Kathleen Hope

Mixed Media, Paper,

Fountain Hills, AZ, US

"“Fluent in Cement” To be fluent, both your voice and your material must merge, a bond that is not necessarily immediate, but more a journey of experimentation with many painting methods and products. Eventually this union of voice and material yields an eloquent and distinct style. My first love of art was ceramics. Though I never envisioned myself as a potter and chose to be a painter, concrete has always intrigued me. With characteristics similar to fired clay, I use it in a painterly way. Preparing my own mixes, I combine cement with plaster and dried pigments giving my completed works a sculptural dimension. The porous surface also allows me to create unusual markings. With a background in Interior Design and Color Psychology, I gained a diverse understanding of industry products. Through Architectural Color Consulting, I acquired a comprehensive knowledge of color mixing and balancing appropriate color combinations. It has shaped me to be a colorist along with the desire to create art that is both textural and unique. Over time, this foundation has allowed me to become “fluent in cement.”"