Commissions and Collections
- • Installation at Canadian Pavilion, Expo 86
- • Collection of Museum of Civilization, Ottawa
- • CP Hotels
- • Delta Hotels
- • Campney & Murphy Law Offices
- • PetroCan
- • Bellevue Club Seattle
- • Crown Point Hotel Victoria
- • Holland America Ship “Windsurf”
- • Evergreen Hospital Bellevue WA
Please contact me directly to inquire about private or corporate commissions or special orders.
ARTIST STATEMENT 2006
In my work, the motif of Still Life continues to present a form for the lavish saturation of the senses. First a painter, my art practice has focused on ceramics for many years. In 2006, following workshops at the Seattle fine Arts Academy, I undertook a series of paintings. Deep in my personal ceramics collection I found a group of delightful teacups. They are highly decorative, even seductive, with beautifully coloured saturated glazes and gold overglazes. They have provided the basis of this series of paintings.
I continue to be challenged by the play between the two dimensional image, the three dimensional image, the impact of colour and that space between representation and reality. I have heard it said that the Universe itself is to be found in just one small measure of reality.
In both ceramic and paint, I use the power of colours, patterns, forms, and the juxtaposition of objects in the development of composition. Richly detailed fruits, vegetables, flowers, bottles and patterns rise beneath the smooth buttery textures and brilliant colors of transparent lead glazes. As ever, the seductive glow of glazes and the luxuriant application of paint to canvas offer a temptation to the viewer to contemplate the offering, but makes no promises. This is the process called art making and it continues to challenge me in both ceramics and paint.
REVIEWS
“Growing Evidence” John Ramsay Gallery. Vancouver BC Katherine McLean is a Vancouver artist who has been delighting Vancouver and Seattle audiences since graduating from Emily Carr in 1985 with her whimsical still life ceramic sculptures. Moving easily between realism and fantasy, McLean pulls off a plethora of artifacts that fill the gallery with colour and light.
The two dozen objects and wall pieces in this show come with a twist. Visitors will find ceramic flowers - even a red sunflower - and fruit arranged in lop-sided vases and bowls that resemble artichokes. An eight-foot wide ceramic “feast” entitled California Dreamin' comes with its own 3D bottles of Zinfandel and banjo. Carnal Summer is a set of four ceramic rose-covered wall panels - a cool play on early minimalist painting. Painterly qualities of transparent glazes achieve richer and more saturated colours in the ceramics, while her drawings and paintings take the still life motif into more complicated patterns and compositions.
Mia Johnson. Preview Magazine.
“Exuberant descendants of your grandmother’s porcelain bouquets via the prairie funk of Joe Fafard and Victor Cicansky”
Seattle Studio
Private Residence
Kirkland, Washington
98034
Vancouver Studio
Rear 1359 Cartwright St.,
Granville Island
Vancouver BC V6H 3R7
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