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This post originally was published on 6-25-26 https://katieturnerartblog.wordpress.com/2026/06/25/art-journal-grids/

Working in an art journal can be a fun type of exercise for the artist but also a great stress reliever for anyone.  There really aren’t any rules when it comes to art journaling.  Recently I created a wonky style grid using ink and graphite.  The idea came from Lewis Rossignol, an artist from Maine who has some great sketchbook and mixed media classes (https://www.lewisrossignolart.com/).

My goal was to find interesting images, shapes, textures and lines to explore and play with.  Starting with ink and collage and finishing with watercolor and watercolor crayon was the order I used for this page above.

Have you tried using grids in an art journal? I’d love to hear how you explored. Please comment below.

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Watercolor Painting by Katie Turner

(This blog post original published on [email protected] 5-15-26)

How does aging affect an artists work? This was a question I pondered after attending a presentation by Brenda Goodman at the New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting & Sculpture.  

Goodman mentioned an essay by Kenneth Clark, “The artist grows old” from 1972.  This essay was originally a lecture that Clark gave in 1970 and was reprinted by Cambridge University Press. You can easily find it online to read for yourself.

Clark observed that while writers tend to lose their creative edge, artists will gain productivity and artistic freedom as they age. He argued that these artists will abandon their strict traditional techniques to focus more on expressionistic ways. He uses Michelangelo, Titian, Rembrandt, Turner, Cezanne, Monet and Matisse as examples. He observed the late stage style shifts that become looser, more expressive and tended towards self portraits. He believed that the older artist works deeper than the material and seeks something more - like a home sickness or a spiritual suffering. He talks about aging artists moving beyond technical mastery to express deeper and more spiritual and existential themes.

Although it was a wonderfully insightful essay, others believed it was only his perspective and felt it wasn’t scientifically supported, his scope was too limited and his insights were rooted in the 70s.  

I wonder how much of this is natural aging or natural decline, how much is boredom with status quo, or even the impending sense of the nearing end?  These are subjects I don’t often hear discussed that give rise to my curiosity about what others think.  Please comment below and share your insight to Clark’s ideas.

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This Blog post originally published on April 30, 2026 here: https://katieturnerartblog.wordpress.com/2026/04/30/exploration-cards/

I’ve never really had a problem coming up with what to paint or create but I’ve often had too many ideas and not enough time. I enjoy making experimentation a larger part of my practice and some creators find idea cards, prompt cards or art cards to be a key to opening up ideas.

It’s easy to make your own deck of cards. You can start with broad categories such as your five senses or abstract words or verbs (action words).  You could start with seven or eight categories and create 10-15 word prompts under each.  You could start with a story, a concept or a memory, or something you wish to explore more deeply.  Take a few days to add more words to your lists, then you can pare it down to a list of just 100 prompts.

Here are some ideas:

Medium/Technique

Draw with pencils

Use found materials

Repurpose an old sketch

Add fiber

Tear up and stitch back together

Make a stencil

Use a magazine image

Create a stamped focal point

Use torn edges

Add dimension

Use some kind of tape

Add ink

Add gesso somewhere

Categories might be: 

Elements, Principles of Design, Life Events, Stories, History, Portraits, Conceptual Art, Composition

Here are some cards I made for myself. I’d love to hear how you use prompts in your creative endeavors. Please share below.

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The Art Institute of Chicago has an new show of Matisse’s work titled Matisse’s Jazz: Rhythms in Color March 7-June1, 2026 with a preview on March 5th.  The show features Matisse’s paper cutting art.

Henri Matisse (1869-1954) focused on paper cutting as a new medium following a troubling surgery that left him unable to paint.  Encouraged by his publisher friend he explored the new medium and ended up creating vibrant pieces that were published as an unbound book in 1947.  The book Jazz was a hit and reinvigorated his career at age 77.

This exhibition will be the first time Matisse’s Jazz will be shown in entirety.  Jazz and 50 other works by Matisse will be shown to highlight Matisse’s 50 years as an artist.

Watercolorists can learn from Matisse’s paper cuts. His approach can help an artist move away from unnecessary detail and focus on vibrant, balanced color with playful arrangements and compositions.  It’s a fun lesson on how to simplify complex subjects into bold, organic shapes to improve flow of the composition.

Have you ever used paper cutting to inspire your compositions? I’d love to hear from others who enjoy Matisse’s paper cutting art - please comment below.

Check out some of Matisse’s paper cuts here:

https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2014/matisse/the-cut-outs.html

https://www.moma.org/interactives/exhibitions/2014/matisse/downloads/matisse-cut-outs-artworks.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbs776vzVBM

https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/1156

https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10557/matisse-s-jazz-rhythms-in-color

This originally published on wordpress 2-17-26 (https://katieturnerartblog.wordpress.com/2026/02/17/atmospheric-inspiration/)

"Atmosphere", 2026, Katie Turner, Watercolor on paper

Winter weather has never really bothered me.  I enjoy the variety of the seasons in New York.  I have been watching the different atmospheric effects the bitter cold has on the sky, clouds and water.  I see the browns and blacks in the dead foliage and bare trees and a beautiful contrast to the sky.  I enjoy trying to match the colors on my palette to the ones outside.  With spring just around the corner, I’m determined to explore these colors in every opportunity. If you have a favorite seasonal palette please share below.

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*Note* This blog was published on KatieTurnerArtBlog.wordpress.com on 1-29-26*

The 100 Day Project is a free, global art project that takes place every year. The idea started by Lindsay Jean Thomson is pretty simple: Just pick an action and do it every day, document and share your process online through social media.

