Kim Flora

KIM FLORA is acutely aware of and enamored by her surroundings. She puts her environment to good use, not bound by one medium but propelled into a creative whirlwind. Check out five things that drive Kim Flora.

Sound. I am always absorbing sound while making my work. Both music and noise help me dive into my intuitive working method by visually reproducing the vibration. The more my life becomes urbanized the more sound and rhythm and noise influence the intensity of my mark-making.

Nature and Geography. I employ specific imagery that comes from nature, astrological drawings and maps. I am attracted to the universal quality of this kind of imagery and its impact. My work does not try to be nature -- it just borrows and reveals the possibilities in nature and its impact on our well-being.

My Biography. I see my paintings as relics or artifacts that document my existence in literal and abstracted forms.

Writing. Writing literally on the surface of the paintings has become a vital part of my artistic process. Scribbling a word, phrase or snip of a poem directly on the piece creates a starting point. Scrawling marks referencing script and cursive introduce form to my already established texture. I use language to bring insight into the work through the playful names or titles.

Fragments. Fragments of color, texture or sentences are incorporated into my paintings. I create work that is a hybrid of painting and collage. The challenges involve removing something from its existing environment while maintaining its character and existing vocabulary.

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ARTICULATIONS offers five things important to one of Cincinnati's visual artists. To be considered, contact Jacquelyn Vaughn, jvaughn@citybeat.com.