I’m All In

by | Painting

tractor_sussex_county_pa_bampfield

I can’t speak for other artists, only for myself. Inspiration finds me in the everyday moments, often when I least expect it. Lately, I’ve been drawn to the beauty around me—farmland, water, beaches, and the everyday rhythm of life in Sussex County, Delaware.

Take my next abstract collection, for example. It’s inspired by a lone tractor sitting quietly in a field through the seasons. This image stirs something deep within me, reminding me of my Paw-Paw, who was a sugar cane farmer. As a child, I used to ride with him on his tractor, sitting high above the ground, filled with excitement. The hum of the engine, the feel of the wind, and the thrill of sharing those rides with him—those moments left a lasting impression on me.

When I find myself emotionally drawn to a subject, like that tractor, my thoughts shift to how I might paint it. I start asking myself questions: What emotions am I feeling? How do I want to express them? What colors belong on the canvas to convey that feeling? Then comes the choice of medium. Should I use oil paint to capture the richness and depth? Or maybe pen and ink, where the details emerge in fine lines and points.

I also wonder, Would a realistic depiction of the scene convey the story best, or would an abstract piece speak louder? Abstracts, in their openness, can sometimes say more, leaving room for interpretation and connection.

When you think about artistic inspiration, what comes to mind for you? Do you feel it in memories, in the places you love, or in the everyday moments that often go unnoticed?

Feel free to explore more of my work here on the website or follow along on Instagram to see what I’m working on next!

I was sitting on the floor surrounded by tubes of oil paint, canvases and palette knives. I can’t answer why I paint abstract paintings sitting on the floor, I just do. Maybe I feel more grounded to my surroundings. I painted three 5 x 7 abstract oil paintings that day. Completely mesmerized by the feel of the paint with the noisy swoosh that a palette knife makes on a canvas. Think of a kitten licking your hand and that sandpapery feeling. I can hear that. Painting with a palette knife is relaxing and rhythmic as I go over the canvas, a horizontal mark, a vertical mark, change color then lay a larger swath of paint. I continue this action over and over until I’m satisfied that the canvas and I have finished our conversation.
The last painting however, that canvas and I had a moment. I realized as I was painting this canvas that I’m All In. This is where I’m going in this later stage of my life. I’m a visual artist.
The weight of that realization didn’t hit me until I signed up for the Montco Studio Tour that took place in September 2021. What was my conversation going to look like with the public? How was I going to explain how I feel about these pieces of artwork in front of us? Would anyone even like a painting by me? Would they feel what I feel as they look at the finished artwork? So many questions that ran through my head, of course the loudest statement that I kept hearing was I don’t want to make a fool of myself. I had to keep throwing cold water on that thought. The cold water won and I survived the Montco Studio Tour. In fact, people did want to see and hear what the canvas and I had to say.
Katherine

 

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