 Artists, creatives, makers and writers have been making use of the #The100DayProject for years now.  You can choose any medium or art form.  This may just be the boost you need to start a positive art habit for yourself. Keeping the project simple will help keep it manageable.  You might want to do it with a friend so you can encourage each other and also have someone to be accountable to.  You can join different groups online who are doing this challenge or some version of the challenge.

Whatever you decide to do with this challenge you will find that it’s a great way to dive deeper into a concept or develop a habit or explore ideas in small ways each day.

You don’t have to start the project with the new year, but why not? Now is as good a time as any.  If you have participated in a 100 day project in the past, share with me below how you enjoyed it and what your experience was like.

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*This post originally was published on wordpress: https://katieturnerartblog.wordpress.com/2025/12/16/holiday-homework-for-artists/. KatieTurnerArtBlog.wordpress.com

Here is a great way to explore compositions on a mini scale while also getting some Holiday chores done… Painting your own Holiday Cards.

All you will need is a box of watercolor cards - watercolor weight paper so that they don’t buckle once you add your paint and water - and your paints, some masking tape and 5-10 minutes per card. 

I created a border around my cards by taping masking tape around the edges before painting and removing after they are completely dried.

This was a fun and easy way to play with paint.  If you are an artist, have you tried creating your own cards as a way to explore compositions? I’d love to hear from others below.

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There are only about two weeks left to view the Central New York Watercolor Society’s 2025 Annual Members Only Juried Exhibition at LeMoyne College.

Linda Woken was the Juror of Selection and Awards.  Show organizers and handlers being: Kathleen Guthrie, Pam Lynch and Karen Harris.  The show ends on August 15, 2025.  For hours and location of the Wilson Gallery, click here:  https://resources.library.lemoyne.edu/library

Watercolors are a medium prized for it’s luminosity and transparent colors.  The artists of the CNYWS have a love of watercolor in common and the show highlights the wide range of possibilities in watercolor painting.  Check out the show and consider joining the group.

More information on CNYWS here: https://www.centralnewyorkwatercolorsociety.org/

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"String of Boats", 2025, Katie Turner, watercolor and gouache on paper, after Alfred Wallis.

Naive art is considered outsider art, which I’ve written about before in some of my earlier posts.  Typically an artist working in this style has little or no formal training or degrees.  The Naive art is characterized by simplicity of technique or vision or execution but definitely has a child-like quality to it. It can also explore extreme mental states, fantasy worlds or unconventional ideas.  

One artist I explored was Alfred Wallis (1855-1942), a British fisherman.  He didn’t begin painting until he was 70 years old! He had no artistic training yet he produced a large amount of work using household and ship paint on cardboard.  He painted seascapes from memory. During that time many sailing ships were being replaced by steamships.  He was also painting historical changes.  His works did not use perspective in the traditional manner and looks rather flat. His works even resembled early maps.  Unfortunately he died in poverty but his story holds several things that inspire me.

Wallis had a joyful way of expressing shape, pattern, color and line.  His paintings don’t get fussy  or try to get it “right” but have a flow and freedom to them.  Starting his art career at 70 shows me that it is never too late! I think about ways I can respond to my world around me, painting without the fuss or self-criticism until it flows to the paper.  There is a wildness that is refreshing, an invitation to be yourself - imperfect, raw and responsive - and aware of possibilities.

Here is a list of artists that worked or are working in this style: Henri Rousseau, George Fredericks, Alfred Wallis, Jan Husarik, Jan Bacon, Radi Nedelchev, Barbara Olsen, Lyle Carbajal, Gabe Langholtz, and more.  You can see some of their art here: https://www.tate.org.uk/art/art-terms/n/naive-art. I’d love to hear if you create Naive art or if you enjoy that kind of art. Please share below.

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This blog post originally published on wordpress: https://katieturnerartblog.wordpress.com/2025/03/29/against-the-rules-helen-frankenthaler/#mce_temp_url#

Against the Rules (1983), Katie Turner, watercolor, after Helen Frankenthaler

“There are no rules. That is how art is born, how breakthroughs happen. Go against the rules or ignore the rules. That is what invention is all about.”

 – Helen Frankenthaler: “Helen Frankenthaler Foundation – Biography.” Helen Frankenthaler Foundation, 2015

At 23 years old, Helen Frankenthaler created Ed Winston’s Tropical Gardens (1951).  The long piece (37 1/4 “x191”) exudes self-assurance, freedom, movement and an interesting balance between representational and abstract.  To me, the painting seems more like a musical composition or poetry that flows in richness.

Helen Frankenthaler (American, 1928-2011) introduced the soak-staining technique of color soaking into the untreated canvas fabric to give a distinct luminosity and abstract quality to paintings.

It would have been enough to develop this technique but she continued exploring, pushing the limits of what she had already accomplished.  Frankenthaler didn’t stick with one type of image or one type of gesture but treated her picture space more as an arena where shapes and marks can interact.  It’s fascinating to read about her art exploration, influences and interests.

In 1983, near the end of her career, she painted a small acrylic on paper titled Against the Rules. This seems to also be an appropriate title for her career. Her art was “against the rules” and defies description. It’s easy to see now, the important place her art takes in modern art history but I am most inspired by her determination to forge into new territories with confidence. What a great example of an innovator.

To read more about Helen Frankenthaler check out these links:

www.frankenthalerfoundation.org

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/781757

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/490184

https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/helen-frankenthaler-1114

https://www.sfmoma.org/watch/helen-frankenthaler/

Ed Winston's Tropical Garden (1951), Katie Turner, watercolor, after Helen Frankenthaler

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