RMSBA Gallery Featuring Barb Schwarz Karst

Latan Palm

Burnt Branches

Essence

About the Artist

When I paint plant life, I feel a Zen begin to happen. I find studying a river tree branch much more intriguing than painting an entire landscape because I can actually hold the stem in my hand, turn it to study the three-dimensional structure, and get to know it as one of the precious components that make up Montana’s breathtaking beauty. I then sit quietly, listen, and focus on one of its leaves. During my tranquil observation, I realize there is nothing more pure and delicate, yet complicated and sophisticated as this natural phenomenon. I paint them because they ground me. They remind me of my own part of this living world.

My subject matter has varied throughout the past thirty years; however, botanicals are recurring rudiments that are woven throughout my artistic development, time after time reintroducing themselves to me as long lost friends.

One of my personal favorites, the Palm, was painted in Montana even though I took the original photo from which it was derived in Miami. I view it with respect and fondness because it represents a monumental turning point in my artistic career, the first painting I ever displayed in New York City. In turn, Essence is the one painting that started my immense interest in botanical art. Both of these paintings are quite large in scale; giving them a contemporary flair.

The Big Sky Country has been my beloved home and my greatest muse during my entire lifetime. Whether her beauty was natural or man–made, historic or contemporary, wealthy or poor, I continue to find inspiration in all that Montana has to offer. Consequently, my artwork is influenced by Montana’s broad variety of complex peoples, livelihoods, machinery, architecture, and nature. One would think, with my deep dedication for this state, I would be enthralled with painting high plain grasslands or grandiose mountains. But, instead, I have become more intimate with the land. I hone in and focus on its smaller components: bear grass, a leaf partially eaten by an insect intruder, a red onion freshly plucked from the garden, etc.

Barb Schwarz Karst is best known as a Montana painter who blends traditional media and subject matters with splashes of contemporary freshness. Her various genres include botanical fabrications, mechanical close-ups, and non-objective landscapes. She “pushes the envelope” by manipulating oils and acrylics into captivating and intriguing designs.

Her work has been featured in worldwide and domestic exhibitions, publicized in several books and magazines, featured in many one-person shows, and has been acquired and housed in permanent collections of museums, corporate, private, and traveling collections throughout the country.

She has showed in New York City four times, as an active member, with NSPCA at the Salmagundi Club. Recently, she was selected by the Smithsonian Affiliation museum, The Museum of the Rockies, as one of their MORart artists.

In 2008, Barb’s Latan Palm was featured on the June front cover of The Botanical Artist Magazine. Also, her retrospective botanical solo show, Fruits of Labor: The Cornucopia Collection, recently wrapped up.

Schwarz Karst’s formal education, training, and experiences include receiving, twice, a fellowship and mentorship with TICA with The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Also, she was selected to be involved in the Creative Capital Campaign in correlation with the Andy Warhol Foundation, the Montana Arts Council, and the Montana World Trade Center. She graduated with a MIS graduate art degree from the University of Montana and a B.S. in Art Education from MSU-Billings.

She is represented by the Jest Gallery, SKS Art Company, and Talc Gallery. Go to www.schwarzkarststudio.com for further information.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Images