Kathy Boyland

K Boyland Designs

Artist Statement/Bio

I have worked and studied in the field of visual arts and communications since the mid seventies. The capturing of fine detail has always been a critical part of all my work. As a medical photographer at Georgetown University details were crucial for documentation and publication. As an artist in clay, I was determined to capture and maintain the same amount of detail, only this time in clay. The clayworks and other forms of impressions have evolved significantly since the late 1980’s when I first started exploring this process. The art work has grown to include clayworks, giclees and image transfers onto the surface of natural stone tile surfaces.

Limited edition, signed and numbered giclees were introduced in 2003, and quickly became equal in popularity as my original clayworks. The introduction of the limited edition reproductions allowed me to broaden my market without sacrificing quality or value of the work.  The original art from which the reproductions are created results from impressions made directly in clay. The original art in clay is photographed, colors are adjusted and printed using archival quality inks on a finely textured classic linen paper. The same incredible detail is maintained from clay to print form. Two of the original impressions in clay and giclees are archived at the
 
Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History in California
Dr. F. G. Hochberg, Curator and Co-founder of Nature Printing Society 
two original tiles and digital lithographs (#11 "Summer Days" and #34 "Early Spring" ) displayed in the exhibits listed below donated to the Nature Printing Society Archives and permanently housed at the museum.

"In Touch with Nature: The Art of Nature Printing in America" 
Wildling Art Museum: Los Olivos, California
January 16 through March 13, 2005

"Artistic Nature: Plant, Animal, and Stone Printing"
Trophies. Treasures, Scientific Records, Art and Abstracts
Forest Lawn Museum: Glendale, California
October 22, 2005 through January 8, 2006

Image transfers were introduced in 2005. From clay to print to tile, a third generation in production. Images were hand transferred to the surface of a tumbled marble or travertine tile, paper was scraped off, leaving only the ink and a thin layer of paper on the surface of the tile, spot color was added to further enhance the image.  Each piece was unique due to the organic natural surface of the tile, the placement of the images, color enhancement and the organic break of split tiles. 

Time moves on and a new series of work evolves as I become fascinated with the beautiful patterns found in tree bark and chopped wood patterns. 2010 brought with it change in many ways, including a new series of wood textures captured in clay. Such a warm, woody look and feel has now been added to the clay surface. It is this intense detail that has drawn so many over the years to collect the impressions. I am honored to share all the wonderful delicate details of nature and days gone by forever preserved in clay, print and on tile with so many.