The Value of My Art
Welcome to my world!
I struggled my whole life not believing in my worth, value, and purpose. I know what it’s like to feel weighed down by negative emotions, mind chatter, or life circumstances, and spend time in my head obsessively going in circles. But I persistently develop positive beliefs by exploring myself and my art.
My meticulously realized imagery of floating subjects are reminders to get up “off the ground”, focus on the positive, and not feel weighed down by negativity.
Although my work doesn’t follow the rules of ‘reality’, lifelike detail opens the gateway of possibility and creates believability, so my imaginative and curious worlds feel grounded in reality.
But, why stay ‘grounded’, when you can fly.
I feature uncommon combinations of animals and objects as a reminder to raise curiosity, see the world with new eyes, and go beyond the ordinary comfort zone where anything feels possible.
The subject is intimately close, while the softly blended distance creates space to breathe, and maintain inner peace.
I create beauty and harmony using vibrant colors to counter negativity, elicit uplifting emotions, and represent positive qualities. My paintings are reminders to look on the bright side of life.
To silence mind chatter, I paint without brushstrokes allowing you to see beyond the paint surface, so your inspired mind can wander with purpose. Engaging imagination in this way helps you truly see and validate your unique self.
My intention is for you to imagine (believe) the tiny scene is real. If it’s real, and you connect with and believe in it, then the imagery becomes a graphic reminder to believe in yourself. When you believe in yourself, you see positive possibilities, are reminded of what you can do, and strive to be your best. Because when anything feels possible, you will choose to elevate your world with purpose.
My art helps you BELIEVE!
Helpful Worlds of Possibility
Hope you are doing well. I thought I’d share some of my reasons for why I am choosing to paint the floating islands. I started painting them back in May, and I really love them.
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I am also extremely interested in symbolism. I may be a bit unusual in that aspect because I almost obsessively (re)search for an underlying meaning in everything, and have always emphasized this unseen aspect of my work - the symbolic story. But, realizing that most people connect to artwork on a personal level, and probably won’t do the level of research into the symbolism that I do, I decided to look at my work with new eyes to understand why I create my work - irregardless of universal symbolism
Just looking at my somewhat surreal floating islands - Here’s how they help me:
- Getting my subjects up off the ground - I felt lighter inside.
- Allows me to release the “rules” of traditional landscape. I felt more free.
- My brain tends towards depression, so this work helps me focus on the positive side of life - to be lifted up.
- Helps me escape the dreary, negative realities of life, and rise up out of the swamp of sadness.
- Helps me stop obsessively going around in circles inside my head. I can focus on something positive.
- The subjects feel more intimate because they have their own place to be - their own little piece of the world.
- They are beautiful, happy, uplifting, motivating, optimistic, vibrant, exciting, but also calm and peaceful. They help counter any dull or depressing negativity in the world (or my head).
- They don’t follow the “rules” of reality, but have a sense of relatable believability.
- They express that which is beyond the ordinary, in the realm of imagination, where anything feels possible.
My hope is that my work will touch you in a similar way, and help elevate your existence!
Love to You.
Peace and Delight,
Kathryn
The way we choose to see the world creates the world we see.
Barry Neil Kaufman
Coloring Inside the Lines
I knew from a very young age that I was gifted with the ability and desire to be an artist. I remember one afternoon, playing with a friend who was about four years older, and we were both working in coloring books. I was just busy coloring away with my crayons, when she stopped and said how amazed she was that I could stay inside the lines with such ease while moving my hands at such a fast pace.
I looked at her quizzically, because I thought this was just normal coloring behavior. I was just doing what came naturally - no one told me I had to color inside the lines.
Now, I know what you’re thinking, that it’s better to color outside the lines because it means to not follow the rules, to think creatively, behave in an unconventional manner, and to not be so rigid or controlled. But, there are some positive qualities to coloring inside the lines as well.
It meant that at a very young age, I had developed very fine motor skills, honed spatial abilities, the ability to experiment with color and shape while learning about cause and effect, tapping into self-control and self-confidence, the ability to plan, organize, and stay within a framework with great focus and concentration. Yup, I’d say that sounds like me.
As an artist, my process is to first create and print out a computer sketch of my idea, trace transfer the lines to the panel, and paint once the lines a dry.
Walnut Oil
I’ve had some questions about walnut oil. Here are some answers in a nutshell…
ba dum bum 🤓
Walnut oil history in art dates back to the ancient Egyptians, and was accepted and preferred by many artists, especially in the Renaissance period.
In general, since walnut oil is less viscous than linseed oil, and easier to manipulate straight out of the tube, solvents are not needed to ease the flow of the paint.
The fatty acid composition of walnut oil indicates that it yellows and cracks less over time than linseed oil. It oxidizes slower, but has a tougher film once cured. I put my small paintings inside an old cooler with a low watt lightbulb for heat to speed the oxidizing process.
I use Art Treehouse cold-pressed walnut oil paint because it is not processed with alkyd (a synthetic polyester resin), petroleum-based solvents, alkaline chemicals, and bleaches unlike most oils used for painting.
