A day in the life of an artist

A new Fireplace Gallery exhibit was installed at the start of the Winter Term, introducing artist Karla Britfeld to MHCC. Britfeld has roughly 15 pieces hung for viewing inside the Student Union, which will stay up until Jan. 28.

Britfeld started experimenting with art at a young age, around five years old. Growing up in a small town in northern Canada, she didn’t have television to occupy her younger self. Art came into the picture as a hobby to entertain herself. “I would basically spend my time drawing and making things,” she said.

For Britfeld, the term ‘art’ was all-inclusive. Through her adolescence and into her adulthood, she experimented with different forms. In high school, she took art classes; after, she explored watercolor, ceramics, and crafting. She said she had always aimed for realism in her art, finding inspiration in accurate depictions, whether of landscapes or portraits.

In recent years, her art has taken a sharp turn in a new direction, however: abstract. And this is the theme of her show, “Abstraction on Nature,” in the Fireplace Gallery.

“The biggest learning experience has been doing abstract,” Britfeld said. “(It) is the hardest form of art that I have ever attempted.”

When she’s not working on her art, Britfeld works as a legal assistant at a small law firm. In her free time, she pursues other arts, such as music and cooking. She plays the piano on a regular basis, specifically jazz, which she feels has a connection to her art. “My opinion is that abstract art is like jazz, and jazz is like abstract art,” she said – abstract, free-form yet tempoed – ideals that apply to both.

Britfeld said she has struggles with her artwork: “Oh, absolutely, all the time,” she replied. Each piece is a journey, or a gamble, if you will. Some ideas don’t translate from mind to canvas, and when that happens, she puts them away to come back to another time. It’s when she pulls the canvas out for the second time that the idea shifts into gear and inspiration strikes again, she said – which makes you wonder which of her pieces in the Gallery this process applied to.

Britfield’s artwork is indeed abstract, but carries inspiration from Pacific Northwest nature. The canvas size varies, and materials vary – many of her works are not simply paintings, but abstract creations of mixed media. One will see a heavy use of collaging in her work, as well.

Pieces such as her “Rain Forest” and “Desert Cathedral” stand out against the white Gallery walls. Both are abstract, but in different ways. “Rain Forest” pulls you in with its vivid colors and three-dimensional texture, as well as the use of collage as a focal point. “Desert Cathedral” takes it a step further, integrating a sense of story behind the piece while still maintaining the abstract nature. The latter in particular was an experimentation for Britfeld – she described using large spatulas and household rulers to create the linear and effervescent effect of the painting. One could say it brings the viewer to another world.

Britfeld found Mt. Hood through the Internet, responding to an ad, and leading her to connect with the organizers of the Fireplace Gallery. After sending samples of her work, the mission was a “go” and Britfeld found her artwork on display for Mt. Hood staff and students to enjoy. Students, staff and visitors can see her work at the Fireplace Gallery, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mon-Thurs and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays.