The Open Door

Please read below picture about me ~ thanks

Painting has always fascinated me. As a child, I used a small feather and a cup of water, I "painted" old wooden fencing outside,
or on a cellar door. Of course, it dried almost as soon the water was applied. But it satisfied the 'artist' in me for that time
frame. I became a serious artist many years later.

While living in Germany I had an opportunity to study at an art academy. While my husband and I were stationed in Stuttgart, I
studied oil painting at the Academy AD Modium Maroger with Professor Dieter Kast teaching. This time frame was to last over 7
years. During that time I was asked to occasionally conduct the classes when the teacher could not be there. Later I taught small private
painting classes at my home.

Each spring and fall Herr Kast conducted a week long seminar at the Bodensee. We painted inside of an old German Castle, called
Schloss Montfort. The Schloss (or castle) dates back several hundred years and is located on the edge of the lake. It is in the
southern edge of Germany. Across the lake on clear days we could sometimes see the Swiss Alps. You couldn't help but be inspired
in that atmosphere.

The formal concept for Professor Kast's academy centered around the use of a cooked medium as a base for painting. This medium was
presented to the public by French painter Jacques Maroger. In 1948 he published his book "The Secret Formulas and Techniques of the Masters".

Maroger was an artist and restorer of the Masters paintings hanging in a French museum. He devoted his life to the discovery of the
mediums used by the Old Masters, such as Rubins and Rembrandt--Renaissance and Baroque period artists. There are several commercial
vendors from whom this medium can be purchased. John Bannon in Virginia is one provider. Both Professor Kast and Mr. Bannon studied
under Maroger.

There are those who scoff and dispute the rediscovery on this medium. It is still being studied and revised a bit by others. This is
only one method of painting using this cooked medium. Canvas is covered with a small amount of the medium. On the pallet each color
of oil paint has a bit of medium mixed into it before using it to paint on the canvas. The addition of Maroger’s medium gives the canvas
a soft glow to the finished work. We attended classes while the medium was being prepared, and we as a class prepared and cooked one
batch ourselves. Once was enough and I'd rather leave that part to someone else.

Since then I've studied with several other instructors, including Bob Ross’s method. I feel we should be able to find our own level and
style of painting from exposure of all methods of instruction. In this way we develop our own unique style of painting. The more we learn,
the more we are aware of how much there is yet to be learned.

I paint with water colors, oils and acrylics. I've painted on saw blades, slate and wood panels. On the panels, I first create a scene
and totally wood burn the surface, and later finish it with oils. These panels can be used as a piece of furniture, as a home bar front
(we have had two finished in this way) or as a wall hanging. My paintings hang in Germany, Poland and United States. Paintings have been
on exhibit in Germany and United States.

Over the past year, I've created several hundred illustrations of angels and characters for my sister. She digitizes each illustration.
The items are then ready for sale as machine embroidery designs. Her web site is http://www.tundrarosykid.com . They are all for sale and
if you do machine embroidery you will have a treasure. They are lovely designs.

Some of my varied interests are: Poodles- I've owned and groomed them, professionally for many years. I’ve studied and turned out beautiful
ceramic pieces for several years in the past. Wood burning effects- several pieces done from large doors to bar tops.

Gardening, cooking, sewing, and a little piano and organ playing. Most of that is in the past as well. One must practice- a lot- and of
course I don’t. Old world style German doll making is a great little hobby of mine.

Finally, I've decided to try something totally new: Writing and illustrating a children’s fairy tale book. It is called “The Bluebell
Fairy and her Magic White Toad”. Totally out of my imagination. When the little book is finished, I will send the illustrations to my
sister, who again will digitize them and will eventually be up for sale as machine embroidery designs. Regardless of where it leads,
it is a new and enjoyable challenge.

Hopefully you will enjoy a stroll through my pages. Feel free to let me know by email what you think.

All Artwork pictures on this site are copyright ~ Since 1975 © by Nita Twardzak