Throughout the year, the Arts Council of Anne Arundel County and What’s Up? Media have partnered to bring forth quarterly exhibitions of local artists’ works—painting and photography chief among many mediums. These exhibitions have served as a springboard to promote the arts in our county and the artistic souls within each of us. Not surprisingly, as the exhibitions have gained attention, so too have the number of contributing artists who submit their works of art for jurying. And we are fortunate to have been introduced to many artists that live and work in our communities. Two of last year’s exhibition themes, “Bright Colors of Spring” and “Artists’ Favorites,” were popular and produced amazing entries. The Best in Show honorees from each of these two exhibitions—Carolyn Councell, Christalene Karaiskakis, Sunhee Kim Jung, and Andree Tullier—have shared their inspirations, approach, and advice in the following Q&A.
What’s Up? Media: What inspired you to pursue art as a vocation?
Carolyn Councell: Exposure to museums, schools, environment, and encouragement from family, friends, teachers, and scholarships from MICA.
Christalene Karaiskakis: Art is simply a way of expressing myself. Connecting my soul with canvas. I consider my artwork like a crystal. It will pick you. You will know if it belongs to you or if it resonates with you. You’ll feel the energy I’ve invested while creating it.
Gabriel by Andree Tullier
Sunhee Kim Jung: I was born in Seoul Korea. I was 22 when I came to the U.S. with very little English skills. It’s still challenging. I went to Catholic University for first three years. I met Professor John Winslow as my painting and drawing professor, and Prof. Tom Nakashima as my 2-D design professor. They are well known D.C. artists and both recognized my talent. Prof. Winslow introduced Corcoran College of Art to me. I even got invited to Prof. Nakashima’s Christmas party at his house. I was insecure but persevered. And I enjoyed the art courses. When I was painting or drawing, I didn’t have to worry about any mistakes, I didn’t have to worry about grammar or misusing words. All of my artworks are an expression of my feelings since English is a second language for me. Communication through my paintings and other artwork became very desirable.
Andree Tullier: After many years in the graphic design field, I decided to pursue my love of fine art and focus on the portrait and figure.
Who were your earliest artistic influences and who are contemporary inspirations today?
CC: Childhood classes at the Baltimore Museum of Art and The Maryland Institute of Art. I was also influenced by artists such as Winslow Homer, John Singer Sargent, and Andrew Wyeth, among others. Some of the contemporary influences are Chuck Close, Willard Bond, Charles Reid, Skip Lawrence, Shirley Travena, and many others.
CK: My earliest influences have been my surroundings, my experiences, travels, people I’ve crossed paths with. My Inspiration is everywhere really. From carpets to songs. Everywhere I go.
Inner Journey by Christalene Karaiskakis
SKJ: At the second year at Corcoran, when I saw Hans Hoffman’s colorful painting for the first time, I could feel my heart race. The strong and bright yet harmonious colors created a sense of mystery and novelty. During school years at Corcoran, I met Prof. Tom Green who was huge a mentor and supporter. Unfortunately, he passed away few years ago. He is a great artist. I had an opportunity to have exhibition at the National Cathedral in D.C. on Earth Day, and at the French Embassy in my senior year. His paintings and his ethics are absolutely inspired my life as an artist.
AT: The Impressionists of the 19th century, such as Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, were my early influences from high school on and still to this day. And John Singer Sargent, Alexander Thayer, Cecilia Beaux.
What is your approach to creating a new piece of artwork? Do you have any special processes?
CC: Various ways. Sometimes I want to experiment with paint, color, and shapes. Other times, I have an idea for a painting, which can come from numerous inspirations and resources. I do value and color studies to create my compositions and formulate my ideas for a painting.
CK: My approach to creating a new piece of artwork is simply closing my eyes, putting on some American flute music or listening to the Devi Prayer, and allowing my mind to show me the outcome and work backwards. Or to see the title of the theme and intuitively create it without knowing the outcome until the very end. It varies.
SKJ: I am very excited for the upcoming trip to Thailand next March for the mural project to benefit a nonprofit organization that houses rescued trafficked and exploited children of Burma and Thailand. I expect this experience will have a profound impact on my perspective on how arts play a role in the world. I hope it will give some perspective to those children. I received Ahl Foundation, Andrew & Barbara Choi Family Grant 2019 for this project.
Regatta by Carolyn Councell
What is your favorite medium to work with and how would you describe your artwork?
CC: Watercolor and acrylic are my usual choices. I also enjoy mixed media and oil mediums. I describe my artwork as trying to be expressive and always attempting to perfect and enhance the subject.
CK: My favorite mediums to work with are acrylic paints, acrylic markers, and water colors.
SKJ: My works are mostly oil paintings. I paint lots of plants. Because the plants and people, they are very much alike. We have the same essential needs, foods, water, light, and air. We are created, we go through a life cycle. I thought, we are very much connected. Kristi-Anne Caisse described my paintings, “She concentrates on the leaves and petals of the plant, mindfully employing striking colors that portray the personality and shades of feelings of the plants.”
AT: This is not easy to answer. Each medium—charcoal, pastel, and oil paint—has its own technique that I find fascinating to work with. Charcoal is a forgiving medium and it’s a great introductory medium when pursuing the arts. Pastel has a certain look when the layering factor lets the layers underneath merge with the pastels that are added.
How were you introduced to the Arts Council and how has that relationship impacted your artwork?
CC: I was introduced to the Council by way of the Internet. They have been very helpful and encouraging opportunities to exhibit my artwork.
CK: I was introduced to the Council through the Chesapeake Arts Center. I used to be their education coordinator.
SKJ: The County Executive appointed me to the Arts Council. It has allowed me to meet many different artists with different styles and approach. And that has allowed me to broaden my perspective.
AT: I first started submitting to exhibitions just a few years ago. I’m looking forward to connecting with the Arts Council and the community more.
Color 3 by Sunhee Kim Jung
What was your thought process as you painted your Best in Show work?
CC: As I painted Regatta, there was the desire to express the feeling of racing sailboats in beautiful color, dynamic brushwork, correct drawing, and rendering of the media.
CK: [It] was simply a vision I instantly received when I heard the title. It was one day before the entry for the exhibit and I got to work and created for six hours straight and ended up with the winning piece out of 90 entries. I was blown away that it won. I visualized a massive coloring page with flowers.
SKJ: I revisited and delved into the theory of color relativity. Interaction of Color by Josef Albers influenced my work in that period of works, as I experimented with color arrangement with value (light and dark) and intensity (brightness and dullness) with specific color schemes.
AT: Gabriel was visiting Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts with his family during the ArtFest. A model was posing for me as I drew her portrait. Gabe was very interested in posing. Soon he and his brother posed for my teen portrait class. The pose and expression that I chose was of a determined and confident young man.
Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?
CC: Keep learning, drawing, and pursuing your artistic desires. Take classes in various form of art and enter art shows. Do not get too discouraged by rejection from art shows. Keep trying.
CK: Have no inhibitions. There is no right or wrong. I never studied art. I was always afraid that I would restrict myself and not takes as many risks. I paint how I feel. I just allow. I enjoy the journey of creating and not just getting to the destination.
SKJ: Be yourself and persevere!
AT: Find great teachers that paint like you want to paint. Ask for advice and guidance.
