Friday, March 13, 2015

Recent article about show in Frederick, MD

I am sharing an article written by the owner of  505 North Gallery in Frederick, Maryland.
Thanks Kelly!

Frederick Loves Kralick's Colors                                March 2015
By Kelly Phebus
Meet Northern Virginia artist Adrienne Kralick – painter, teacher, global citizen. She has recently returned after a sabbatical to paint and focus on her charity organization, Painting Brighter Futures, which helps children living in under-served communities of the U.S. and Africa improve their lives through education. (More information at: www.PaintingBrighterFutures.com .)
Paintings of African women and children at 505 North Gallery.


Public response Kralick's works showing in Frederick at 505 North Gallery & Studio has been centered around the colorful scenes from Africa and the joy depicted in the faces of people in their daily routines. "I love to paint people, especially women and children… a woman walking to work is an ordinary scene… with a basket of fruit on her head and a baby on her back the scene becomes exotic to someone who lives in America. I love this juxtaposition; the beauty of everyday life in different cultures and countries."





This series of oil paintings on linen reflects an impressionistic style, which translates well to viewers as memories we may illuminate with our own experiences. For commissioned portraits, Adrienne Kralick has used a clean, accurate and clear style of painting, but says she has always loved the impressionists. Kralick studied the work of the Dutch and Flemish masters while living in Belgium, and learned even more as a museum copyist at the Art Institute of Chicago. Today her style combines a range of techniques from different time periods. (More information about the artist at: www.AdrienneArtist.com .)



How did you come to understand such a variety of painting techniques?
Years ago when I sought to find a way to learn how great artists accomplished what they did, it was difficult to find. There really aren't any classes called "Learn the Secrets of Rembrandt", well, not until I started teaching the. I started by creating my own education - by learning techniques from many different places, studying with artists I admired in the U.S. and in Europe, reading a ton of books and articles, copying masterpieces in the museum at the Art Institute of Chicago, studying originals up close and in person wherever I could all over the world. Now, I teach workshops and classes on the various techniques of different artists and genres. I even lead a tour of Monet's France in the summer of 2013.


Adrienne Kralick learning the techniques on Pompei Batoni
at the Art Institute of Chicago in 2003.


When did you first begin to paint travel series?
I first began to travel when I met my husband Ken. He has always traveled for business and the trips have gotten further and more exotic over the years. When we moved to Europe in 1998, my youngest child started school and I set out to paint each day. At that time I also took tons of photos of things I wanted to paint. I am still painting from those photos in addition to capturing scenes from my recent travels.

How do you manage in more exotic or remote locations?
Adrienne in Egypt 2014
I was terrified the first time I flew by myself to Europe and I was afraid to leave the hotel by myself. Now, I have flown alone to places like Ghana and Dubai and I am perfectly content wandering the streets of a new city alone. I try to see every art museum and gallery I can in each place. However, if it is a dangerous place or the culture is difficult to navigate, I hire a local guide to take me around. It is a great way to get to know the culture and make new friends.


 

How did you become interested in helping under-privileged communities?

I have always looked for a way to give back and tried several avenues before I found the one that spoke right to my heart – the children of Africa. I was first inspired help these children while I was visiting my daughter who was spending a semester in Ghana, studying at the university and volunteering with Future Leaders Underprivileged Children's Center. I immediately fell in love with the children and I just had to find a way to help them. But what could I do? I was just an artist with a little studio/school in Great Falls, Virginia. So, I decided to donate the proceeds from the paintings I was doing of African scenes to help the center.


When people heard about the project, they started to bring me donations of clothes and school supplies to take back with me to Africa – and I went back 3 more times that year! It had a snowball effect. We have now sent two shipping containers loaded with: school books, school supplies, clothes, shoes, sports equipment, computer, office supplies, sewing machines  and more. We started a new computer lab with donated laptop computers and are planning to break ground on a new school soon. I am amazed at how this has grown. Painting Brighter Futures is now a non-profit organization helping children in Kenya, Ghana and here in the U.S.
In 2013, Adrienne helped start a computer lab in Ghana with donated lap top computers and learning games.

What advice can you give anyone who seeks to start a humanitarian effort as you have done?

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something and tell everyone your dreams. Someone might know someone who can help. Many people said I would never be able to get donations to Africa. But I did. I talked to practically everybody I met about what I was doing and eventually I met the right person who ships items to Africa. My network is still growing. Sometimes it takes two or three or four conversations with someone for them to hop on board. Now I have a band of volunteers having lots of fun, and shopping flea markets and garage sales for books and clothes for children in need.
The new computer in Kenya provided by Painting Brighter Futures. 

I recently spoke to a group of high school students living in a slum in Nairobi, Kenya. One girl (pictured right) asked me how they could get a computer – 800 children and not one working computer. Within a week we made it happen! I bought a computer and found someone who could take it with them back to Kenya. Word spread and a few other people have donated their old computers. It is amazing how many things we Americans have, collecting dust in our closets, that could change the lives of others.


What is next for Painting Brighter Futures?

Adrienne at Mogra Children's Rescue
orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya
I am having a fundraiser at Arlington's Gallery Underground in July and then I plan to take a group of volunteers back to Kenya in September. Each person will bring a suitcase full of diapers, pencils, computers and other donations for a school and orphanage in Mathare, Mogra Star Academy. While there, we will spend time helping care for the babies in the orphanage and help with projects at the school.


What is next for AdrienneArtist?
I am going to be teaching more art history and painting workshops. In March, I am teaching a workshop on the techniques of J.M.W. Turner at Artists on the Green in Great Falls, VA. I am looking for more venues to bring these classes and workshops to a larger audience.



I am also going to paint more mother and baby scenes. I recently created a quick painting of my daughter with a friend's baby. I enjoyed it so much and it has been getting such a great response. This one painting speaks to so many people: young and old, men and women. It really just flowed from my paint brush like nothing I have ever painted before.

 

Recent mother and child portrait.


 For more information on artist Adrienne Kralick and her non-profit organization visit www.AdrienneArtist.com and www.paintingbrighterfutures.com .

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