"Using Middle America as her muse, Kowch draws the history of a particular place -- invariably rural -- to the surface as it collides with a new reality in layers of metaphor and moodiness. The faces of her women may remind you of characters in a Tim Burton film."
--Steve Parks, Newsday

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

"Women Painting Women"



I'm very happy to be today's featured artist on the great blog Women Painting Women. Check it out!

9 comments:

Vincenzo said...

Absolutely beautiful work...a big thanks to WPW Blog for introducing me to it...kudos to your talent!!!

Andrea Kowch said...

Thank you, Vincenzo!

Words A Day said...

Came over from the wpw blog, I love your work...so really enjoying your posts!

Sheila Vaughan said...

Andrea, like a number of other people I came to your work via the Women Painting Women website. I am so glad I did because I find your interpretations of life fascinating. There are echoes of surrealism, Dorothea Tanning etc. But also an immediate connection with the viewer which the surrealists did not always have (or perhaps aim for). I see your models in the photograph at the top of the blog. Do you plan a paining by first sketching out the ideas? I would love to know more about your process.

Andrea Kowch said...

Hi, Sheila, thank you! Yes, I do first plan a painting through sketches (sometimes several), then after I figure out what I want to do, I photograph my models, then usually do a detailed final drawing (especially for the large paintings). I then transfer the drawing onto canvas, and begin painting once I do a few small color studies to get an overall mood and palette established.

It's a lengthy process, but quite necessary, as my scenes are altered realities, though initially inspired by real feelings and places. They involve taking lots of reference, from my models, to animals, etc. But it's always exciting and I become extremely involved because I feel there is always so much more to learn with each new painting. It's great.

Thanks again for your comments!

Sheila Vaughan said...

Thanks Andrea, that's exactly what I wanted to know. What fascinates me is the "ideas" stage at the very beginning. These ideas seem to come from our intuition almost. Why do we want to place those figures in that context at that time kind of thing. The magic (feeling) has to continue though through the rest of the process some of which can be quite technical. Thanks so much Andrea for sharing this. I'll continue to look out for and enjoy your new work.

Unknown said...

I'm so in love!
You are so amazing and talented!
Your haunting paintings, they are unforgettable.

(I'm a huge fan!)

Andrea Kowch said...

Thanks so much, Kat!

Shelley Whiting said...

I love this picture. It's so haunting and mysterious. A very beautiful piece.