About
I make art to express my love for Alaska: its intense beauty, unique plants and animals, vibrant colors, long light, deep contrast, and genuine people. The subjects of my work often highlight local plants, animals, and landscapes.
Having grown up in Clam Gulch, Alaska on the bluff overlooking Cook Inlet, I feel incredibly grounded in this place. After living in Washington, England, and New Zealand for over a decade, I returned home with intensified appreciation for Alaska.
Using high-pigment acrylics and oils, I vary between free-flowing watercolor-like application and thick strokes with palette knife or found objects. I strive to honor essence and aliveness more so than detailed photographic realism. I aim to make each painting function as two experiences: one experience when viewed from afar that looks real, and one experience up-close that looks abstract but feels true. I want the viewer to ask, "How do I relate to this? What does it stir in my inner landscape?"
In addition to art-making, I'm also passionate about building community. Creating connections and building shared visions of a better world is some of the most difficult and rewarding creative work I do. My interest in visual notetaking and graphic facilitation stems from a desire to help communities and groups see their collective power and potential.
I celebrate Alaska through my artwork and hope to inspire myself and others to see the beauty all around us, to find and exercise our inner voices, and to use our talents to protect what we love.
At the deepest level, I make art to have something beautiful and meaningful to share with others. If you are interested in my work - paintings or visual facilitation - please reach out! I'd love to hear from you: (907) 252-6525 or kaitlinvadla@gmail.com.