Carole Sikes Artist / Writer in Austin, Texas

I'm experimenting with color studies again which began as small collages. They always inform my landscape and nature paintings and are great fun to do.  I began doing these after reading the book JOSEF ALBERS: TO OPEN EYES. In an older post I produced images of my workbook and wrote about Albers (1888-1976). For more information, please go to www.carolesikes.blogspot.com and scroll to the bottom to click "older posts". Then scroll down to the paragraph entitled "Question and Answer" where I have written more about this important teacher and painter. A Russian painter KAZIMER MALEVICH (1878-1935) had a period, apart from his figurative paintings, creating what he called SUPREMATIST compositions which I found to be different yet similar to my "Constructs." Malevich's life and work was produced in a very turbulent period in Russia. There were many difficult influences in his life that gratefullly are missing in mine. But I share his interest in pro...

I'm hanging out in my Lake Travis studio, finding something else to say with drawings, color studies and abstract designs rather than making paintings on location. Last spring and summer it was the Texas heat and drought, then allergy season followed by intermittent cold, then windy, then muggy winter days. All of the above, not to mention that my portable easel and paints seem to be increasingly heavy in my advancing years, has confirmed my decision to give up painting en plein aire. Of course I reserve the right to change my mind. If you are a reader of www.carolesikes.blogspot.com and thinking of moving to Austin...DON'T. Not only are summers unbearable, but the traffic is impossible, stress provoking and can't be resolved because of the economy and the terrain of hills and lakes. However if you are here in Austin already, there are a many good things to do. AMOA-ARTHOUSE lists its events and exhibitions in the downtown location at Congress and 8th Street as "The...