Carole Sikes Artist / Writer in Austin, Texas

"MOTION" oil on canvas, 30" x 30" This painting has been especially challenging because I liked it very much after the initial working hours and was fearful that I would take out all the spontaneity as I completed it. This was resolved with the help of Fairfield Porter's comments in his book, ART IN ITS OWN TERMS, that I received for Christmas and was reading. Porter says, "Form coordinates diversity, it does not pile up facts. That is why form comes from the artist looking for chaos... (and in nature I do)... he (she) finds that order is directly discoverable by unconscious awareness which is wiser than awareness directed by reason following systematic rules." I believe this to be true. Without unconscious awareness or intuition, one can easily fall back on rules, however the painting often sacrifices energy, freedom and spontaneity. As a former art teacher, I encouraged students to first learn "to see", which is more than just "...

EXHIBITIONS:      Works by DAVID BATES are at AMOA downtown through January 31. He is a Texas Gulf Coast painter producing large, strong, narrative paintings and often using fabric, wood, etc. as well as oil paint. The subject matter is personal and arresting. Some works are inspired by the death of his parents; in others Hurricane Katrina is the subject.  It is a "don't miss". He is represented in Dallas by Dunn and Brown Gallery located at 5020 Tracy Street in Highland Park. They are presenting a show of his work Jan. 14 - Feb. 20. In Austin, don't miss the group show at D Berman Gallery, 1701 Guadalupe Street. "Chill" includes watercolors, drawings, sculptural works and paintings by Sydney Yeager and six others. It closes Feb. 6. There is still more to learn about the PETROBELLI ALTERPIECE and PAOLO VERONESE at the BLANTON MUSEUM at 200 East MLK Street on the U.T. campus. Jonathan Bober, curator of prints, drawings and European p...