karlyn eckman

Artist’s Statement
I paint mainly in the genres of landscape, historical and nautical art, working in oil, watercolor and metal point drawing. I am attracted to compositions with balanced forms and strong contrasts of light and shadow. My goal is to create a work that brings beauty, serenity and lasting enjoyment to the owner. I am also committed to fostering the arts and environmental conservation in local communities, both locally and globally, and seek ways to integrate these broad themes. I am also deeply committed to justice, equity and diversity, and however imperfectly, I work toward those goals. While painting I use materials and practices that are environmentally safe. I avoid supplies, materials and practices that harm animals, air, soil and water. I use recycled materials, old frames and other supplies whenever possible.

Art Education
I learned about various media and techniques as a child from my father, Don Eckman, an old school sign painter and pastel artist. He taught me about brush handling and lettering at an early age. In his workshop I learned other methods and media (gold leaf, calligraphy, Speedball and other lettering forms, and silk screen printing). I was a Studio Arts major at the University of Minnesota for three years before graduating in another discipline. Although I have enjoyed a rewarding environmental career, I’ve continued to learn and grow as a plein air and studio artist. I've been influenced by the works of Dean Mitchell, Howard Sivertson, Robert Seldon Duncanson, Isaac Levitan and Andrew Wyeth. I've been fortunate to have Jim Weisen, Hazel Belvo and Howard Sivertson as mentors.

News

I was named a 2017 Artist-in-Residence at Pine Needles, sponsored by the Science Museum of Minnesota and St. Croix Watershed Research Station. 

I am an awardee of the 2019 ArtReach Power of the St. Croix. Two of my paintings of the St. Croix River are part of a public art project in Stillwater and Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota.

Until May 25 2020 Covid-19 was the major focus of our lives and work. But on that day George Floyd lost his life to four Minneapolis police officers a few miles from my home and studio. Mr. Floyd's murder in Minnesota (and Jamar Clark, Philando Castile and others before him) have led to activism and ultimately profound rethinking of justice, equity, and law enforcement's role in civil society. History will surely mark these events as a turning point in American life and politics. I am heartened by the massive public displays of unity, volunteerism, compassion and commitment to justice. Here in Minnesota, with leadership from Peyton Scott Russell, Seitu Jones and others, public art is playing a major role in healing and rebuilding. I am re-dedicating my work and efforts toward racial equity, building bridges, volunteering, self-examination and education. I am visualizing artistic works that not only show the raw history of racism in my hometown, but also moments and components of healing and renewal. My work was featured in two recent articles of the Minnesota Women's Press:

https://www.womenspress.com/protecting-habitat-of-all-people/

https://www.womenspress.com/tapestry-how-does-art-transform-community/

Instruction

I teach bi-weekly beginning and intermediate drawing and painting classes in Saint Paul (currently via Zoom). Call for details.

Studio

#7-203, Artblock complex, 2010 East Hennepin, Minneapolis Minnesota USA 

• Outdoor Painters of Minnesota 
• Minnesota Watercolor Society
• Northstar Watermedia Society
• 2010 Artblok artists' coop 
  
• Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA)

Contact information:

Mobile: (01) 651/308-7285
Email: eckma001@umn.edu
www.eckmanart.com