It’s Day 272 and I really wanted to work with charcoal before the year was over!  I found today’s artist randomly and fell in love with his artwork and philosophy. 🙂  Join me in honoring Douglas A. Kinsey today.

Doug Kinsey (b. 1956) has been prolific as a painter for over thirty years. His first solo-exhibit was held at Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in 1972. As a young man Kinsey had the good fortune to work and study under two of Canada’s more notable color-field minimalists Jean Goguen and Guido Molinari while attending what is now known as Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Over a 7 year period Paul Reed of the Washington D.C. Colorists mentored Kinsey. Kinsey is a graduate of The Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, CA.

Doug approaches the development of his imagery with an expressed Zen-like economy. The

strong subtle spiritual component remains as the most compelling attitude seen in his work. This abiding stillness expressed in the dark blue forms can at times produce a roaring sense of complete mystical silence. During this experience the viewer is asked to join and participate in the deeper mysteries which can occur during profound moments of inner-contemplation.

By allowing the physical landscape aspects of his Ohio River Valley home to influence his primary shapes and forms a strong organic quality is defined.

Intrinsically haptic by nature, Doug’s work articulates the combining of the intellect with the spiritual truths to be found in nature.

A native of California, Kinsey has resided in Pittsburgh, PA for almost ten years. He received his Masters degree in theology from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry and currently teaches art to severely “at risk” children at The Holy Family Institute for Learning in Pittsburgh, PA.

Kinsey has exhibited widely in the US and abroad. Most notably are exhibitions at The Carnegie Museum of Art in 2001 which was curated by David Carrier, critic for Artforum and Art in America, In 2003 he received notice from Thomas Sokolowski, Director of The Andy Warhol Museum when he was awarded Best in Show at The Hoyt Institute of Art.

Kinsey has been included in exhibitions at the State Museum of Pennsylvania for an unprecedented two years in a row 2003-2004.

Also in 2004 his work was included in Westmoreland Museum of American Art Biennial, The Andy Warhol Museum of Art, and Gallery Ginza Himawari, Tokyo, Japan.

Two large canvases were selected for The Butler Institute of American Art 70th Summer Annual. 2006 (Youngstown, Ohio). The curator

was noted painter and art critic for NEWSWEEK Magazine, Peter Plagens. “Interval Series, exodus” received an Honorable Mention award.

Kinsey’s work is often described as maintaining the coolness of Rothko while expressing the strength of Kline.

When looking at my work the viewer should consider them as configurations of spiritual geography. In this manner I refer them as “Interior/Exterior Landscapes”. The primary blue shape will refer to geological forms found in geographical landscape. As such they mark unspoken borders much like a rock cairn would. This marking indicates a place of spiritual solace and point of reflection. My intention is to explore the subconscious symbols of an ‘interior’ spiritual reality when consecrated by the borders of ‘external’ physical reality.’

All artwork and biography is from www.absolutearts.com.

I hope you enjoy my tribute today.  It was so fun to work with charcoal again.  I haven’t really worked with it since art school!  I will see you tomorrow on Day 273.

Best,

Linda