Interview
Karina Woldt
Karina is a contemporary artist born in Munich with over 40 years of experience in fine art. She studied fine Art and Psychology to a masters degree level at the University of Regensburg, Germany until 1999. Her artwork has been heavily influenced initially by impressionism (e.g. Van Gogh ), and Turner for his sense of light. But she also takes from contemporary artists such as Marina Syntelis or Annette Schmucker who work with colour and various textures to create magical pieces of contemporary art. Karina works from her studio in the picturesque countryside of Dumfries and Galloway. But she also has a big connection with Portobello were she resides parttime. The surrounding beaches provide inspiration for her various seascapes, which explore the movement of the sea or the reflection of the sun. Her work has been heavily influenced by her love of the outdoors especially the sea and hills in Scotlands’ Lowlands and Highlands. Her aim with her art is to bring a sense of hope and positive energy into her audiences homes.
In today's fast-paced and stressful world, her art is designed to evoke either a sense of resilience or tranquility. Karina’s art is known for using vivid colour, creating a sense of depth with various textures which tend to highlight the movement in nature or transcending light. Her clientele seem to enjoy the depth of her paintings, her rich palette and the sense of calm her paintings evoke. She mentions also being influenced in her art work from mindfulness and Taoist principles. In nature nothing is permanent, everything is connected and flows. Thus, nature teaches us a sense of impermanence and going with the flow; things are constantly changing and shifting. In our darkest moments this truth can give a lot of hope and energy. Staying present and in the moment, in the flow is also the best state for her to paint in.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I used to be fascinated by art from childhood and started studying fine art at the University of Regensburg Germany until 1999. Art for me initially was a way to work through trauma share my passion for nature. Through the years, I have explored many field of art. I started initially with figurative artwork drawing portraits and sculpturing. Later, I was more fascinated with the flow and movement in nature, which I have explored since then in various media (on silk or canvass). I also am a trained Psychologist and mindful teacher. Thus, most of my work aims to encourage inner healing or will convey deeper soulful messages. In the last 14 years, I have been based in beautiful tranquil countryside of southern Scotland. I now aim to capture the mind state of being immersed in nature and the energy it can bring to us. Art has enabled me to stay mindfully focused which has enriched my life and I want to share it with my audience.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired by the movement, and light often found in nature, which I myself find immensely calming healing and re-energizing. I often bring a camera or sketchbook on longer walks of outdoor spaces such as the beach or a stream to capture places that inspire me. My art and spiritual journey has been heavily influenced by mindfulness and Taoism. In life, as in nature, nothing is permanent and everything is connected. Everything flows. Nature teaches us this simple truth that things are always shifting and transforming. This simple truth and the aim of staying with the flow and in the here and now can be calming and inspires hope. In the art world, I have been influenced and inspired by many artists including amongst others: Turner for his use of transcendental light, bold colors and brushstrokes found in impressionism. However, I always keep an eye out on contemporary artist too many to mention here, currently, I love the ocean art of Marina Synthelis or JudeMckenna for her great use of light.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“Currently, my paintings explore the energy and our inter-connectedness with nature through painting semi abstracted landscapes, which often feature movement in the sea, clouds or rivers. I want my art to inspire that sense of being a part of a bigger power and re-energise the viewer. I also am often fascinated by the transcending light and colors found in nature, which I do believe gives a sense of being a part of universe or greater power. Also as mentioned above, the sense of movement flow constant change in nature is something I currently explore with my art in seascapes and semi abstracted landscapes. My audience often describes being touch deeply by these painting and being either uplifted, calmed or pulled into the art piece. The use of color and texture to enhance and create depth and movement has been specifically important in my last years work.”
How would you describe your work?
“My recent paintings explore moments in nature, the mood state I might be in and how this affects me in the here and now. My art often is described as soulful, mindful art. Being in the moment and Taoist principles of going with the flow are often center of the pieces. That sense of things constantly flowing and not being permanent in nature has been has been very transformative for me and thus at the center of most of my current piece of work. Transcending light is also something that I find deeply nourishing and thus is often center of the compositions. This year, my body of work has mainly focused on these these theme of flow in nature and our interaction with it in seascapes, cloudscapes or sometimes more figurative works. I am especially interested in how our interaction with both nature and art affects our feelings and can transform us emotionally and gentle teach us the wisdom to shift and transform. Technically, I used many media through my lifetime to arrive at my now mostly mixed media style using a mix of textured acrylics, sand, oils and later pastels in my paintings.”
Which artists influence you most?
“In my formative years when studying art, I was fascinated by the romantics such as August Rodin, impressionist for the bold use of color sense of movements in their paintings such as Van Gogh and Turner for his amazing use of light and blending in his landscapes. I do attend many exhibitions and art shows. I have been influenced by many contemporary artists especially more recently Marina Synthelis, or abstract landscapes artists such as Annette Schmucker or Jude McKenna have also been more recent influences of mine. I don't like to stand still in my art, but like to keep exploring and evolving. I do believe as a good artist you have to push a bit over what feels comfortable to grow and keep your art fresh.”
“My paintings explore the energy and our inter-connectedness with nature through painting semi abstracted landscapes, which often feature movement in the sea, clouds or rivers.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process usually start with a rough idea in form of a few photographs or sketch. I then paint in many layers often starting with acrylic based painting mixed with heavy textured gesso and sand paste details for depth. Oil paint layers with brush or palette knife tends to be next. I tend to let the painting usually guide me to what it needs next and paint over a few days with breaks to check out what needs to be enhanced or flashed out in detail. The use of color and deep textures has become especially important to me over the years and have honed my style really through the years and after various courses. My most recent thing is to add a last layer of pastels before varnishing which gives a more lively color and often enhances the light effects.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I think as an artist our role is to either make people aware of what impacts society, create a better society or promote healing. Sadly, in our current tricky world we are far to disconnected from each other and from nature. I often find it ironic that the way we promote our art is often through social media which is really not ideal for our mood or staying calm and in the here and now. So more than anything, good self care routines and finding back to what benefits and heals is important. Art helps us reflect and can inspire change and thus is always important as a vehicle of societal change. As someone who myself has been through trauma and works also as a seasoned therapist, improving mental health reducing stigma and creating hope in people when they are at their darkest place is one of my main aims. I try and create art which evokes either a sense of feeling connected, brings hope and ideally helps the audience reconnect with one of our greatest healer which is nature or their inner strength. Helping folk to connect with their resilient part through my art is another aim. Politically there is so much conflict and also destruction of our planet happening that helping us to connect more with the calming aspect of nature in art, does hopefully not only benefit the audiences inner feeling states, but also raise awareness for the need to protect the oceans and nature in general. In terms of mental health awareness, I try and am open about my own healing journey the need to work on community and accepting yourself as you are and for self compassion. Through posting regularly some helpful poems about self-care and self compassion and speaking out about my own helping journey, I hope to inspire others, make them feel less alone perhaps create seeds of hope for their future. Art has been a massive help through my own healing journey. It gave me stability through childhood trauma and still is now it helps me to process, stay in the here and now and connect with my inner strength and resilience.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I have exhibited in both local Scottish galleries, in London (e.g. holyartgallery) and in various Galleris in Zuerich, Berlin Paris etc. I recently was offered a show in Tokyo (artist of the year Tokyo awards) but sadly declined due to the long travel and logistics. I enjoyed my Solo exhibition this year at Eydens' in Edinburgh and have one last group exhibition at the HIVE in December before this year draws to a close.”
Website: www.karinasflowart.com
Instagram: @aliciasmagicalflow
