KARAKASHIAN AS CHAGALL

When Eileen’s 6th grade class was putting on “Fiddler on the Roof” for the annual play, she was asked to paint a Marc Chagall painting as the backdrop. This would be a monstrous task for a 12-year old to undertake, especially one who had never painted on canvas before. But the painting had a mystical quality that attracted the young budding artist. Perhaps there was a subconscious tie to the painting, “I and the Village” and to Eileen’s own family upbringing in the village of Diyabekir. Perhaps it was the good feeling, the good thoughts that came to Eileen’s mind when she looked at the painting. Or perhaps it was seeing in the shapes and colors of that painting how things came full circle, how we are all part of one consciousness.

On opening night of the play, as the spotlight hit Eileen’s backdrop, the stage came to life with music, costumes, and actors; most importantly, the light on the backdrop gave life to an artist. To this day, that light nurtures the ever growing branches of the art of Eileen Karakashian.

33% NEW & IMPROVED

Eileen Karakashian received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1994 from the School of Visual Arts in New York City, majoring in Advertising Design. Since graduation she was an art director in advertising, producing both national TV and print campaigns. Her work has been featured in Adweek and Advertising Age magazine. Eileen has art directed campaigns for Ernst & Young, Mercedes-Benz, Capital One, Proctor & Gamble, Citizen Watches and Partnership for Drug Free America..

But Eileen believed her life could be 33% new and improved if she continued painting while trying to sell toothpaste, cars and cough medicine. She continued her fine art studies at the Art Students League in NYC, concentrating on painting, design, color, composition and collage.

Using oils and acrylics, Karakashian today creates paintings that range from contemporary to abstract and surrealist. She has always been intrigued with the combination of color and composition and it shows as an integral part of her art.

MY STATEMENT

"I am a colorist. Color and texture are the foundations to my paintings. My mixed media, oil and or acrylic paintings all usually start with a color idea and then evolve into a composition in which color and texture are the primary subjects. Texture creates depth and liveliness in a painting just as it does in life. Color defines moods, thoughts and perceptions -it is the backdrop to our lives.

Over the years my work has also evolved into being more abstract and surreal. I stopped painting what was “out there” and started painting what was in me. I don’t use any visual aid; everything I paint is from my head and heart.

Besides Marc (that's Marc Chagall, we're on a first name basis since we go waaaay back to my 6th grade class). ) some of my other inspirations have been Mark Rauschenberg, Fred Otnes and Pablo Picasso.

I want my work to have soulfullness to it – to speak and reveal itself to any intuitive audience.”

MY INFO

For commissions and general inquiries:

email: ekarakashian@yahoo.com

ph: 201-906-8226