Rothko Hauschildt - Coffee Driven Texas Artist

Winter is Coming Rothko Hauschildt I’m 41, married, and have lived in Austin, Texas for eight years. I’m originally from Minnesota and miss the winters like crazy. I love the fall colors and the snow. I have two fantastic parakeets who bring much joy and laughter to our home. I love coffee, music, animals of all sorts, and of course art.

Winter is Coming © Rothko Hauschildt

I first realized I was an artist during my high school art classes. I had an excellent art education in school and a very encouraging teacher.

“Please tell us all about your art... style, mediums, themes, and process. “

My art is primarily abstract, using encaustic or acrylics. I find that my themes often originate with the fluid nature of encaustics and the deep pigments in the paint, and what can be done by heating it. Color, not for color’s sake, but for the emotions which it evokes, is a strong factor in my work. I love texture and while I don’t work in oils, I use all sorts of different texture mediums for acrylic to achieve the same effect.

“What kind of music do you listen to while creating art?”

I listen to the very eclectic collection of songs on my iPod, always on “shuffle.” I listen to things like Guided By Voices, Bob Mould, R.E.M., and Muse.

19 © Rothko Hauschildt

“How do you get inspired when uninspired?”

I look at the artsy-craftsy mixed-media magazines like Somerset Studio and Cloth Paper Scissors, both of which share a certain aesthetic I find attractive. I listen to music. I get out my camera and do the arm’s length self-portrait trick. I watch my pet birds, two delightful parakeets.

“What do you do in your spare time besides art? “

My other great passion is coffee. I am a barista and spend my spare time reading Barista Magazine, going to barista classes, seminars, and latte art “throwdowns” (competitions).

“What are you working on now or most recently?”

Right now I am working on creating pieces for the East Austin Studio Tour coming up in mid-November. Also framing, packaging, creating a bill of sale form, and all the other little business details of being an artist.

Leidenschaft painting

“What is the best artwork you ever created, and why?”

I made a small book for a friend using text and images that celebrated our relationship. I have bipolar disorder and was in a manic frame of mind at the time which heightened my creativity and concentration -- not that I would ever recommend bipolar mania to anyone, though. The quality of the work was the highest I have achieved thus far and the whole book was a great success.

Leidenschaft © Rothko Hauschildt

“What role does the artist play in society? “

Poet, prophet, teacher, commentator, explorer, storyteller, revealer.

“Have you sold many artworks? “

I have entered the art world only recently and have yet to show or sell a piece. I hope to change that next month during the East Austin Studio Tour.

“What are your favorite ways of promoting art online? “

That's something I have yet to look into and hope that Artpromotivate can help me achieve.

Mas'r © Rothko Hauschildt

“Can you tell us about your main art influences? “

Rothko, Rothko, Rothko. A little Barnett Newman but mostly Rothko. Hans Hoffman. Michael Stipe. Werner Herzog. Urban exploration photos like those found on forbiddenplaces.net; industrial decay. The timeless and the tragic.

“Can you recommend a great contemporary artist and tell us a little about their art? “

Anselm Kiefer is my favorite living artist. His art contemplates the cosmos, delves deep into the Holocaust and what it is to be German in light of that event, and explores the personal as it relates to the universal.

“Please tell us something interesting in your life.”

I went to Costa Rica this summer and visited Monteverde, where I met up with a local coffee farmer and toured his family’s farm, met his father and grandfather, and visited his cooperative’s cafe. It was nothing like I had expected and one of the high points of my life thus far.

“Where do you see yourself as an artist 10 years from now? “

I would like to have my own studio (right now I work in a shared space), working on larger pieces in both acrylic and encaustic. Ten years from now I will be around 50 years old, more confident in myself and my work, giving encouragement to younger artists just starting out.

“Do you have any parting advice you can give to aspiring and emerging artists?“

rothko hauschildt Just get out there and do what it takes to make it happen. Be fearless.