Catheryn Austin
 Images in my work frequently represent metaphors for the self.
They refer to the idea of individuality; or the vantage-point; the peculiarity and occasional isolation of the personal experience; the illusive nature of identity;
and the intangible sensation of the uniqueness of one's existence.
Some paintings may suggest the solitude we sometimes feel as Artist’s, as well as the challenges we face practically and spiritually.
Often symbols or elements such as birds and their nests or cages, as well as other details that evolved from nature, are artistically incorporated into a composition.
The portrayal may suggest a strong connection to the feminine side of our environment.
For twenty years I have used realistic or representational images combined with elements of abstraction; in an attempt to portray a genre-inclusive style.
Influenced by notions of duality; the concept of the self and other; difference and similarity; and the philosophical foundations of my life, from childhood onward.
As a painter of Abstract Expressionism my interest is to explore a visual language that speaks to the convergence of land/sky; translucence/opaqueness; infinite/finite.
Painting mediums have been chosen to produce and reflect the density and the slow moving nature of earth, as well as the transparency of air.
Venetian plaster, oil paints, pure raw pigment, as well as collage are combined with translucent glazes of linseed oil, mineral spirits and pure beeswax,
evolving into images that may appear to be static but fluid.
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