Forks in the Road
Hailing from the Bluegrass region of Lexington, Kentucky, I have an early recollection of my fascination with nature, my passionate observation of the animals on my uncle's farm and the lush surrounding countryside. It was the beginning of a lifelong love of our world's powerful beauty, energy and natural order, eventually translating into the direction and focus of my work.
Moving to Southern California in the 1960's, I grew up on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, an idyllic paradise sitting over the Pacific, just south of Los Angeles. Twelve years later, I set off for Europe, and from my home base in Germany, worked, painted and traveled for two years before returning to the US. In 1975, I entered the Graphic Design BFA program at California State University, Long Beach, then opened my Manhattan Beach graphic design studio in 1980, while continuing my fine art painting work.
In 1994, my family and I moved to Boulder, Colorado, at the foot of the Flatiron Mountains, where I continue to revel in nature and enjoy my creative endeavors.
The Mind's Eye
I am an artist who moves frequently and fluidly between the disciplines of fine art, graphic design and photography. I do that because I love them all. And from my telling a story in a commissioned painting, to visually problem solving for a graphic design client, or creating a photographic print collection, I am always accompanied by my most beloved of tools...visualization.
Visualization is a powerful gift, one that I was taught to use from a very early age by my mother, a consummate and prolific artist. Imagination was highly prized in our house! Ultimately, years of experience perfecting design, style and technique have given me the ability to actualize what is in my mind's eye. I almost always have an immediate vision when I am presented with a new project and trust my mind to lead me to fine tune the details.
As to the success of the finished product, "...it all depends on what you visualize." Ansel Adams said that. So did my mother.
- Mary Kittilä