Kay Brathol-Hostvet

“Nature is always hinting at us. It hints over and over again. And suddenly we take the hint.” -Robert Frost

“For most of my career, my primary focus has been the Wisconsin landscape. My works are a synthesis of the American landscape tradition and self- expression. The artists George Inness, Martin Johnson Heade, and Wolf Kahn have had a profound impact on my interest in the emotive landscape. The open expanse of a landscape can personify sincerity; it can also represent personal freedom, or embody loneliness or isolation. Dynamism in nature is intimately linked to psychological states. The landscape with its constantly changing light and shadow, weather and seasons becomes a metaphor for our moods and emotions.

My work in soft pastel has been described as Contemporary Regionalism—a celebration of the land, but with a modern aesthetic. I am particularly interested in the concept of quiet anticipation—an expectant stillness that one feels at certain times of the day. I work from a combination of sources: my own photographs taken on photo journeys into the local countryside, notes that I take when on those journeys, and design and value studies. The photos act as a catalyst and reminder of form. While the paintings may look photorealistic, they are carefully designed with an intent to capture that transient moment.”

Kay Brathol-Hostvet works from her home studio in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She also teaches art workshops in drawing, design, pastel and acrylic.