This is an article about the Durango Open Studios Tour that MKFA is excited to be a part of this year!
This newspaper appearance was quite a lovely surprise! I had no idea until I opened the paper that morning at breakfast.
Check out the article here:
http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20121011/ARTS02/121019929/-1/Arts
Come see me at Open Studios next weekend if you didn’t make it last weekend, I would love to see you!
The Durango Herald ran an article about the dog portaits Mariah and fellow Durango artists create of our furry friends.
Give it a read here:
http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20120316/ARTS/703169976/Best-friends-forever
MARIAH KAMINSKY of Durango, Colorado is a master oil painter as seen in the delightful rendition of “Aldo”. The accomplished work shows the moisture of the nose and gums and the happy-like golden eyes of the white haired dog. And in “Boys Will Be Boys” she shows her wonderful chiaroscuro and attention to detail with a young boy holding a snake. “Butterfly Grace” is another great work wherein the hair is wonderfully painted and the butterfly on the girls nose sets an interesting mood. “”Maya’s Frog Prince” is a great painting and adds a bit of humor to her body of work. And “Tessa, on the Beach” is another marvelous painting showing the outstanding skill of the artist’s realistic rendering – the reflections in the eyes is remarkable.
Laurence Bradshaw
Curator, Professor of Art
Specializing in fine finishes for applications on walls, ceilings, furniture and floors, Mariah Kaminsky Fine Art is an integral part of many of the paint finishes in our luxury custom homes in Durango and the surrounding areas. Her decorative painting, faux finishes and murals transform nondescript walls into portals to another space or time.
Mariah graduated from Ball State University’s Design/Technical Theatre program. Her work as a scenic artist and set designer at playhouses, as well as fine art training, developed her skill for artistic detail. Launching Mariah Kaminsky Fine Art allowed Mariah the opportunity to apply her scenic experience and talents to private residences, businesses and restaurants.
Mariah now works closely with Madera Construction to deliver high-end decorative paint, designer finishes and murals to businesses and individuals in Durango and Southwestern Colorado.
Check out the full article here:
http://www.buzztown.com/article/4268/madera-construction-collaborates-with-mariah-kaminsky.html
Article published Oct 8, 2010
Durango portrait artist Mariah Kaminsky will continue artistic growth in Atlanta
By Stew Mosberg Special to the Herald
The two paintings were photographically realistic portraits of a young boy and girl, and they were created with great skill and draftsmanship. Yet when the winner of the People’s Choice award was announced last month at the opening reception of the Salon des Indépendants art show at Fort Lewis College, the artist, Mariah Kaminsky, might have been the most surprised person in the room.
A Durango resident for the last nine years by way of Indiana, Kaminsky started out in theater as a scenic designer but eventually came to realize that the art of portraiture was what she truly wanted to pursue. Later on, working with her husband, she capitalized on her talent for scenic design by creating faux finishes for private homes and restaurants such as Cosmopolitan and BeauJo’s. Between jobs, she sharpened her portrait skills painting from photographs of family members and the children of friends.
Depicting youngsters is her preference, capturing their innocence and budding personalities in oil on canvas or linen and finding the essence of their youthful characteristics and individuality. Her work generally is small in size: 8-by-10 inches to 16-by-20 inches, giving them a life-size scale which makes them even more realistic and engaging.
Kaminsky was one of six children in her family and may have received her talent and attention to detail from her grandfather, an accomplished glass etcher from Alsace, Lorraine, in France, and from her father, a mechanical engineer. The encouragement Kaminsky received from her midwestern-values family kept her grounded and focused on her passion for art.
“(The) difference for me is the never-ending support of my family,” Kaminsky said. “My parents never had any doubts about my ability.”
Although she did minor in art at Ball State University, she opted for a career in scenic design and was accepted into prestigious Carnegie Mellon University. However, when she tried to shift her emphasis to art, she was told she had only been admitted into the theater department, so she left.
Having produced her first portrait 12 years ago, she has grown exponentially in her technical facility as well as her ability to “see,” as she puts it, and also to develop her “eye for color.” She attributes both gifts to the total-immersion painting course she took in Santa Fe with Antony Ryder. Rather than be intimidated by that masterful artist, she was inspired to reach deeper within herself to obtain the results she sought.
When asked what other contemporary artist she greatly admires, she quickly mentions the highly-gifted and diverse painter, Daniel Green.
Continuing to study and expand her talent, Kaminsky is anticipating her attendance next spring at the Portrait Academy in Atlanta, and also recently has been admitted into the Portrait Society of America.
Judging by her continued evolution as a painter, her work probably will garner more People’s Choice awards. For the time being, she expects to continue working with her husband at Durango Custom Works creating faux finishes on residential and commercial projects. At the same time, she is open to more commissions for her special brand of portraiture, which she describes as “traditional, but with personality.”
Full Article @
