Karin, have you always wanted to be an artist?
As a matter of fact, I wanted to be a writer when I was a very young girl. I had read “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett and I loved the idea of sitting in a garden beneath an apple tree and writing stories. Later in life, I did write poetry, short stories, and even a novel – but not sitting beneath an apple tree.
Your art can be described as abstract; has this always been your style of choice and if yes, why?
Yes, I was always inspired by nature. My style has developed over the years from somewhat representational to semi-abstract or abstract. I feel that I will always give myself the freedom to paint in either of those styles. At the moment I am working on giving my art a looser expression.
How would you describe your creative process?
I am very spontaneous if I do semi-abstract or abstract work. I usually have colours in mind or an idea of an image. With this in mind, I bring colours and usually nature-inspired forms on the canvas or paper.
Where do you seek inspiration?
Well, so often said by artists, I seek inspiration from nature. Last year, during the first Corona-lockdown in Germany, we moved from the middle of Berlin to a town in Bavaria, very close to the mountains. That had always been my dream – to live close to the mountains. Now, finally, nature is all around me, all year long, different exiting colours in spring and summer. Glorious warm hues in autumn and I also love the very muted palette of winter.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I usually wake-up early and go out for a good hour – if rain or shine. I walk very fast out into the countryside, the view of the mountains ahead of me, cowbells ringing, the smell of country in the air. This invigorates me and I have my head clear to paint in my studio. I usually paint until the early afternoon. I also love to read so I reserve some time for a cuppa, our 2 cats and a book on the couch.
Which artists, living or deceased most inspire/influence your work?
I think I have been mostly inspired by Vincent van Gogh, Franz Marc, Cezanne and Joan Mitchell.
Do you like to listen to music when you create, if so what sort of music do you listen to?
It depends. There are times when I like it very quiet in the studio. Other times I really like to listen to the music of the 70th. Mostly Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Queen, the Stones.
If you had one piece of advice for someone seeking a career in art what would it be?
Just work! Paint as much as you can, try out new things, don’t listen to people who tell you that you can only paint in one style. Be free, do what you like.
If you had a dinner party and could invite 3 guests, living or deceased who would they be and why?
I would invite Joan Mitchell and quiz her about her vision of nature.
I would also love to eat and drink some wine with the mountaineer Reinhold Messner. Trying to really understand how it is to climb the highest peaks on earth, the pain, the fears, the feeling having reached the summit, the losses.
Weirdly as it sounds, I would like to have a dinner chat (what would I serve though????) with an Egyptian pharao. How did they live, what did they busy their minds with?
What does the future look like for you?
Hopefully staying healthy. Painting mountain hiking, and traveling.
View Karin’s gallery.
