When passion meets art

Rhonda Scott, Contributor

Passion has always been deeply rooted in artist Katrina Abrahams and it flourishes in all important areas of her life. From a very young age, this passion was evident in her love and appreciation of art.

"I can remember, as a child, sitting down with a pack of crayons, markers and a sheet of cartridge paper just bursting at the seams to fill the white page in front of me with colour, shape and form, and being utterly frustrated when it did not come out the way I wanted," said Abrahams.

Over the years, her passion for art has motivated her to be a devoted, committed, enthusiastic and dedicated artist with an intense love for what she does.

The groundwork for her passion is cemented in her profound and genuine relationship with the Lord and her Christian faith.

"As a Christian, this is important to my walk with him so I can be focused and continue to keep my eyes on Christ. As an artist, this is fundamental to my creativity. It helps me to clear my mind and focus my thoughts so I can be productive and purposeful in the time spent in my studio," said Abrahams.

With her work, she aims to touch the depths of people's soul and speak to the spirit. Her palate often consists of rich and vibrant colours, ranging from the cool tones of blues and aquas to the lively reds and oranges that vibrate off the canvas.

Although Abrahams works in acrylic and mixed media, she prefers the versatility of oils.

"There's just a particular quality that can be achieved with oils that really can't be duplicated by any other medium."

As the artist is eagerly awaiting the arrival of her first child, her upcoming solo exhibition, expected to take place on Friday, December 2 at The Devonshire, will consist mainly of works done in acrylic and mixed media.

inspired by jamaica

Although born in Canada, having grown up in Jamaica has definitely influenced and inspired her life and art.

"Our land is full of colour and beauty; this is certainly one of my great inspirations," said Abrahams. She is deeply connected culturally and, through her upbringing and sense of values, has embraced her creative spirit and expresses herself through her art bringing us back to our nature of living freely, emotionally and passionately. According to Abrahams, "A good painting is one that causes the viewer to see and feel what the artist intended and can provoke thought and conversation. Without passion and emotion, I find it impossible to do this. Of course, there is a downside to this; when life's complexities crowd my mind, my productivity in the studio is the first thing to go!"

The artist confesses that at times she can be introverted and anti-social.

"I need peace and quiet to work. I can never have people around me especially if they are peeping over my shoulder, and sometimes I can't even have music on because it interrupts my thought process and interferes in my creativity. Of course, each painting is different and some do allow for some easy listening!" explained Abrahams.

She does her best work in a tranquil environment and her studio, a large space that opens out to a garden, always seems to fit the bill.

Abrahams' work is often an eclectic collection of portraits, landscapes, flora and abstracts. She attributes this to her desire to discover and create new things and her inability to limit herself to one particular genre.

"I primarily set out for my work to inspire peace and joy in the viewer. In our world, there are many struggles and hardships and life is full of ups and downs. I believe that if we focus on that which is good, wholesome and uplifting, it will evoke a mindset of thanksgiving and make a tremendous difference in our outlook and mental well-being. "

Visit The Devonshire on Friday, December 2, to understand the passion and experience the creativity behind the new works of Katrina Abrahams.