Welcome to MFKO. or, Mother Fucking Kate O’Neil.
Kate O’Neil is an artist based in Portland, Oregon. Kate's creativity is sparked by the limitless combinations of shapes and patterns, color and the search for balance and harmony inside them. She explores different modes of communicating her vision including a wide range of materials and techniques that end up influencing her oil paintings on canvas. The simple flattened shapes she creates combined with unusual color blocking open a portal that invites the viewer to step inside a vibrant landscape, invoking memories of their own out of doors experiences. The transformative rituals of simplifying, editing, remixing pigment and layering are central to her process. Kate’s contagious laugh and color superpowers mix together to generate emotions and feelings that elevate and heighten mood.
PROCESS
By allowing varied amounts of time to pass — anywhere from two days to two weeks — Kate is able to return to her oil paintings over and over to reshape the layers and colors to create the desired effect of her vision. Patience, self-motivation and determination are the tools she calls upon to manipulate this unique property of oil paints. When finished, each painting is sealed with a matte varnish.