Carrie Kendall is a local Saltair artist to keep an eye on this year.
In fact, it might be wise to invest in one of her acrylic canvas paintings before you can’t afford one!
Her work has enchanted many a viewer as they marvel at what she captures in her brush strokes. She’s an unduly humble artist who doesn’t appear to really get the fuss over her work.
Kendall makes her art look effortless, as though with a martini in one hand and the brush in the other, she has simply done a few swishes and pursed her lips just so and voila, there is the masterpiece.
Kendall takes the everyday items in her life and makes them larger than life and singularly meaningful.
Kendall has always loved to paint. Notable illustrators and painters Maxwell Parrish and Carl Larsson have informed the direction of her work. Both these artists have inspired the manner in which Kendall uses light in her artwork. She has also admired artist Robert Genn’s work and, specifically, his brush stroke.
Kendall started in watercolour, and this evolved into doing illustrations for the award-winning TJ Whitneys’ Traditional Toys; she created the illustrations in vintage games such as Tool Memory Match and Toy Memories Match Game. These heartfelt and delighting games are available in quality toy stores.
Following this success, Carrie began working with acrylics and found she loved the forgiveness of this medium. At that time, she was moving away from the photo-realism of the illustrative work and toward a looser, painterly style. The openness of form that evolved has created a looseness and edgier development of her work.
“I wanted my painting to be on the edge of loose but not quite falling apart,” explains Kendall.
She explored abstract painting during her transition from illustrative painting and then moved back from the edge to find a style that suits her and that others love. In the last year, she had a light bulb moment where she decided to paint what she wants, rather than what she thinks other people would want. This shift has allowed Kendall to break loose from the expectations of others and to find inspiration in the ordinary.
One of Kendall’s biggest inspirations is her family and the context of everyday life.
In the past, Kendall’s world required order and bordered on perfectionism; now, she embraces the messy, chaotic disorder of everyday life. It is this acceptance of herself and her domain that has transformed her life and painting. The viewer can see the relaxed energy, in combination with the edgy randomness, in her paintings. A pile of her children’s sneakers at the front door evolved into Conversation, and a plate of dishes and cutlery before a dinner with friends became The Dinner Party. Both of these paintings, and another, Spooning, a heap of antique silverware, sold at the Sidney Fine Art Show in October.
Registrants at the juried Sidney Fine Art Show are allowed to enter three paintings. Not only were all three that Kendall submitted accepted, but all three sold during the three-day exhibition. This success has been rewarding for the humble Kendall, and she is inspired to spend more time in the studio.
“I get in the zone by cranking up the tunes and singing and dancing,” she said.
This energizes her and opens up the transition from daily life as a mother and wife to her artist self. She dons her stiff paint-saturated apron and, with it guiding her like a protective talisman, heads for her waterfront studio.
Kendall says the secret is to get into the studio daily.
“Every painting won’t be your opus, but you just have to get painting,” she says reflectively.
And in form, one of her favourite quotes is from Pablo Picasso: “Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.”
Judging from Carrie Kendall’s recent success and affirmation of her artistic sensibilities, we will be seeing much more of her work in the coming years.
