KELLY WILLIAMS |
IN THE ARTIST'S WORDS
I am a contemporary multidisciplinary painter exploring abstract compositions and textures, the figure, femininity, and the intersection of the physical art with the inner experience. I have primarily worked with encaustic paint (hot beeswax, resin and pigment) and also incorporate oils, cold wax, drawing mediums and acrylic paints into my practice. I am based in Portland, Oregon in a studio specifically designed for teaching workshops and exploring a wide range of artistic processes.
My work is a symbolic, narrative process. It is a progression of disentanglement, a developing of a story, layer by layer. It is only upon coming closer and becoming intimately acquainted with my work that one experiences the intricate textures, subtle imagery, hidden text, and imperfections that make up the whole. Secrets are hidden within the layers, embedded truths expressed and hidden again in this visceral journey.
My journey has included art as a therapeutic tool in my own mental health. With a history of complex PTSD and depression I have struggled to combat overwhelming emotions and experiences by integrating them into the physical and symbolic expressions that words could never capture. This visceral and cathartic embodiment allows me to move through difficult storms and into a state of balance when confronted with disabling symptoms. There is a process of deep excavation that allows me to exercise and transform the internal chaos into the physical object, making the artwork an artifact of an experience which no longer has power over me - a healing.
One of the key parts of my practice is guiding others on their own journey of artistic introspection. I teach both group and one-on-one workshops, online and in person, customized to the level and interests of the participants, including all mediums in which I create. With a background in psychology and social work, I offer a safe space for not only exploring multidisciplinary art techniques, but for using art as a therapeutic process.
Artist's Website: www.kellywilliamsart.com
I am a contemporary multidisciplinary painter exploring abstract compositions and textures, the figure, femininity, and the intersection of the physical art with the inner experience. I have primarily worked with encaustic paint (hot beeswax, resin and pigment) and also incorporate oils, cold wax, drawing mediums and acrylic paints into my practice. I am based in Portland, Oregon in a studio specifically designed for teaching workshops and exploring a wide range of artistic processes.
My work is a symbolic, narrative process. It is a progression of disentanglement, a developing of a story, layer by layer. It is only upon coming closer and becoming intimately acquainted with my work that one experiences the intricate textures, subtle imagery, hidden text, and imperfections that make up the whole. Secrets are hidden within the layers, embedded truths expressed and hidden again in this visceral journey.
My journey has included art as a therapeutic tool in my own mental health. With a history of complex PTSD and depression I have struggled to combat overwhelming emotions and experiences by integrating them into the physical and symbolic expressions that words could never capture. This visceral and cathartic embodiment allows me to move through difficult storms and into a state of balance when confronted with disabling symptoms. There is a process of deep excavation that allows me to exercise and transform the internal chaos into the physical object, making the artwork an artifact of an experience which no longer has power over me - a healing.
One of the key parts of my practice is guiding others on their own journey of artistic introspection. I teach both group and one-on-one workshops, online and in person, customized to the level and interests of the participants, including all mediums in which I create. With a background in psychology and social work, I offer a safe space for not only exploring multidisciplinary art techniques, but for using art as a therapeutic process.
Artist's Website: www.kellywilliamsart.com