I was introduced to Corita Kent by the artist, Lara Harwood. Lara's work is vibrant and bold; she enjoys using text and colour to create mood with a strong graphic feel. She explained that Corita was a huge influence on her working practice, technique and inspiration.
Detail of 'Invitation' by Lara Harwood featuring 'Someday is now' quote by Corita Kent.
Cortia Kent was not only a pioneer of art and design; an art educator and an innovator in the 60's and 70's LA art scene, she was also a Catholic nun! Frances Elizabeth Kent joined the order of the Immaculate Heart in 1936, aged 18, and became Sister Mary Corita, Corita meaning 'little heart'.
Sister Corita headed up the art department of the Immaculate Heart College. She taught her students innovative and creative ways to capture everyday scenes and objects and re-present them in an extraordinary way. Her work ethic (and expectations) were astonishing. Her homework demands would regularly see her students producing over 100 drawings a day (don't worry, that's not what's coming!).
'There is no art' she used to say, 'we do everything as well as we can'. For her, and her students, their purpose was to see, connect, understand and share. She believed art was intrinsic to human experience and social justice.
Creativity belongs to the artist in each of us. To create means to relate. The root meaning of the word art is 'to fit together' and we all do this every day. Corita Kent
Making the ordinary extraordinary. Being inspired by Corita Kent.
Cut a small rectangle in a sheet of paper. Look through it. What do you see? It could be in your house or outside. Sister Corita used street signs, packaging, newspapers and advertising. She'd capture the essence of an idea and roll them all together in her vibrant compositions. Do it for 15 minutes. Sketch or write down things that interest you.
Head out on a walk. Take your camera phone with you. Take a photo every 5 or 10mins of your walk. Review them when you get home and create a drawing from key moments from your stroll.
Cut up a newspaper. Take 2 headlines and 2 adverts. Glue them into your sketchbook. Draw or paint over them.
Draw something you see everyday, something that is overlooked or ignored. Just by devoting some time and attention to it you will elevate it from it's ordinary, everyday status, to something to be looked at. What colours will you choose? Could that make it extraordinary?
Old Chains - piled up in East Cowes by the old Chain Ferry kiosk. Watercolour, ink and pastel on handmade paper.
Further Reading
Here are 2 great resources that explain more about Sister Corita's life, work and design legacy.
The Extraordinary Story of Corita Kent, the “Pop Art Nun” (hyperallergic.com)
Here are a list of 'The Rules' that all of her students worked to in her lessons.
And finally a wonderful quote to set us all up for a week of creativity...
Don't belittle yourself. Be BIG yourself. Corita Kent