Oddest Goddess Art
About The Artist
Barbara Koppang • Menomonie, WI
Mixed Media • CUSTOM COMMISSIONS
Each of my pieces is an exploration. Mostly, I don't even know where I am going until I arrive and get a chance to look around. Life experiences, my interests in storytelling, mythology and nature have all informed the art I create. Myths skillfully weave words to create worlds to answer the questions of life. Like myths, I want my art to not only answer questions but to also create questions. I sculpt tangible pieces of stories that transcend my life and touch a memory, feeling or story that we might share together. My art starts with sticks and/or stones and other natural detritus that I find on my daily walks in nature. These sustainable treasures are melded together with the paper clay I sculpt, then oven and air dry, then sand. After they are dry I often carve further. A patina of oil paint is applied, then multiple applications of wax/ resin are applied in an encaustic technique. I carve a bit more for an art piece of depth and texture.
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Q&A with the ArtistTell us how your work is made.Each piece is created a bit different from every other. I start with one or more pieces of dried wood, stones, shells, seed pods, cactus bones and/or other dead and dried natural materials. These natural materials are combined by sculpting with paper clay. After oven and/or weeks of air drying, I sand and sometime carve into the dried clay to further refine my pieces. A patina of oil paint is applied and rubbed off to give my pieces a feel of antiquity. Lastly, I apply multiple layers of colored wax and damar resin to create a multi layered appearance, a warm touch feel, and a depth to the piece. Frequently, I will carve into the wax, as well. My piece is then hung in my studio to live with me for a time while I figure out what my subconscious was creating. |