Kathy Kissik, IN THE GARDEN, 2022

14 mixed media paintings

To see a world in a grain of sand And heaven in a wild flower, Hold infinity in the palm of your hand And eternity in an hour.. William Blake

Nature is truth, a supreme force, and our mother. IN THE GARDEN explores themes of growth, life cycles, and the interconnectedness of all things. The narrative of the series is inspired by myths, religion, and fables. Visually, the cues are Baroque and Victorian, interwoven with elements of Pop.

The mixed media paintings are comprised of photos and paintings, re-photographed, computer manipulated and reborn into new versions of themselves. Each reworking brings variation in color, scale, and direction to the evolution of the body of artwork.

The master triptych, Mother, was the starting point for the entire series and each subsequent painting contains flowers that can be traced back to her with the addition of others, photographed and painted throughout the process. The surfaces maintain a skin like appeal with their undulating textures. The art incorporates oil, acrylic, ink, canvas, Belgian linen, board, gel medium, and varnish. The spaces created are deep with movement. Numerous layers have been meticulously applied to create a translucency of light and color.