By Elisabeth Brigham and Emma Royse By Elisabeth Brigham and Emma Royse | June 30, 2023 | People, Feature, Art,
New York-based abstract oil painter Kathy Buist talks inspiration, the artistic process and her current exhibit at Galerie d'Orsay.Taking a note from nature, Kathy Buist has dedicated her life to capturing the beauty that surrounds us all. Mostly done in oil, her paintings embody Earth’s elements and transform small moments of light. Her art has been showcased in various museums and galleries around the country, including the Parrish Art Museum, the National Woman’s Museum, Andrews Museum and the Long Island Art Museum. Her newest exhibit, In the Presence of Nature, is on display at Galerie d’Orsay in Boston through August.
"In the Presence of Nature"
What inspired you to become an artist?
I’ve had this desire to paint from as early as I can remember. My mom was a ‘Sunday artist,’ a very talented woman—and she was essential in my becoming an artist. When I was 11 years old, she got me my first oil painting set in a wooden box. I still have it. She sat with me and took me through it, showing me how to mix colors. When I was very young, she just let me go crazy.
Where do you draw your inspiration from now?
Outside! I mean, here especially in East Hampton—it’s so rich. I’ve been painting out here in the Hamptons since the early ’90s, and it’s always been such a source of inspiration. I look outside in the morning and walk around; I go to the beach. It’s so intensely beautiful. There’s a quote by Monet I once read that was so impactful to me: ‘Other painters paint a bridge, a house, a boat. I want to paint the air that surrounds the bridge, the house, the boat—the beauty of the light in which they exist.’"Just Before The Water"
What makes your process and approach unique compared to other artists?
What strikes me is that you might think some of my paintings are very immediate—and they are—but it takes so much time to allow that immediacy. Again, it’s capturing that essence of the moment. I can work and work and work on a painting; some take years to do. There’s a great film called The Mystery of Picasso, and you see him working through glass, all beautiful shapes and figures. And you think, ‘Stop, stop, stop!’ But he keeps going! It’s that sense of exploration that I connect with; that’s the fun part. It’s also the challenge.
What inspires you to paint landscapes and nature?
“Landscapes have always been a central part of my life. I was born and raised on a flower farm in Michigan. All natural elements, sites and atmospheric changes move me and intrigue me. Once I discovered plein air painting, there was no going back. I enjoy watching the changes in the atmosphere, the transformations of the light and the variations of color. In addition, landscapes allow me to investigate the dual condition of life characterized by chaos and order.”"That Which Goes Beyond"
What techniques do you use to evoke viewers’ emotions through artwork? Specifically, in “That Which Goes Beyond," what do you want viewers to feel when looking into the landscape?
“I work with oil, acrylics, and watercolors. With time and experience, my technique has become very fluid. Continuously experimenting with mediums, colors, applications, using rags, my hands, sticks and anything else that helps me to communicate the idea of fluidity is welcome to evoke a sense of peace and harmony. In “That Which Goes Beyond,” I want to energize the viewers and transport them to a different space. The reds and brushstrokes are about the energy of the unseen forces around us.”
What do you find most challenging about capturing nature through art?
“How to capture the vastness and grandness of nature on a single canvas? How do I convey my reverence for the land in each creation? These are the challenges that I encounter in my work. Each painting has its own individual voice, and for me to convey that individuality is both a challenge and an opportunity. I seek the uniqueness of each piece while maintaining the sense of community and communion with the other pieces of the show.”
Do you have a specific piece from In the Presence of Nature that holds personal significance?
“One that holds a personal significance is “Just Before the Water” because of its coloration and the abstraction that gives the viewer its own sense of place. This piece began with much experimentation with unique strokes and the transparencies of different layers of Paint. As a viewer, some days I am more in tune with large pieces such as “Beach Haven,” “In the Presence of Nature,” “Down to the Water,” and “Feeling the Air.” Some other days I am drawn to the more intimate pieces such as “Calmness” and “Dream V.” In all of them, there can be a revelation of the self. I am always interested in watching people’s responses to my paintings and hearing what emotions and memories these awaken in them. In the presence of nature, viewers can experience its transformative power.”
Photography by: Ben Flythe; Courtesy of Galerie d'Orsay; Courtesy of Galerie d'Orsay; Courtesy of Galerie d'Orsay; Ben Flythe