welcome
calkinsART
is a large site, featuring the art of larry calkins, whose talents expand into several areas of artistic expression - fluently overlapping into once separate fields of creativity.
larry is presently working on cut-out metal sculptures, reminiscent in style and content of his paintings - most of which are based on stories, telling of events - real and imagined - of the past, present or the future.
in a painting or sculpture, what appears to be light and pleasant may actually be the recall of a complex or sad memory, maybe an astute description of a present day observation, presented with a cutting sense of humor, maybe a dreamy reflection of what might be and maybe a fearful event, that may or may not have happened.
paintings - are typically small or medium sized and packed with story lines. each detail is there for a purpose, either adding to - or distracting from - the tale. the paintings are mounted on a wooden framework that elevates the painting off the wall, encased in a cloth covered frame that is typically stained and then covered with beeswax. many of the smaller paintings are sealed with beeswax, a material that finds frequent use in larry’s art.
sculptures - are usually made of metal and cloth. larry creates his s
ignature dresses out of cotton fabric and then treats the sewn shapes with any pigment available and/or suitable, from dirt to clay to ashes. they are coated with beeswax and the surface is worked until a satisfactory result is achieved, both in color and texture: a look and feel of aged leather.
the surface may or may not be the base for additional clues: crude metal buttons sewn on, or photos; transfer prints of drawings or photos, maybe woodcut prints directly onto the surface.
the stands are made of rusted metal, welded together, each one unique and adding character to the appearance of the sculpture. some of the dress sculptures are free standing, others are made to hang on metal hangers on the wall.
by far the most complex combinations of sculptural and painted works are larry calkins’ books. small in size, at approx. 12x16 inches, the books are encased in a metal box, hand made of rusted metal sheets, and filled with numerous paintings and drawings held together in the form of a book, either as pages or in accordion style. usually there are compartments that hold small sculptural elements or modified found objects. though unassuming from the outside, these books open up a small universe of creative thought and expression.
photography - larry has a natural gift with the camera, not only as a keen observer but also in his immaculate traditional composition and in his innovative photographic techniques and styles of printing. from tireless documentation of his childhood community to haunting still-life arrangements, from vivid character studies to humorous animal photos, it’s all there.
the final photograph is as much a product of what larry captured thru the lens as it is of how the negative was treated in the darkroom; manipulation can take 3 or 4 stages, each taking it one step further into abstraction.
the drawings - are fluid, funny, poignant, disturbing - precise in capturing a situation and making a point. they are a spontaneous art form in themselves, trusting the immediate expression of the drawn line and shamelessly exploiting the moment. many of them are monotypes, some highlighted with a few colors. all in all, they are vibrant, captivating and humerous.
the website calkinsART consists of several sites that were created since 1998, expanding along with larry’s body of work. if you reach older sites like the showcase at tripod you will not find links back to the main site calkinsart.net. please bookmark this site for ease of navigation.
content of all calkinsART sites:
(we own the domains calkinsart.com and .net)
COPYRIGHT larry and sabine calkins, 2003/08
last updated: 3-2-08
Show at G.Gibson Gallery, Seattle, WA, 2000