View of the Castle and the Capitol is an enchanting bird’s eye perspective of the Smithsonian buildings as they shimmer in the fresh sunlight just after a rainy morning.  The aquatint is the result of Ms. Arike’s day of sketching from the roof of the Smithsonian Castle in late March 2008.

Ms. Arike’s reaction to light and the effect it has on color brings about an unusual juxtaposition of shapes that take on a richer meaning when etched into a plate. The process seems to elevate the image and give it permanence. Printmaking, her medium of choice for many years, involves the complexity and the challenge of overlaying of color that create a richness and luminosity that is impossible to achieve any other way.

Born in Oklahoma City in 1933, Ms. Arike received her BFA from Oklahoma State University.  She has received numerous awards for her prints and has works on paper in the permanent collections of the British Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Portland Museum, as well as numerous museums and collections around the United States.

Special information: 3 color, 3 plate aquatint, signed and numbered. Printed on Rives BFK paper.  Includes a certificate of authenticity. Sold unframed.

Image Dimensions: 8 x 6 inches

Paper Dimensions: 22 x 15 inches

Produced by: K. Caraccio Printing Studio