Kaitlyn Metcalf
Artist & Adventurer
Kaitlyn Metcalf is a native daughter of New Orleans, Louisiana, where she was brought up on crawfish & po-boys, a love of Jazz Fest & Mardi Gras and an appreciation for culture…all with a splash of southern hospitality. In her preparatory education, Kaitlyn was fortunate enough to simultaneously attend both Mount Carmel Academy and the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. Led by her passion for the arts, Kaitlyn traveled north to attend Maine College of Art in Portland where she graduated with Honors, attaining a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Painting with a minor in Art History.
After graduating from MECA, Kaitlyn ventured even further north to Downeast Maine where she now lives with her sweet husband, Ryan and their pup, Birdie Mae. Together they spend their Spring, Summer & Autumn months sailing, hiking, biking, gardening and generally exploring the nooks & crannies of the Acadia region, all of which provide plentiful painting inspiration. Most of Kaitlyn’s works are based on her experiences living in rural Maine, with water often being at the center of focus. With her studio nestled in a boreal fog forest, near the sea, creativity abounds.
During the rugged and seemingly endless Maine winter months, Kaitlyn and Ryan take time to explore this wide world and seek out new inspirations. A number of techniques and materials used in her works are sourced from distant cultures experienced in her travels abroad. Adventure is always near with these two, as they pursue the next wondrous sight that may very well be just over yonder.
About the Work
More than Painting
The first being an interest in water. Growing up in New Orleans water
became deeply impactful on her life, not only by the proximity, but all
that the water gives to the city. And now living life on the coast of
Maine, she finds similar connections that have become direct influences on her work.
The second being materials exploration. Kaitlyn is always interested in materials integration as a way to assist in concept development.
Varying elements such as barnacles, thread, fishing line, charts, sand,
clay, glass beads and gold leaf are mixed into her paintings to expand
not only surface interest, but to also create a dialogue between object
and imagery. She enjoys giving the viewer an element of surprise that is so well integrated, they think it is actually painted until they look
closer. These surprises add a depth and richness to the piece, calling
the viewer to take a second look. Each element within the painting helps her to continually develop a language which further expresses that which enchants me about the natural world.
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