Artwork by Kay McCormack
Phone: 780-909-3096
Email: artworkbykm@gmail.com
IG: kay_mccormackartwork
FB: KayMcCormackArtwork
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Biography
Born in Edmonton, Kay has been living in Strathcona County for 30 years. Kay joined the Art Society of Strathcona County in 2007 to immerse herself in the local art scene. Starting with local community classes in pottery, then watercolor painting and acrylics, her present passion is soapstone carving and clay sculpture. Her prior career took her into Veterinary medicine as an Animal Health Technologist and clinic manager. She is a Board Member of the Art Society of Strathcona County and has been active for many years as a volunteer and Board member of Wild North, our local wildlife rehabilitation society. Her pets, dogs, horses and wildlife have played a large part in her personal and professional life.
She has found a love of form and movement in the art of carving. Soapstone is a continual journey of surprise and joy as the stone’s color and life surfaces. Working with clay offers Kay more freedom in texture, refinement and finishes. Wildlife, animals and the outdoors dominate her work in both paint and sculpture. Kay has been showing her work local art markets, and art club member shows. She is currently showing her work in a Hako-Oja Gallery in Beaumont and the Loft Gallery in Sherwood Park. She especially likes teaching beginner soapstone carving locally.
Artist’s Statement
When working with soapstone I feel such a sense of peace and quiet. I am either working outside, letting the wind take the dust away or in my little shop. The animal shapes are familiar to me and I love being able to create a bit of wildlife that others can touch and take home. Using the hand tools, stroke by stroke the shapes and contours evolve and the story emerges. Then there’s the exciting part when you start to sand the layers and see the colors and fault lines appear. The oil brings it to life and creating that form and sense of movement involving the viewer is what art should be.
Working with clay is exciting for me with the different surface, colours and finishes that can be chosen. Many more restrictions and realities needed to be learned, challenging and encouraging me to expand my craft. The earthiness of both stone and clay is music in my hands.
My Process-Soapstone carving for Kay involves a rotary tool to initially carve the shape of her work. Then using a smaller Dremel tool and finally hand files. Kay spends as much time sanding her work as carving to give the smooth surface and finally she oils it to bring the colours out. Clay needs to be formed by hand, adding and moving it to create the shapes and movement of the piece. Fired in a kiln to vitrify it, then it is either hand painted (cold finish) or glazed and fired again.
Born in Edmonton, Kay has been living in Strathcona County for 30 years. Kay joined the Art Society of Strathcona County in 2007 to immerse herself in the local art scene. Starting with local community classes in pottery, then watercolor painting and acrylics, her present passion is soapstone carving and clay sculpture. Her prior career took her into Veterinary medicine as an Animal Health Technologist and clinic manager. She is a Board Member of the Art Society of Strathcona County and has been active for many years as a volunteer and Board member of Wild North, our local wildlife rehabilitation society. Her pets, dogs, horses and wildlife have played a large part in her personal and professional life.
She has found a love of form and movement in the art of carving. Soapstone is a continual journey of surprise and joy as the stone’s color and life surfaces. Working with clay offers Kay more freedom in texture, refinement and finishes. Wildlife, animals and the outdoors dominate her work in both paint and sculpture. Kay has been showing her work local art markets, and art club member shows. She is currently showing her work in a Hako-Oja Gallery in Beaumont and the Loft Gallery in Sherwood Park. She especially likes teaching beginner soapstone carving locally.
Artist’s Statement
When working with soapstone I feel such a sense of peace and quiet. I am either working outside, letting the wind take the dust away or in my little shop. The animal shapes are familiar to me and I love being able to create a bit of wildlife that others can touch and take home. Using the hand tools, stroke by stroke the shapes and contours evolve and the story emerges. Then there’s the exciting part when you start to sand the layers and see the colors and fault lines appear. The oil brings it to life and creating that form and sense of movement involving the viewer is what art should be.
Working with clay is exciting for me with the different surface, colours and finishes that can be chosen. Many more restrictions and realities needed to be learned, challenging and encouraging me to expand my craft. The earthiness of both stone and clay is music in my hands.
My Process-Soapstone carving for Kay involves a rotary tool to initially carve the shape of her work. Then using a smaller Dremel tool and finally hand files. Kay spends as much time sanding her work as carving to give the smooth surface and finally she oils it to bring the colours out. Clay needs to be formed by hand, adding and moving it to create the shapes and movement of the piece. Fired in a kiln to vitrify it, then it is either hand painted (cold finish) or glazed and fired again.
