Artist Statement
Getting outside is good for the soul. Through my artwork, I try to bring the outside in. Many things give me artistic direction. I am interested in and fascinated by Nature. I am eager to explore new materials and techniques to interpret observations. My fascination of Nature not only covers the joy of seeing a bird, a flower or a certain landscape but also how color, patterns, shapes, space, lights and darks attract my attention. I look further to get to what we only see if we look with great concentration. Textures, gestures, and rhythms matter. Often they are hidden to the naked eye at first observation.
I have always found the beauty of nature to provide an amazing source of awe and inspiration. While I make no attempt to portray actual plants or animals, I do want my creations to look like they could have lived or grown somewhere. Living with beautiful objects that pay tribute to the natural world reminds us to slow down and helps us reconnect with nature.
One of my favorite quotes about art and nature is from an unknown source. The quote sums up how I feel about being an artist. There is no other resource so plentiful, ever-changing, and full of information than nature around us. Get ready to dive in with both feet and don’t forget to bring your sense of humor.
-Kathy Grundei
I have always found watercolor to be fascinating because of the unpredictability of the medium. This may have started with my first box of an 8-color set of Prang watercolors back in elementary school. I can still remember watching a drop of color exploding in a puddle of water. It still is fascinating to watch!
As the years have come and gone I have continued to play with watercolor.
I am intrigued with the layering of color, additions of collage elements, textures and stamping. Printmaking and collage extend that fascination in different ways.
My subject matter is what ever is around me. I grew up in Bloomington, MN and very close to the Minnesota River. The river was a playground, a place of observation as seasons changed. I loved following the paths and noticing. Maybe my close observation driven by curiosity is still with me as I paint. Each painting is like exploring a path. I have that same sense of place as I had back then.