Kat Powers

Welcome, Wanderer!

As these printmaking, painting and photography projects are constantly evolving, visit often. Explore. Relax. Take a nap. I'll try not to wake you up.

For more information or to comment please email me at kat@katpowers.com.
All images and text © Kat Powers 2009-2013.
May 12
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This lithograph was my last print of the semester, tentatively named Orbus Electronus. It was printed on a large stone that was being used as a pedestal for a chemical cabinet. In its former life it was an inking slab, which Richard kindly counter-etched to remove the chemical stains and residue staining the limestone.
I was going to bring the stone upstairs to the science department, but was discouraged when unable to see anything in the malfunctioning light microscopes available to me. Due to the absence of high-powered electron microscopes, my chemistry professor suggested I do an interpretation of an electron cloud. So this is my artistic rendering.
On the bare stone, I dripped an alcohol-based stick tuche wash over kosher salt to encourage a natural reticulation. Finally, after a number of images done using a similar technique filled in due to a weaker etching solution, I processed the image correctly. This is what a section of the electron cloud looks like with a bit of watercolor applied with a dropper.

This lithograph was my last print of the semester, tentatively named Orbus Electronus. It was printed on a large stone that was being used as a pedestal for a chemical cabinet. In its former life it was an inking slab, which Richard kindly counter-etched to remove the chemical stains and residue staining the limestone.

I was going to bring the stone upstairs to the science department, but was discouraged when unable to see anything in the malfunctioning light microscopes available to me. Due to the absence of high-powered electron microscopes, my chemistry professor suggested I do an interpretation of an electron cloud. So this is my artistic rendering.

On the bare stone, I dripped an alcohol-based stick tuche wash over kosher salt to encourage a natural reticulation. Finally, after a number of images done using a similar technique filled in due to a weaker etching solution, I processed the image correctly. This is what a section of the electron cloud looks like with a bit of watercolor applied with a dropper.

Apr 30
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For the final, we were asked to make a three color reduction linoleum cut on the subject of memory. Initially I drew the backyard of my childhood home with all my runaway pets scattered about on the lawn. This morphed into Pet Heaven, pictured above, in memory of all my lost friends. I hope your brief lives were happy ones.

Apr 28
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Apr 18
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Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, of Clyde Henry Productions, spent four to five years crafting this incredibly intimate and engrossing 17-minute claymation video. Such a treasure.. thank you for telling me about it, Richard!

Here’s a link to a fantastic article with the puppeteers about their process, the origin of ideas, and Jung:

http://twitchfilm.com/2007/12/madame-tutli-putliinterview-with-chris-lavis-and-maciek-szczerbowski.html

Apr 15
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Last night’s long-winged bat proofing.

Apr 14
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Sunday morning piranha teeth.

Sunday morning piranha teeth.

Apr 02
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This week’s lithograph, to be printed Thursday: Curculio sp of the superfamily Curculionoidea, little lady Nut and Acorn Weevil. Oh sweet girl do come out it’s spring!
Thanks to the Balabans for use of the image!

This week’s lithograph, to be printed Thursday: Curculio sp of the superfamily Curculionoidea, little lady Nut and Acorn Weevil. Oh sweet girl do come out it’s spring!

Thanks to the Balabans for use of the image!

Mar 14
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I etched and printed my female wolf spider, Schizocosa crassipes, today, along with a treehopper nymph, both 5x7”. Somehow the images came out darker than anticipated, ink filled in all the salted reticulation I experimented with around the spider legs and ceresa spikes (a technique I invented! and then found out it’s been around for quite a long time). 
This lovely lady-spider is the first in a series of greeting cards, dedicated to John and Jane Balaban. I’ve had the pleasure of chopping wood with John on several snowy days this winter. Hearing both John and Jane share their knowledge of Chicagoland insects at the Wild Things conference in February was all kinds of inspiring. When I asked, they very generously gave their permission for me to draw from their images of insects, and sent the entire powerpoint with hundreds beautiful creatures to choose from. Thank you John and Jane!

I etched and printed my female wolf spider, Schizocosa crassipes, today, along with a treehopper nymph, both 5x7”. Somehow the images came out darker than anticipated, ink filled in all the salted reticulation I experimented with around the spider legs and ceresa spikes (a technique I invented! and then found out it’s been around for quite a long time). 

This lovely lady-spider is the first in a series of greeting cards, dedicated to John and Jane Balaban. I’ve had the pleasure of chopping wood with John on several snowy days this winter. Hearing both John and Jane share their knowledge of Chicagoland insects at the Wild Things conference in February was all kinds of inspiring. When I asked, they very generously gave their permission for me to draw from their images of insects, and sent the entire powerpoint with hundreds beautiful creatures to choose from. Thank you John and Jane!

Mar 09
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My new favorite Canadians, Timber Timbre. Thanks, Lindsey.

Bad Ritual, filmed by Olivier Groulx.

Feb 28
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On and off the frozen waves at Thorndale beach today.

On and off the frozen waves at Thorndale beach today.