Artist of the Month

November 2009

Kathryn J. Beale

Granger, TX

I was born in Tuscon Arizona in 1955. My father was in the Air Force, and though we moved often, I spent most of my childhood in Portsmouth New Hampshire on the Atlantic coast. My parents exposed all of their children to art through gallery trips to Maine and my father and grandmother drew and painted in their spare time.

I feel I am the perfect example of how using TheArtList site can change and help your art career. Prior to using the site my art lacked a sense of direction. I was newly retired from over twenty years of working with children. Though I was always working on some type of art, it was never looked at seriously by anyone. I discover an ad for Red Bull Art of Can, Chicago 07 on your site and entered. Having no experience working with aluminum can material I created a sculpture and entered. I was awarded third place and was flown to Chicago along with accommodations for 2 days. They had received over 400 entries and from those, selected 50 for the show. One of the highlights of my art career was seeing my sculpture printed on a billboard next to Wrigley Field. You can see a photo of this billboard on my blog. I also entered Art of Can 08 in Houston, and excepted out of a large group of entries. And finally, this year I was informed that my entry "Common Ground" has placed in the top three for Red Bull Art of Can, DC 09, to be held on October 8th. My place will be awarded at a gala at Union Station on the night of October 8th. It is because of the first Art of Can ad I read on TheArtList that I was able to find a new and exciting direction for my work. Not only have I increased my artistic ability working with recycled aluminum cans, but my family life has also been enriched as they share the process of these competitions, especially the celebrations!

TAL: How and when did you start creating art?

KJB :

I always liked modeling or building with my hands. If I drew something I couldn't just leave it on the paper, it had to be cut out and added to something else. In second grade I remember putting away the reading work book and taking out my crayons and scissors. I created a completely cut out meal along with plates and silver ware. I saw nothing wrong with this and I couldn't convince the little girl across from me to join in the fun. While I was handing her a bunch of paper grapes I got caught. I must have been hungry or something.

TAL: What media and genres do you work in?

KJB : What media and genres do you work in? Currently I am working with recycled aluminum cans. I use the cans to cover sculptures that I've built from papier mache, plaster and foam. The aluminum is used for it's unique reflective quality and provides the color for my pieces.

TAL: Who or what are your influences?

KJB :

There are three artists that have been a part of my life since childhood. The movies and books written about them during the 60's left such an impact on me that the first art books I bought were about them. Michelangelo, Van Gogh, and Matisse. Michelangelo's ability to lift the spirit by the sheer beauty of his craft, Van Gogh to convey emotion by mark and color and Matisse where every line seems a curve, flexible and rhythmical like a song.

TAL: What was your inspiration for ""?

KJB : "Common Ground" - I wanted to created something with a DC feel because this "Red Bull Art of Can" was to be held there in the fall. After brainstorming with my oldest daughter she suggested doing the symbols of the Democrat and Republican parties. I thought that was too cliche but then flashed on the idea of them sharing a can instead of each having their own. I recalled hearing the phrase "Common Ground" a few times and thought it fit perfect. This might be the only thing they have in common, but sometimes such a small thing can open the door to greater communication.

TAL: Describe your creative process.

KJB :

Something or someone will provoke me to create some quick thumbnail sketches. Once I have a good idea of an image I begin to search for objects to build the base and armature from. There is a lot of recycling during this phase. I search through piles of old material either in our barn or I may go to the re-hap store and search. The base of Common Ground is from an old mini satellite dish I beg my husband for. The armature is taped, glue and wired together. On top of that I began to build the bulk of the piece using papier mache, foam pieces and sometimes plaster. Once I have finished, I am only satisfied if I think the sculpture could be shown as a finished piece at this stage. The final stage is to hot glue on pieces of aluminum can that have already been washed, flatten, cut and sorted by shape and color. This is the most time consuming and the hardest of the three stages. Because the aluminum expands when heated it also contracts when cooled, and often pops off the pieces by the next day. The end result is so unique in appearance that it keeps me hook in a love hate relationship. Each sculpture I create I try to discover new ways to push the envelope with this material.

TAL: What are you working on currently?

KJB : I am almost ready to begin "Canning" two large sculptures for a show I would like to do in the future called "On the Brink" I have chosen five endangered animals that I wish to create in an unusual presentation of their plight.

TAL: What are your near/long term goals as an artist?

KJB :

To find a gallery for "On the Brink" once the sculptures are completed. It would be wonderful if that gallery also provided an educational component that involved tours for school children and teachers.

TAL: Where can people view/purchase your work?

KJB : I am always available to do commission work. Examples of my work can be seen on my blog, kathrynjbeale.blogspot.com