Martine Kasmin

Artist Statement

When I am painting, I am thinking about making beautiful and unique marks. Marks that we all leave on the world, yet often try to erase. Instead of hiding these marks, my work celebrates them! In our highly tech driven world, my paintings celebrate the imprints we all leave on this world. The marks in my artwork are infused with memories and passionate responses to being a mother, a friend, a citizen, and to nature. My work seeks to create exciting shapes, color relationships and linear qualities that react and respond powerfully to each other.

I choose to paint abstractly because abstract art requires the viewer to spend time with it, to interpret it. To decipher and unravel the forms that they see. I am passionate about bringing abstract images to their fruition through a magical alchemy that occurs when putting paint on canvas.

My work is informed by 21st century painters and those from many years ago. The range of my influences extends from El Greco’s powerful skies to DeKooning’s beautiful fleshy abstractions to Soutine’s brilliant brushwork. I’m also drawn to Rita Ackermann’s exquisite use of line and Cecily Brown’s sensuous figures and stunning use of light. I am constantly looking to art history to grow the emotional and technical depth of my work.