Artist Skye Rudin
Skye Rudin is a U.S. artist with a BFA in Studio Art from Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas and a MFA in Fine Art from Kingston School of Art, Kingston University, London, UK. Her practice encompasses painting, drawing, screenprinting, and, recently, sound installation works. Rudin states her fascination for the topography of the human face, and so her primary focus lies in portraiture and figurative painting. Colour also plays a strong role in Rudin’s paintings, either as a tool to evoke particular responses from the viewer or to entrap the light reflecting off of her subjects. She is particularly keen to showcase the natural viscosity and tactility of oil paint itself, emphasising the body of the medium in a light impasto; the mark-making process is in equal turns passionate and purposeful.
Skye Rudin (Finalist 2nd Edition) In Studio
When Rudin was younger, she described of her imagination that it “seemed to always get the better of me”, which led her to pursuing writing and drawing as a way to channel her energies. When she entered university, however, she stepped away from art which ended up negatively affecting her health, happiness and connection to the outside world. It was only after she recommitted herself to her craft that she was able to see those positive aspects of her life re-emerge. Rudin firmly believes that her continuing devotion to her work is what has maintained her ongoing happiness. She went on even further to say “I want to continue to explore both myself and the world through my art, and I believe that the understanding gained from that exploration will improve myself as an artist and my life exponentially.”
“Sewing The Spark (So Sown)”
By Skye Rudin (Finalist 2nd Edition)
Oil on Canvas
This piece utilizes more androgynous models, as the artist did not want the piece to read as an interaction between man and woman, but a universal expression of innovation and development; the seated figure hands the standing a star, a spark of an idea, and the standing figure takes that idea and sews (sows) it into her head, completing the feedback cycle.
When asked about the inspiration behind her current work, Rudin revealed that “A visiting tutor once laughingly accused me of having a ‘magpie mentality’ - I find interesting tidbits in a wide variety of subjects, and I horde them close until I can use them in a piece or as a way to inform my practice. Because of this, my concepts seem to shift in terms of whatever I’m currently exploring, whether that be geology, history, linguistics, or psychology.”
“Self-Reflection (Cover Up, Strip Away)"
By Skye Rudin
Oil on canvas
Self-Reflection (Cover Up, Strip Away) examines the reflection of a reflection of the artist, exploring the emotional distance between each iteration of the artist's image. What is a true representation? What is revealed, and what is missing? This examination and the figure's challenging gaze prompts the viewer to examine themselves in a similar manner. What is being shown outwardly, consciously or no?
Rudin works primarily in oil painting and charcoal drawing, and, to lesser degrees, screenprinting and installation works. She has recently begun experimenting in sound installation and looks forward to her exploration of it.
When it comes to materials, Rudin admits to having a deep fondness for using Gamblin paints, which is a smaller brand based out of Portland, Oregon,. Rudin states that “the pigmentation of the Gamblin oil paints are top notch -- with some hues unique to the Gamblin brand…”. Rudin also went on to rave that “the Gamsol solvent is the best odorless mineral spirit I have come across to date.”
“Smart as a Hog (Æthelstan)"
By Skye Rudin
Oil on canvas
“Smart as a Hog (Æthelstan)” marries the artists regional variant on the English language -- American Southern Regionalist English -- with the history of the locale where the piece was produced -- in Kingston, England, where seven Anglo-Saxon kings were coronated. This is one of several explorations the artist made into the evolution of language and the absurdity of local colloquialisms outside of their regional context.
When in need of inspiration for her next piece, Rudin changes things up by delving into a completely different creative pursuit. It could be anything, from working in a new medium, starting a sewing project, or writing bad poetry, as long as it stretches that creative muscle.
Valspar Tangy Dill
By Skye Rudin
Oil on panel
The work Valspar Tangy Dill explores color psychology as a window into the model's immediate psyche. A later addition to the artist's Paint Spill series, in which the artist explores these concepts with participating individuals which are one part art work and one part psychological study, Valspar Tangy Dill is a diptych which examines the figure without the paint and the paint without the figure.
When about any advice Rudin had for her fellow artists, she had this to say, “Don't get too in your own head about your process. As you grow and evolve as an artist, your practice will, as well -- don't expect your process to be the same three years from now as it was last month. Otherwise, you become fixated on the process and not the work itself.”
To view more of Skye Rudin’s work
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