Monthly Meeting .. June 2008

Nancy Koren

Multimedia

Nancy Koren presented a demonstration of one of her many multimedia styles of creating textures in painting at our June 27th meeting. She brought samples of her work from the last forty years illustrating this technique. They all depicted her various uses of texture. At first, what she showed us appeared complex, but it really isn't. However, it does entail several stages, which she demonstrated. Nancy says, "The neat thing is that anyone can do it with simple materials and it is fun."

Nancy graduated from the Cincinnati Art Academy in 1961 as a fine arts painting major. Many different art teachers and influences have had their effect on her work. Beginning her formal training right out of High School, she was awarded full tuition scholarships for all the four years she attended. This school was an extension of the large Cincinnati Museum of Art.

Since the late 60's, her work has been featured in many galleries and institutions in Ohio, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Saratoga, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Los Gatos and our own San Luis Obispo county.

Nancy demonstrated a type of collage that she has taught to her students as a teacher and would like to see more artists experiment with. Done on a stiff surface such as canvas board or masonite, she glues on strips of paper such as pieces of magazine photos or illustrations cut into various shapes. A raised design is drawn or stamped on that surface with glue or acrylic medium. When completely dry, the project is rubbed with paint or ink and the texture of the raised surface comes out. Nancy stressed the need to wear gloves because some paint pigments are toxic.