painters
Artist Statement
Wendy Ketchum
My work is inspired by the play of light on natural forms, and the interesting patterns that result. I am particularly drawn to the abstractions created by the close-up environment versus the more traditional landscape with horizon line, and many of my works reflect this “micro view”. As both a painter and a printmaker, I enjoy moving back and forth between the two mediums, allowing each to influence and complement each other in the expressions of my ideas.
Painting allows me to be more physical and gestural and is a respite from the often meticulous aspects of plate making. Though I usually have a preconceived idea in my mind for my paintings, I enjoy getting lost in the process of applying paint to create color and light.
Printmaking allows for endless possibilities of mark-making, textural elements, and “happy accidents” that often result from the unpredictable nature of the process. Though I enjoy the craft of carving traditional woodblocks for editions, I have recently developed a more intuitive method of working an image through layering – of color, form, and technique – to produce one-of-a-kind prints. Because the work is more process driven, the final image evolves with each successive run through the press. My current prints are created by overprinting multiple plates on absorbent Clayboard instead of paper, and adding encaustic wax for depth and translucency. I am intrigued by the ambiguity that results from looking through competing layers of transparent images.