Canadian Art Maker - KMIT

A journey to mid island should include a visit to Clear Water Studios - the creative space of Kmit.

On an acreage in Cobble Hill, stands a studio and gallery in a barn that would be the envy of most artists. Kmit and her husband Cal have built a ‘dream’ studio and gallery to showcase Kmit’s work. The barn built for this purpose with high 12 foot ceilings houses several studio spaces, two gallery spaces, a workshop and living quarters. Old farming tools with bundles of lavender surround the structure.

After spending an hour visiting, touring the grounds, talking art, woodwork, and everything life...we left with a bouquet of fresh rhubarb and an invitation to come back anytime we were heading down island.

“I am a Canadian Art Maker

It seems the journey to becoming an art maker has had several detours through science, and philosophy, and recently, coexists with farming.

I use conceptual allegory to engage the viewer in an ongoing conversation, a shared adventure in 'simple' human.

I work in series, and love to chase ideas almost as much as drawing and painting. The work begins with the researching of a political, sociological or moral concept, the subject usually attaches itself to me rather than me having make a conscious decision to pursue a specific observation. After many notes and sketches, I begin to define the series and outline several motifs that will repeat through the series. The length of the series depends on what is happening in the world around me, some series never seem to end.

It is a process of creating and deconstructing the original narrative until it has several veiled devices, sufficient to interest me and hopefully the viewer once the work is completed.

I use allegory in representational and nonrepresentational work, defining the work chooses the technique as well as whether or not it will be representational .

I use traditional, well documented techniques to achieve a visual language that suits the narrative of the work. Layers of colour, with wax tempera, encaustic or indirect painting on a grisaille, seem to suit the veiling of the narrative in allegory.

Spiratus Sanctus , (the saint) as featured on the front cover, is from the series, Mundas Vult Decipi, (The World Loves To Be Deceived). This series reflects on the concept of truth in our world. Almost every morning there is something that happens to inspire a new painting in this series.

"Heart of Spring" and "Miss Gracie" are paintings in the series, The Hoofer.

The Hoofer series is an allegory of uncertainty, the ‘questioning life’, the characters or elements are extended metaphors for the narrative, as well as being ‘hoofers’ or horses.

A Hoofer, by definition, (an Americanism dating back to the early twentieth century) is a professional dancer, a tap dancer, particularly one who has paid his or her dues. The paintings in this series, hopefully, offer a personal experience with the subject that is neither directed nor didactic, and captivates the viewer sufficiently for them to spend time with the work.”