My Independence Pass Print

Here is Independence Pass. She stands proudly at 48x60 inches. She was inspired by my favorite hike across the Continental Divide to Aspen in Colorado. The beauty and majesty of ancient stone thrust thousands of feet into the sky is epic. I felt so powerful and yet so insignificant from the top. The journey up was intense and filled with adventures along the way. In this piece, I worked to evoke the mountains' strength and grandeur, alone with no trace of humanity. During this Covid time, I have been searching for strength, and I have concluded that movement and nature are my powerhouses. This work balances the two nicely for me. I created this painting layer, upon layer, upon layer of thin, translucent paint washes. I love working this way because my favorite paintings at the MFA in Boston were the Impressionists. I loved their wonderful bravery and use of color and brushstroke. I used to play a game and stand as close as the guards would let a little girl stand to a famous work of art so I could see the color variations within the brushstrokes. I loved to imagine when they were placed down in response to the other marks already made and in anticipation of the ones to come. This is how I like to work as a painter: balancing the ebb and flow of my marks, building and defining my vision. I love being totally present, brave, and listening and looking. "What if" and "why not" guide each of my paintings. I start with a sketch in graphite then lay in the larger shapes then I let go and jump in! I share a few process videos that show me (for scale) as I work on Facebook (.artist.1) and Instagram (katewilson.artist). Stop by and say hello! Thank you for reading about my art. I am so happy to share it with you! Stay safe out there and enjoy the space you can create for yourself. Love, Kate