Art Treehouse offers a water-washed walnut oil they refine themselves over a several day process. It starts with cold-pressed walnut oil added to a container of water to filter the particulates. When the oil and water separate, the water is removed, and more fresh water is added until the oil is “clean”. The result is an oil that dries faster, is even clearer than regular walnut oil, and provides excellent color depth. Water-washed oil is more viscous that chemically refined oil, and works well with impasto techniques.
Because I have MCS, without this paint, I would not be able to produce my art. Grateful beyond words!
About Me
Artist Statement
My motto, “See the Unseen” is realized thru symbolism, the language of my art. As a Magical Realist, I faithfully represent the seen exterior, thereby revealing an unseen spirit that symbolizes uplifting qualities of human nature. My small, beautiful paintings create a big impression, and use accessible imagery rich in substance to inspirit visual delight and lighthearted introspection.
I bring common elements together in uncommon ways, and contrast intimate detail with blended distance; unifying these differences paints a more cohesive story. Elements are combined using intuition and philosophic whimsy until it ‘feels right’, even if the grouping is unusual.
Due to Multiple Chemical Sensitivity, I use water-washed walnut oil paint, solvent-free techniques, and high quality eco-friendly panels. I work in highly detailed, thin layers of finely blended colors without brushstrokes. This allow you to see beyond the familiar surface and focus on the subject’s essence. Titles are chosen by the symbolism of the subject. My paintings serve as joyful reminders to find depth of meaning by inspiring imagination to soar.
Biography
Magical Realist, Kathryn E. Noska, paints accessible imagery rich in substance to inspirit visual delight and lighthearted introspection. After receiving an AFA from Montgomery County Community College she studied 17th Century Still Life painting at Chester County Art Association under Bill Ewing. Kathryn has won excellence awards in the local Philadelphia Suburban area including the Board of Directors Award from Cheltenham Art Center, the Carolyn Alber Memorial Award from in the Philadelphia Tri/State Artist Equity, and first prize in painting for the ArtAbility exhibition at the Bryn Mawr Rehab Center.
Her work has been accepted in numerous galleries and juried exhibitions including the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, Yellow Springs Art Show, The Art Gallery at Devon Horse Show, and Malvern Retreat House Art Show. Kathryn’s work is represented in West Chester, PA, cherished in private collections, and has been exhibited in New York, Oregon and California.
ART and MCS
Being an Artist with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
What is MCS?
An Environmental Illness manifesting as an unusually acute allergy-like reaction to extremely low levels of many seemingly unrelated chemicals and toxicants (triggers): VOC’s, Pollutants, Solvents, Perfumes, Fragrance, Petroleum, Aldehydes, Smoke, Pesticides, Plastic/resin, Pine products, Cleaning/hygiene products, Paint/varnish etc., and often Pollen, Mold, Dust, Pet dander, Food, and Sensory input. Aka: sensitive to the modern world.
How MCS Affects Me
I began training as an oil painter at 12, but gradually became ‘allergic’ to the paints/solvents. I switched to acrylic, but am sensitive to ammonia, formaldehyde, and petroleum (acrylic is plastic). Sensitive to most art materials, but a painter at heart, I did persistent research to find a paint (vs. another art form) that won’t trigger symptoms.
Huzzah! Art Treehouse walnut oil paints. This company makes sure the oil they use is not chemically processed at all stages of production. It's just cold-pressed walnut oil, which they water-wash to remove impurities. I can work with the paint when wet with no problems, but I notice that I’m sensitive to the ketones and aldehydes off gassing while the paintings cure.
I work solvent-free, using paint straight from the tube, or loosened with water-washed walnut oil or gel. Choosing a non-triggering painting surface was challenging. I like panels vs canvas, so I found that Ampersand makes their boards formaldehyde free.
Clean up is easy. Remove most of the paint from brushes with grapeseed oil, and wipe them on paper towels. Then wash them really well with Dr. Bronner’s Unscented soap.
I am overjoyed to have a way to produce art so that I can still bring beauty and meaning into the world.
Magical Realism
What is Magical Realism
Faithfully portrays the ‘seen’ exterior of objects, using naturalistic technique, to reveal the ‘unseen’ spirit which endows all things with a deeper meaning.
Brings common elements together in uncommon ways with unusual points of view. However, everything is presented as though within the realm of possibility, maintaining an illusion of reality.
It’s never just about what you see. Elements are intuitively brought together like characters in a play, always telling a deeper symbolic story.
Accepts the supernatural, as part of reality, and creates imaginative worlds that seem believable.
Contrasts forward movement with a sense of vast distance; and uses miniature detail, even in expansive paintings.
How Does it Relate to Life?
A way to view the world; an idea that all things hold deeper meaning. There is more to life than what’s observably in front of you.
Synchronicity - seeing life symbolically, reading signs in daily life as random events that happen for a meaningful reason.
You are the artist of your life ‘painting'. Thoughts and feelings connect you to the realm of possibility. Life responds by reflecting similar elements back; life happens thru, not to you.
Creating a life you want means being conscious about what you put into your ‘painting’. Using imagination in this way, you draw to you elements you want to use.
You tell your own story, paint your own picture, and are the ultimate creator of your life! Make it a good one!