Kathy McKnight

I’m from Vancouver, B.C. Canada and now split my time living between the Sunshine Coast of B.C. and Sebastopol California.

My style of painting is abstract impressionism and I prefer to use oil mixed with cold wax medium. The cold wax creates unique effects that would be difficult to achieve with oil alone. My paintings usually have many layers and each layer may be applied quite differently depending on the effect I want to achieve. This technique brings complexity and depth to the work with unique visual and physical textures that I find comparable to the interesting light and shapes that I see when I am in nature.

I have a deep connection with the natural world. Through my photography and plein air painting, I study the light, atmospheric effects and the myriad of organic shapes found in nature. I’m curious how my memory recalls images from my outdoor studies and I’m often surprised on how these memories weave intuitively through my abstract paintings. These images blend in my memory to become a rich and diverse creative source for my abstract work.

My paintings contain stories of my moments in Mother Nature. Each layer builds the story with visual language until the painting is complete, the story told.