jensen at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art

Originating thousands of years ago, ink painting or sumi-e, as it is called, is one of the oldest art forms. Deceptively simple in appearance, sumi-e can be a refuge of inner-peace and self-enlightenment. Learn to find the essence of your subject, its spiritual quality and then how to put the whole world in a brush stroke.

First session starts Sept 5 for 6 weeks. Classes meet for 2 hours. Choose the class time that works for you.

First session : Sept 5 – Oct 17, with a break on Sept 26.
1A: Morning class 10:30-12:30
1B: Afternoon class 1:30-3:30

Second session : Oct 24 – Dec 5, with a break on Nov 28.
2A: Morning class 10:30-12:30
2B: Afternoon class 1:30-3:30

Signup now to secure your place, space is limited.
Tuition: $210/6 weeks.
50% family discount on second tuition if parent and child wish to participate together.
Call Karen at (319) 396-9735 or email karenkurkajensen@gmail.com
register now

Self Defense for Women: Pass it on

2009-07-27T03:49:00.000-07:00

25% raped?

Please help me get the word out. A friend of ours, Jeff Schmatt, jeff@rubicon-photo.com, is teaching a valuable Self-Defense class for College-bound women. Jeff is a professional photographer http://www.rubicon-photo.com/ and a Tai-Chi and self-defense instructor with a heart of gold.

Help people help themselves. Pass the word on.

Hello
Please forward this announcment for a Self-Defense class for College bound women. Please print/forward this email to any young ladies that would benefit from learning some basic self-defense before heading off to college.

In brief the class is this Thursday the 30th at 7 pm until 9 pm, At Elliott’s Uptown Fitness Center –1st Street Building
Mount Vernon, IA. Cost is $25 each or $40 when signed up with a buddy. $30 at the door.
Group rates available. Reservations are recommended.

I attended a special self-defense class this winter and certified by http://www.justyellfire.com/
to teach their basic techniques. I also have over 25 years of martial arts experience and have been teaching martial arts for 20 years. I have been a Tai Chi instructor for the GWAEA College for Kid program of 17 years. This is my first official class under using the name “Circle Out Self-Defense.”

The statistics are not really pleasant for our young women—just one horrifying stat is 1 in 4 young ladies raped before graduating high school; this is one reason why Dallas Jesup creator of JustYellFire.com has developed these basic techniques to help young women empower themselves and reverse these statistics. Miss Jesup’s goal is to get this program as part of high school curriculum so girls will be presented this information four times in high school.

We teach our children fire drills, tornado drills, but what about personal safety drills?? Have you taught your child about how to protect themselves from attack? Have you talked to them what to do or not to do? This class will involve watching the JustYellFire.com DVD and a discussion and the second half will be hands on practicing of these essential defense tactics. We will discuss specific topics for college age women regarding dorm life, parties, and dating.

Thank you for helping spread the word about this event.
Jeff Schmatt
Email: jeff@rubicon-photo.com
Website: http://www.rubicon-photo.com/
319.895.8776

Priscilla Steele's review

2009-07-24T02:05:00.000-07:00

Thank you Priscilla for this review! http://www.campbellsteele.com/blog/
See more of my shikishi boards at http://www.karenkurkajensen.com/shikishi_board_tiles.html

Karen Kurka Jensen / Shikishi boards
Written by Priscilla June 30, 2009, 6:10 pm

Shikishi board #1 / 9.5″ x 10.5″ / $150 (framed) / Karen Kurka Jensen

“Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves; singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating; … refusing to be disheartened… this is what we call the floating world…”Description of the images created by Japanese (ukiyo-e) wood-cut artists Hokusai Katsushika’s Kanagawa Great Wave.

For me, the miraculous abstraction of Karen Kurka Jensen’s “shikishi boards” is a 21st century parallel to the decorative beauty of the wood-cuts of the Japanese ukiyo-e artists. Washes of metallic pigments collapse the illusion of deep space, and, like Hokusai Katsushika’s iconic, “Kanagawa Great Wave”, create a dramatic interplay of convoluted form, line and color. Their visual impact is cosmic and oceanic in nature. This has been the foundation for my on-going affection for these small sumi-e paintings.

'Grace' happened as grace usually does - she was given

2009-07-21T01:19:00.001-07:00

This week I will deliver the original of one of my most favorite pieces, Grace, to its new home, purchased by one of my best friends, Anne & Joe Sara. Grace will have plenty of company, as Anne and Joe own upward of probably 20+ of my paintings. Their home is a virtual museum/gallery of my work, representing every phase and style of my painting as it has evolved. I couldn't be more thrilled that Grace is owned by these wonderful friends.

Grace was born through near-failure, and while the image represents that process, the name, Grace, represents the story of my life, as my past is not made up of always making the right decisions, yet here I am now, filled with a life of blessings.

I was painting with Susan Frame, my mentor, teacher, and friend, along the Minnesota northshore, in Grand Marais. Susan teaches a workshop there every summer, which is a place where I return to every year, to fill my spirit.

After a long, frustrating day of painting, part of this image emerged, but it wasn't looking right, it wasn't enough. Another failure, I thought, ready to toss it away, as I have in the past. I asked Susan for her advice and she gently instructed " maybe just a little touch of color here, a little there" - and then she let me be. I still wasn't sure I could salvage it.

But I took a deep breath, released it slowly, touched my brush to the paper, and...grace flowed - through me, through my brush, on to the paper.

It was enough.
You know, grace is always enough.

teaching

2009-07-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

my kids are so fun... and so talented!
I'm teaching beginning sumi-e to middle schoolers during the College for Kids program at Coe College
oh my... the talent...
more than anything i want to expose them to a new way of seeing
that the world around them is alive
they are a part of it as it is a part of them
very zen
but very relevant
even today
if this world is to continue to roll across the universe
we all need to see (feel, breathe, touch, hear) and respect our relationship to our environment
we need responsive, compassionate people
can sumi-e teach this?
i believe it can
so i teach

Sumi-e

2009-07-11T08:49:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to teach again has brought me words for my work.

Sumi-e is about touching the world around you
with all your senses,
and in turn, letting the world touch you
then learning to express that touch in the language of brush and ink.

yesterday

2009-07-11T08:43:00.000-07:00

trying to get back in the saddle with painting. why so difficult?
it's been more than a few days with marketing, trying to write a grant proposal and getting ready for teaching again.
if I could only apply for the grant using my brushwork instead of wordwork...

okay, back to painting...

Mounting work

2009-06-02T16:48:00.000-07:00

today was about drudge work
i had to mount my paintings
have to when you paint ink on rice paper
preserves the work
but its intense
what happens if you rip the fragile paper?
what happens if your colors run?
what if you can't get the wrinkles out...what if you create more?
actually its more exciting than I thought
because i could really lose a painting
its keeps you on the edge
and then the finished product
amazing
with the white paper backing
it just pops
sometimes this is what i live for

2009-06-02T16:39:00.000-07:00

i believe in magic.
always have
i'm a believer but i think God included magic in the recipe.
couldn't believe the beauty in the unfolding of a bud, still can't...
or in a handful of ice crystals dripping on a winter's bright morning
or the depths of a child's eyes
its why i paint, why i've always wanted to paint...
what about you?

today

2009-05-31T15:44:00.000-07:00

okay, I'm starting to enter the 21st century (finally, my husband would say...)
I have a blog
this is been a difficult decision for me especially as an artist as i have much resistance in spending my time here rather than outdoors or in my studio
who else feels this way?
am I just reluctant to learn something new?