About
Copper serves as both my surface and my metaphor. Physically, it forms the luminous foundation beneath each painting. Conceptually, it represents connection. As one of nature's great conductors, copper carries energy from one place to another. In my work, it becomes a symbol of the invisible threads that connect us to the living world around us. It acts as a bridge between the seen and unseen, the tangible and the symbolic, reminding us that we are part of something larger than ourselves.
I introduce patina to the copper, allowing oxidation to create organic shifts in color and pattern. While I guide the process, I cannot fully control it. This balance between intention and surrender mirrors life's continual process of change and transformation. The resulting surfaces carry a sense of unpredictability, history, and becoming.
The copper remains present beneath the layers of oil paint, catching and reflecting light in ways that continue to change as the viewer moves around the work. Its warmth and luminosity suggest the passage of time, the exchange of energy, and the enduring connections that exist between all living things.
My background in biology informs a respect for structure and form, but beyond accuracy I am searching for presence. Through these animals and birds, I hope to create moments of recognition and reflection, quiet reminders that we are not separate from nature, but participants within it.
Artist Statement
Biography
Through copper, patina, and oil paint, Katheryn Anne explores themes of connection, transformation, and belonging. Her work often examines the delicate balance between fragility and strength, permanence and change, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on their relationship with the natural world and with themselves.
Since childhood, art has been a constant source of grounding and self expression. What began as a refuge during difficult seasons evolved into a lifelong creative practice spanning painting, ceramics, fashion, woodworking, and jewelry.
Katheryn holds a B.A. in Psychology and a graduate degree in Special Education. Her fourteen year career teaching biology fostered a deep appreciation for the natural world that continues to inform her artistic practice today. In 2024, she enrolled at the Milan Art Institute to pursue art professionally and is now a proud graduate of the Mastery Program.
Her work has been exhibited in juried art festivals throughout the Southeast, including recognition as an Emerging Artist at 4 Bridges Art Festival and an Honorable Mention award from the East Tennessee Arts Center. Her original works are held in private collections across the United States.
2025 Artist Talk
"Copper, Patina and Process"
