44 Artists Magazine June 2020
MeettheArtist
StankaKordicgraduatedfromthe
ClevelandInstituteofArtin1985 with
a majorinillustrationanda minor in
painting.In 1988 sheleftthecommercial
worldofillustrationtoestablish an art
studioanddevotehertimetopainting.
Since 2009 shehasconcentrated on
personalfigurework.Herawards include
theGoldMedalofHonorinPainting
fromAlliedArtistsofAmericaand two
CertificatesofExcellencefromthe
PortraitSocietyofAmericaInternational
Competition.Herworkhasbeen exhibited
invenuesnationally,amongthem, the
NationalArtsClubandtheSalmagundi
Club,inNewYorkCity;andtheButler
InstituteofAmericanArt,inYoungstown,
Ohio.Herworkis includedinthe book
DisruptedRealism:Paintingsfor a
Distracted World by John Seed, featuring
works of artists from around the world.A THIRD ENTITY
Of her work as a whole, Kordic says, “It’s all about creating a painting
and not just remaking an image. Even though my reference is realis-
tic, I try to steer the course to create this third entity—The Painting.
Everything within those four corners can change at a whim, including
the likeness of the model. I feel more energetically connected to all the
elements at work (model, mood, paint) rather than being a slave to the
source material only.”
Looking at the body of Kordic’s recent work, it’s striking to see the
range of mood and expression that has emerged. The artworks comprise
a set of paintings that seem to reflect the ebb, flow and shifts of life
itself. It’s a result that wouldn’t be possible without the artist’s sense of
agency and willingness to risk new approaches with paint and handling.John A. Parks is a painter, a writer and a member of the faculty of the School
of Visual Arts, in New York.And Then There Was Light
gouache, pastel and charcoal on
museum board, 22x33LEARN MORE ABOUT STANKA KORDIC AT STANKAKORDIC.COM.