Artist Statement
Kayla Tompkins
Something that I am particularly interested in is how
different mediums are able to coexist with each other. I have a mainly two-dimensional mind and have
primarily focused on creating an illusion of a space throughout most of my art. More recently, I have come to the realization
that my art does not just have to stay within the confines of a conventional
rectangular canvas. Sculpture allows me
to create the space and not just paint it.
I rarely create something that is representational of an object
normally found in reality. I would be
bored if I was only creating objects that already exist simply because they
already exist and do not need to be replicated.
If I do replicate something that already exists I typically saturate the
color to an extreme or mutilate that object or figure in some way. In my paintings, I believe that it is
important to represent humanity as it truly is instead of the outside shell
that is shown in real life. This is
where I incorporate the role of fantasy.
I believe that every artist creates a world in his or her
head out of life experiences and creates visual representations to portray that
world to others. Using exaggerated color and abstract manipulations, I am able
to create my world. Most of it comes
from my subconscious and becomes a language of its own. My process typically consists of
experimentation that eventually produces a final piece at the end. Throughout the making of a piece I go into a
sort of meditative state in which I reflect and analyze why I manipulate the
material the way I do.
An important part of my process is to fall in love with the
material. It is essential that I feel as
though a material can take control of me, rather than being completely malleable. If I know that I have full control over a
material, it becomes too meticulous and the boredom shows in the work. It is important to always feel some level of
discomfort with a material so that I am challenged and forced to problem solve
throughout the process. This is why my
true love is paint. It only allows me to
manipulate it to a point and then it takes on a life of its own. Its color is also something that takes a lot
of problem solving. Some of my best work
has been the most challenging to create.
I also think that it is essential to think about how I want
the audience to feel when interpreting a piece.
It is important that I entice the audience to become interested in the
piece initially. I usually accomplish
this by using exaggerated colors, or making the audience physically have to
move in a way that allows them to view the work more fully. I always have to keep in mind that I can
never fully manipulate the viewers to feel the way I want them to when looking
at my work; I can only suggest how they should interpret it. The work is never finished without the
interpretation of the viewer.
Most importantly, I create art as my own language. It cannot be translated with the perfect set
of words. My work is the way I speak to
the world when words are not enough. Without
some of that ambiguity, it would lose all of the magic that art is able to make
a person feel. Above all, I make art
purely out of the love of making art.
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