Artist's Statement from Hermitage Arts in Amery, WI

Inspirations

Sr. Kristine
Sister Kristine Haugen, OCDH

If we are drawn to paint what we love, then I’ve found it. Looking at the Earth, Sea and Sky is all I need for the inspiration to take out the watercolors and paint. “At the sight of beauty, the soul grows wings”, wrote Plato. I consider my artwork to be a reflection of my spirituality, and my contemplative life of silence. In paint-ing sunrises and sunsets I to try to catch that time of the day when the mystics say there is a crack in the sky and the veil be-tween heaven and earth is thin, when God is close. Yes, painting has sharpened my interior focus, and leads me to gratitude and love for God and all creation as well.

There are a variety of unique methods used in many of these paintings, such as the crinkled textures of Masa paper, and the poured colors on il-lustration board. Traditional watercolor techniques help as well to pro-vide the semi-abstract realism that hopefully captures the essence of the north woods we see when we look out our windows. I love the “O happy fault” of watercolor, when it takes on a life of its own, surprising me with beautiful effects unachievable by hand.

Aside from a number of workshops in the last 10 years, I have had no formal art training. Painting brings me joy, besides contributing to my self-support as a hermit needs to do. My wish is to contribute somehow to that which can liberate us from what can be a dull captivity of daily life, to rest in the beautiful, good and the true.

HERMITAGE ARTS • 897 US Hwy 8 • Amery, WI 54001 • Email