What do you like to make?
Kathryn Boehm: I create non-representational, abstract work. The work has become more mixed media over the years: oil paint, oil stick, cold wax, acrylic skins and digital capture images. I have this new idea of printing photographs of grapefruit skins, then drawing and painting on top of the print.
Who/what/where currently inspire/s your work?
KB: Last summer I reconnected with my love for unusual objects, grapefruit skins and orange construction fencing, seed pods and dead clematis vine. I have also been collecting ragged ribbon. These objects are a source of excitement for my mind and eyes. The vine and seedpods are different lines and shapes occurring in nature. I'm collecting these materials and bringing them back into my abstract work as an underlying structure.
Artists: Eva Hesse, Jessica Stockholder, Wolf Kahn, Cornelia Parker
I've also started working with video. There is a woman named Rachel Riley, who does videos of her drawings and she edits them in such a way that they become alive.
What theme/s occupy your work?
KB: Organic forms. Color—exploring a certain palette.
A few of the last paintings I did had a unintentional claustrophobic feel, like they were crowed, anxious.
What are you listening to/watching/reading lately?
KB: I started listening to this podcast by DJ Angelica. It is sort of a dub mix. I'm also really into Indian-fusion jazz inspired by Ravi Shankar. Love Bjork.
I'm studying Chinese/Japanese ink paintings and Buddhism. It is definitely on my mind.
Do you keep a journal/sketchbook/blog/website?
KB: I am working on a website. Journaling/Sketching is an on and off discipline. I am not really disciplined about it.
What have you learned from your work?
KB: I've learned that the three dimensional objects are important in the inspirational aspect of work. And while I want to do non-representational work, it's not all or nothing, finding a middle-ground is where the magic is going to happen. And as much control as I've given up for the abstract work, I still have a long way to go. I think my work as a whole is dependent upon to what degree I can give up control.
Who is and what question would you ask of the artist who has most inspired you?
KB: Georgia O'Keeffe, because she had such a unique vision, and she was one of few women within the boys club of the early 20th century art scene. I would like to know if devoting her life to creating art was enough of an outlet for her nurturing womb being (sensibility innately and biologically shared by all women)? Or, did she have some regrets about not having children?
A sampling of recent work by Kathryn Boehm:
A view of Kathryn's Studio:
(All photographs are copyrighted and used here with the permission of Kathryn Boehm. For more information about obtaining reprints, please contact Kathryn Boehm.)Please visit www.artyear.blogspot.com on April 1st for another artist profile!
2 comments:
Kathryn,
It's so nice to see some of your work! Really nice - I especially love the grapefruit skins; they're so succulent and primordial!
Phoenix,
Great site, keep it up! The artist profile is a great idea - it's inspiring to read what other artists are thinking about, and to see their working spaces.
-WS
hey kate! love all this! youre doing so great, im so happy for you! love your cousin liss
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