Kaetlyn Able

One of the main ideas behind my work is a desire to challenge the idealization of rugged individualism that is the hallmark of so much colonial American Western art. I’m interested in communities, in complex ecosystems and the interconnectedness of all things. So that’s what this stuff is about.

A faceted glass jar of flowers and seed pods in autumnal colors rests on an antique lace doily. The jar is surrounded by figs. A red squirrel peeks out at the viewer.

Here’s a recent piece from my “Frost in the Forecast” series. The doily is drawn in scratchboard and the rest is painted with acrylics. These still life works depict the last, precious bouquets from my November garden, before the final killing frost. I loved exploring this limited palette!

This is absolutely what I want for my remains.

Goddamnit

Amazing, Melissa!

Ooh, the scale!!!

A snowy owl wearing a golden aspen leaf crown gazes intently at the viewer. The owl is white with black markings. His golden eyes match his crown.

#superb_owl Sunday?! I’ve drawn lots of owls over the years, but this snowy owl from 2022 feels just right for today.

Mixed media 2-D artwork created using scratchboard drawing and acrylic painting techniques. A mule deer with large antlers gazes at the viewer in 3/4 profile. The antlers bear a decorative surface pattern reminiscent of lace. Soft pink and white flowers and green leaves appear to grow from the antlers. A spider web and cobwebs stretch and hang between the tines. A host of wildlife creatures perch, flutter around and hang from the antlers and webs. They include a nuthatch, cabbage white butterflies, painted lady butterfly, inchworm (cabbage white larva) bumblebees, and garden spider.

Here’s a look back at my favorite, most vulnerable piece from 2024.
“Garden Party”
24”x24”
scratchboard and acrylic on panel
I discovered the alt text feature this morning!

Gorgeous!!! A much appreciated bright spot!

I’ve been working on this grizzly

Ooh, I LOVE!!!

“Ribbon” 2024
18”x24”
Scratchboard drawing and acrylic painting on Ampersand claybord panel

Trying to make beautiful, meaningful things through all this.

Here’s my most recent finished work, “Frost in the Forecast no. 2”
-scratchboard (the lace) and acrylic (everything that’s not lace) on panel
-12”x12”

A portrait of the very last bouquet from my garden this year, before winter set in.