Q: Alix, as featured artist of Art Central Gallery this month, tell us about your newest body of work . . .
Alix Kassing: In the series “Koi Pond Reflections” I worked in mixed media – using a combination of acrylics, medium and Indian inks. I have always been inspired by the contrasting beauty of koi ponds. I love the way the fish dart and move to the surface, capturing a glint of light on their bodies and then quickly re-submerging to the dark depths below. In these paintings, I have used an abstract technique on the water and a more representational presentation of the koi to highlight this contrast. The “reflections” part of my title refers to the play of light on the water as well as a reflection back to my grandmother, my first painting instructor. She taught me the abstract technique I used to create the water in this series. As I worked on these pieces, I recalled the many times we spent working together in her studio. For the subject of the koi, I am also inspired by Chinese brush paintings which treat them so simply, and yet with such graceful beauty.
Q: Have you always painted in acrylics?
AK: I have experimented with various media throughout the years, but find myself returning to acrylics which is what I really began with. I truly enjoy their versatility – I can use acrylics to paint thin like watercolor or thick like oils. I also love to paint quickly and in rich, bright color, so acrylics are ideal.
Q: How’d you get started as an artist?
AK: My mother and grandmother were artists, so I was around art all the time growing up. My sisters and I always entered pieces in the county fair and small local art contests. I continued to take classes through the years in school, but in college I was mostly interested in art by studying art history rather than creating art myself. When I lived in Paris, France for five years, I began to become more serious about studio art again. It was such an inspiration to visit the museums of Paris and see the work up close in person. That’s when I realized that art for me was a lifelong passion rather than just a hobby.
Q: If you had to pick one of your four children to be the future artist in your family, which one would it be and why?
AK: I’m going to have to pick my son, Dominic, 4, as the future artist, although all of my children have exhibited artistic talent. He has just always been obsessed with painting; so much so that I have had to watch to make sure he doesn’t sneak into my studio and “help” me with my paintings. He has his own easel in there now, but still can’t seem to help drawing on the walls and other objects around the house. And his work is sometimes so imaginative that it’s hard to get mad at him. I look forward to seeing what he does when he’s older.
Q: What is your favorite color? Has that changed over the years? Why?
AK: I have always loved purples and violets, even as a kid. Purple is a complex color – a mixture of a warm red and a cool blue – and therefore, can evoke different emotions depending on the shade and how it’s used. I like to use a deep purple when I paint in dark shadows or to add an element of mystery. Light purple, on the other hand is fun like a pink, but still has a seriousness about it, like a blue. I tend to use purples when I paint in place of black or gray, which I almost never use on my palette.
To see Ms. Kassing’s paintings, please visit Art Central Gallery, 130 (Short) Central Ave. (843-871-0297). For additional examples, visit her website at www.alexandrakassing.com.