Anou Mirkine Designs - Channeling Beethoven's Rapture

Beethoven composed his music while in a state of “Rapture.” When I paint while listening to his symphonies, I feel that state in my heart and in my hands. While I paint, Beethoven is my dancing partner—my muse. His compositions inspire my spirited lines, shapes, gestures and color relationships. Immersed in the melodies, every stroke is a manifestation of uninhibited and energetic creativity and the wildness of my emotions.

My process begins by delicately washing diluted color across the paper in sync with music that mirrors my emotional state. I shift into brushwork gradually, as I carefully select colors that complement each other, often leaning towards color palettes featuring three or four shades. Working primarily with watercolor, gouache, and crayon on cotton rag. I embody the graceful motions of a conductor's baton dancing across the canvas, the fluidity of chiffon fabric trailing behind a skilled figure skater, and the weightless elegance of Rudolf Nureyev executing a flawless Grand Jete.

Over the years, I have drawn inspiration from the diverse techniques of several renowned artists. Cezanne's skillful manipulation of warm and cool hues for spatial depth, Daumier's free-flowing and emotive lines, and Picasso's fearless innovation in blending abstraction with recognizable subjects have all left a lasting impact on my artistic approach.

My work provides a captivating visual journey through the flowing movement of rhythms, melodies, and crescendos. The intricate composition of dancing lines not only engages but also expertly directs the viewer's eye across and inside the seemingly multi-dimensional expanse, offering a truly immersive artistic experience.