Kelton Osborn
Early in life I had a penchant for discovering how things worked and were put together. I rarely utilized the instructions that were included with models and toys. I have always been a visual learner and enjoyed figuring out how things are made. With both my parents being scientists, I approach situations with the idea of discovery. My childhood memories inform my designs. Whether playing in the prairies with friends, catching lizards and snakes, or backpacking in the mountains with my parents – I have always enjoyed the process of exploration. Ironically, I was not a particularly good student in school. If I was not interested in the subject, I would draw in lieu of taking notes.
A high school biology class with Mr. Wisner changed that. This is where I made the connection between exploration and learning. Through deep questioning, the world opened up to me and I began to approach life with the understanding that all things can influence our journey. Life is a cyclical process where events, experiences, knowledge and actions are valuable and help create an impact. My experiences have influenced my process of making. My paintings are created through a process of spontaneous drawing, allowing my mind to conjure images and marks that relate to past experiences.
Instead of a linear process, I work in a spiral that allows influences from multiple sources to interact with each other. The result is one that was not conceived prior to starting. An intuitive approach allows me the opportunity to explore ideas without physical limitations. My constructions represent a series of explorations with "architectural" implementations. I have always worked with my hands both sketching and model building to develop the spatial aspects of a design.
The use of different materials helps to designate texture, shape and tone. For me these pieces indicate potential architectural events, details and feelings. Several recent pieces have evolved from memories of visiting my father's Botany lab as a child. I viewed items under the microscope and "assisted" my dad in preparing plant specimens on the plant press. I would tag-along on field studies with his students, gathering plants and sketching. This was my introduction to the lifelong process of discovery. I have managed to incorporate this method into my own form of research and exploration with my work.
