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Karen Rieger
'Colour is of prime interest in my work, conveying mood and a sense of beauty and sensuality. I use relatively flat areas of colour to emphasize that the painting is an entity in itself rather than a representation of an object. The use of pattern that unites the foreground and background, and an avoidance of the use of perspective, enhances this approach. I am not trying to create an illusion of reality but rather a new version of it.
My most important influences are the works of Klimt, Matisse, Modigliani and Gauguin, as well as sources as diverse as Japanese prints, Persian motifs and the textile patterns of 18th century Europe. I see my art as a dialogue between my imagination and the past, but the actual experience of painting does not come from an intellectual place. When I stand in front of the canvas I may have a vague idea or specific inspiration that begins the idea for the painting - it may be a combination of colours, a pattern or the model's pose that begins the idea, but the painting then seems to paint itself - revealing itself as much to me as it does to the final viewer. I do not begin with preparatory sketches or a defined composition in my mind so that the process of creating the painting remains exciting and mysterious to me.
I draw the composition directly on to the canvas with the brush, beginning with the figure or pot of flowers and creating the surrounding environment as I go. When the composition is completed with the various elements in place, I then begin the underpainting. After a few days when the underpainting is dry I apply more layers of paint to the surface, allowing the colour of the underpainting to show through, creating a richness and a debth to the surface colour. This method requires that I have several canvases on the go at the same time, starting another while the underpainting dries on the previous one. I use a model for my figures or a pose from an old master's painting, however the faces are from my imagination, the features generalized to suggest a universality rather that a specific person. The still life may come from a bouquet on my table, an arrangement in my garden or many times they simply erupt full blown from my imagination.'
Woman With Ivory Dress And White Roses
Oil On Canvas
48" x 48"
$3250 CDN Unframed
Evening
Oil On Canvas
48" x 48"
$3250 CDN Unframed
Woman With Azure Gown
Oil On Canvas
48" x 36"
$2850 CDN Unframed
Florentine With Red Roses
Oil On Canvas
40" x 30"
$2400 CDN Unframed
Parisian Gown
Oil On Canvas
60" x 30"
$3100 CDN Unframed
Woman With Red Gown And Roses
Oil On Canvas
24" x 24"
$1950 CDN Framed
Viennese Afternnon
Oil On Canvas
24" x 24"
$1950 CDN Framed
NEW Woman With Red Gown
Oil On Canvas
20" x 20"
$1600 CDN Framed
Woman With Pears
Oil On Canvas
20" x 16"
$1450 CDN Framed
NEW Poire
Oil On Canvas
16" x 16"
$1300 CDN Framed
Woman With Winter Landscape
Oil On Canvas
24" x 12"
$1450 CDN Framed
NEW Woman With Blue Gown And Landscape
Oil On Canvas
10" x 8"
$700 CDN Framed
Evening
Oil On Canvas
12" x 6"
$600 CDN Unframed
Woman With White Gown
Oil On Canvas
12" x 6"
SOLD
Red Bouquet
Oil On Canvas
36" x 48"
$2250 CDN Unframed
Red Gerberas
Oil On Canvas
48" x 48"
$2575 CDN Unframed
Roses, Tulips And Anemones
Oil On Canvas
36" x 48"
$2250 CDN Unframed
Viennese Vase With Red Roses
Oil On Canvas
30" x 40"
$1875 CDN Unframed
Ivory Vase With Summer Blooms
Oil On Canvas
40" x 30"
$1875 CDN Unframed
White Roses with Art Nouveau Vase
Oil On Canvas
36" x 18"
$1450 CDN Unframed
Rosa Milesia With Checks
Oil On Canvas
36" x 18"
$1450 CDN Unframed
NEW White Roses With Umber Vase
Oil On Canvas
10" x 10"
$650 CDN Framed
MagazinArt (Summer 2007) - featuring article about Karen Rieger
Periodical
11" x 8"
$11.95 CDN Unframed

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EDUCATION
1984-88 Ontario College of Art
1981-83 The Art Centre, Central Technical School
1978-81 University of Toronto, Liberal Arts Program

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
1994 Canadian Society of Painters in Watercolour - Elected Member

CORPORATE AND PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
CSPWC Diploma Collection, Art Gallery of Peel, Peel, Ontario
 
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