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shown in several cities but Markwith has no
intention of selling it.
“I don’t start with a preconceived idea
of what I’m going to make,” Markwith said.
“It’s more a process of trying this and trying
that and seeing what works. I start in my
own head and I’m responding to the way
I compare different elements. It’s almost a
process of sculpture even though they’re
hanging on the wall.”
The main living space is more intentional.
The furniture is minimal, modern and neutral
— the only color comes from the red and
yellow throw pillows on the couch. Markwith
and Koskialho purposefully decorated
in this way to allow the busy art in the room
to take center stage.
“Meeri and I both like this concept of
minimalism. There was even a question of
having these colored pillows here,” Markwith
said. “But generally neutral decor is
best. With interior design, I think mixing
textures is the most important thing — sticking
to one color palette, but then mixing
textures.”
Which is, coincidentally, just like his art —
layering and mixing textures with a focus
on black and white (and sometimes red) as
the primary colors. Four paintings (which
he changes out every couple of months)
hang on the primary wall above the glass
table and the couch. The one that grabs
the most attention is the large black canvas
above the couch, constructed using fabric
under layers of paint to give it texture.
“One of the things I like to be able to do
is curate walls,” Markwith said. “I like to be
able to exhibit work here. They are intended
to stand on their own, but I also like that
they sort of form these dialogues between
each other.”
The other three are smaller. One is primarily
white with papery layers, while
another black with two holes and fabric
stretched around the openings. The third
and most elaborate has two canvases
stacked with a hanging rag in front and wire
jutting out.
“One of the biggest limitations in painting
is that you always have a rectangle,”
Markwith said. “Breaking up the rectangle
gives it its own character. With each work, I
want it to have its own character. I want to
make something you haven’t seen before.”
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