Sunday, December 29, 2013

Getting To Know Kathy Durst Artist

By Marcia Marks


Kathy Durst artist was educated at the University of Texas at Austin. Born in Redwing, Minnesota, she grew up in Rockford, Illinois and went to an all-girls school. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Arts and an all-level teaching certificate in Visual Arts. Having retired from teaching, Kathy was invited to display a selection of pieces from her ark-full of painted collages at her first solo show at the Ross Gallery in 2014.

With 25 years of experience adding beauty to the world, the artist has used almost every medium and technique imaginable. The work that is available online is mostly produced using paper painting collage. "Roseate Spoonbill" is an example of the level of detail and range of colors and textures that can be achieved using this technique.

"Lammie", and her "Roseatte Spoonbill" illustrate the amazing amount of depth and detail that can be achieved with fun and simple techniques and materials. "Yulka, " a collage showing a young girl in a swimming pool using an empty soft drink bottle for floatation. This really shows off the three dimensional effects that can be achieved with paper paint collage.

The materials involved in painted paper collage are easily available and not at all expensive. The method can be taught to a group of under-fives in a matter of an afternoon. Give these same children a quarter of a century of experience and the Durst talent and skill, and the future is going to be fun to watch. Try and view some videos on the Internet of people using this method. It will give you an insight into the artist's work. It is incredibly relaxing to view an artist at a day at the office.

The artist appears to be going through an animalistic phase in terms of her chosen subject matter. This may be the result of her forthcoming show at the Ross Gallery. In "Take Me Along, " we see a couple of scuba divers breezing their way through a sea of cuttings from at atlas. They are apparently swimming to music, because they are also awash in a sprinkling of musical notes. This imagery is difficult to achieve with a simple paintbrush and paper.

View a few of her efforts and you will be itching to start producing your own masterpieces. Spend time losing yourself in the detail and really study her imaginative use of colors and textures. You will soon be clearing a space in your home for your own "studio" and hoarding interesting scraps of paper to the amusement of your friends and family.

Her "Rose, " is a different kettle of fish. Apart from being a departure from animals, it may or may not be another example of the painted paper collage technique. It could be. She is that good. The blossom is in shades of flamingo and coral, with little splashes of the main hues dotted around in the surrounding foliage.

Kathy Durst artist uses textured papers and stencils to give her work character and depth. Don't be discouraged if your own efforts look like something a four-year-old produced in Sunday School. Give yourself a quarter of a century and people all over the world will be admiring your efforts.




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