Lynn Kavanaugh

Artist Statement

My work is my passion. Like a breath of fresh air, I am energized by the creative process. I love working with wood and its endless variety of shapes and textures. When I get to add color to the mix of shapes in my sculpture it comes alive before my eyes. The bits of found objects and metal I interject with the wood only serve to enhance my sense of accomplishment in melding different materials into what started as a thought in my imagination. I truly believe the process is never ending and envision myself exploring new dimensions and explosions of color both stimulating and thought provoking. I aspire to be creative, fresh in my approach and unlimited in the different ways I can express that creativity.

My works are original in the sense that they are not drawn or sketched out in advance of the time when I begin one. In some ways they are like pieces to a puzzle which come together to form a new and unique look both eye opening and satisfying. I can be just riding down a road and see a shape or color, some object out for the days trash pickup and wow it hits in my imagination. “I can do something with that.” Usually I can not wait to get back to my studio at that moment. The techniques I employ range from simple brushing on of the acrylic paints I use, to adding various mediums to the paint. Things like gel medium, sand, soil, water etc. all combine to produce the look I seek for the piece. I also like to make use of sprays to produce some of my most eye catching patterns in color. My favorite tool is my jigsaw which I use to cut most of the wood. I find using it allows for an endless possibility of shapes limited only by my minds eye.

My work today is an outgrowth of my Dad’s love of woodworking which I inherited from him. Unfortunately he did not live long enough to see it evolve into my great passion in life. My early pieces relied upon a lot of thin twisted wood and while very dimensional did not allow me to express myself the way I really wanted too. Today they are still incorporated into my newer pieces in some fashion and probably will continue to be a part of the work. I find myself able to explore new shapes and textures, combinations of color that strike at the senses. My pieces have grown larger over time and changed from time to time in their basic form. Ovals, rectangles, circles, squares and everything in between. I love to challenge myself to find a new way to “see” the thought within the work. This shows in one of the final steps when I name a piece. The name has to fit that thought in the work to complete it. My satisfaction comes when a patron sees my work, breaks into a smile and says “wow”. I know then that I have inspired someone else’s thoughts.