Two days ago I posted a review from the Lexington Herald Leader of my 2001 exhibit at the Carnegie Center. (To read that review click here.)
Today I bring you some more recent, mixed-media pieces that were done since that exhibit, actually since my bipolar symptoms have been well-managed by medication.
First, a drawing in ink and color pencil that includes a polymer clay bead to add dimension to the eye on the right. The bead was made by layering and then rolling sheets of pink, yellow, green, and white clay to create snake that was then sliced and baked in a toaster oven.
The next small piece is also ink, color pencil, and polymer clay. In it you can see a closer shot of the beads, these made using the same technique as described above. These particular beads were, in fact, sliced cross-sections from the same rolled snake of clay.
The last mixed-media piece was created in several parts. The background is tempera paint that I applied to watercolor paper and then blew with a hairdryer to mix and create texture. Since tempera paint is flat and not very durable, I applied a layer of high gloss polyurethane to both preserve the paint and create a more reflective surface. On top of that background, I glued smaller pieces of white and black craft paper, to which I then added the pink and blue squares that were cut from empty packets of Equal and Sweet ‘N Low (a generic version). In the upper left and lower right hand corners are the O’s of the tic-tac-toe game. The blue plastic base is a recycled cap from my nephew’s cap gun, to which I have added another polymer clay bead. The X in the center is made from pink, orange, and green beads on sterling silver wire.
Tomorrow I will continue this virtual exhibit, posting more mixed-media art created since my bipolar symptoms have been manged effectively by medication. Hope you will stop back by for more art from the sane side of things!
Kathryn M. McCullough 
Kathy, I am enjoying the review of your artwork. I love the color, shapes and impressions they
leave with me. I’m interested also in what they meant to you – on an emotional level. – in the moment of creation. And now as you look at them, what comes up for you? Was there -and is there- a healing connection?
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Great idea, Marlene. I should definitely address the emotional dimension of this work.
By the way, Marlene. I think Sara and I are going to meet you in Americus in May–can’t wait!
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Your art is wonderful, Kathy. Thank you for sharing it with us. 🙂
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Thanks so much, Robin! That means a lot coming from a photographer like you–you have a great eye! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
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Really love the background on the last piece and the creative way you made it.
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How fun that you like the background. Actually, that’s one of my favorite parts–the texture is cool. Thanks so much——–
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I also am enjoying seeing your artwork…they are very fine pieces.
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Thank you, Charles! Great to “see” you this weekend, my friend—————
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I’m no art critic, but I am as impressed with the medicated art as with the non-medicated – both extremely imaginative and impressive.
Agree with the first comment: would love to hear about the motivation behind them, your own interpretation. It’s not everyday I get to speak to an artist.
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Hi, Deanna–Okay, that’s good to know. Don’t know why I didn’t interpret these, but I will definitely do that next time. Thanks for the suggestion. I’m so glad you like the medicated art, as well! Hope you’re enjoying your weekend!
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I love how you use different materials and techniques to experiment with texture. That tempura paint background is stunning.
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Thank you, Maura! It is indeed experimentation–even play–almost. I’m glad you like the tempera background–it was fun to create. Hope you’re enjoying your weekend—————
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I’m fascinated with the new ways you come up to “recycle” what a lot of us consider “garbage”!
Beautiful colours and forms…
Hugs,
Wendy
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Thanks so much, Wendy! It’s amazing what one can make art out of! Take care, my friend—————–
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I don’t think there’s any need to be concerned about a lack of creativity while you’re on medication… these pieces are just as eye-popping as your un-medicated creations! 🙂 (I know the process of creating them is more of a challenge now that you’re managing your symptoms with medication, but the ends results are both beautiful.) Thank you for sharing!
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I’m glad these speak to you, Dana! It does take more time and effort to create now, but as I take an inventory, I realize I’ve done a lot of art since I’ve begun feeling better. Good point——————–
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SO beautiful!
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Thanks so much for stopping by to look and taking the time to comment. Hope you’ll come back again soon!
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