“I love the idea of repurposing unwanted materials and giving them new life through my art.”

Ihde in her element(s). Piece: Fox & Monarchs - Photo provided.

By Ron Evans

Hailing from Wisconsin, artist McKenna Ihde now calls Leavenworth her home where she skillfully crafts her unique and distinctive creations. Mostly focusing on mixed media paintings that combine elements of nature with textural components like books, tissue paper and vintage fabrics. Realism mingles with the abstract, flat paint with krinkles and flowers and mixed finishes. All resulting in satisfyingly cohesive pieces that almost beg to be touched - though we recommend buying it first…

Ihde graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay with a BA in Drawing and Arts Management. “I've never been able to justify piling on more student debt, so my dynamic style has evolved away from the brick and mortar educational systems.” she says.

“Now I find myself in Leavenworth where I showcase and sell my paintings. My boyfriend and I are both painters who have chosen to ‘live small’ in our travel trailer in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains.”

Idhe says her art celebrates the beauty of nature along with an open hearted responsibility to honor the environment where she resides. “My work conveys a passion to repurpose materials that no longer serve their original purpose.”

Ihde has been featured in several local and non-local galleries over the years and her impressive work ethic and creative output keeps the new works flowing - seemingly nonstop. She can currently be found hawking her vibrant wares every week at Leavenworth’s Village Art in the Park. I was able to convince her to put her brushes down just long enough to discuss her inspirations along with some of the techniques she’s developed to express her artistic and philosophical spirit.

Your work often combines textural and collage elements along with traditional painting techniques. Tell us how you came to this style and what attracts you to these varied elements?

I’ve been incorporating fabric and paper into my paintings for about 3 years now. I believe my momentum towards mixed media artwork began when I was getting ready for my move to Washington back in 2017.

That day I was dropping off yet another donation to St. Vinnie’s in preparation for my move out west. I was carrying a modest bag of old clothes. As I approached the donation bin I glanced down at the collection of swirling fabrics. Heartache gripped me instantly! The qualities of the clothing had commingled to form a swirling composition of dynamic color that I could not have imagined. I must have looked possessed, stopped there on the sidewalk admiring my plastic bag filled with gently used sundresses and tank tops but I didn’t care. “Why not use these in your paintings?”, my mind gently urged. And thus my affection for mixed media was born. I love the idea of repurposing unwanted materials and giving them new life through my art.

Are there any mediums you have experimented with other than mixed media painting?

Besides acrylic painting another favorite medium of mine has always been printmaking. I especially enjoy intaglio printmaking where you etch into a copper plate and dip it in a vat of acid to enhance your design. Through the printmaking process my art becomes far more linear and less lush than what you see in my paintings. I took a few intaglio courses in college where all of the tools in the printmaking lab were at my disposal. I miss the thorough steps it takes to create a print. As it stands now I simply do not have the space for all of the equipment print making requires.

You dabble in many subjects thematically speaking, but one thing that seems quite prevalent is nature. Is this mostly coming from an aesthetic standpoint or is there something deeper to that interest for you?

My work is meant to move the viewer. Not so much emotionally move them but to physically move them. My intention is to cause their minds to swim and their arms to sway. The motion I transmit with energetic mark-making is meant to coax the viewer into an entirely new head space of rhythm and motion.

Unlike traditional landscape painters my compositions often depict the power of nature in motion. I believe that if nature had a choice she would not pose for a calming landscape painting but instead prefer to be part of an awesome and dynamic dance. My creative spirit is energized by my reverence for nature. My art is a symptom of this reverence.

Many artists are drawn to a specific palette or overall structure/style no matter what the medium. When you reach for a tube of paint is there one you often grab before any other?

Just at a glance you can tell my art is driven by color! I know many artists have tried and true color palettes they use consistently. I have a hard time doing this.

In school I had an art teacher tell me my color choices were “arbitrary.” He made it sound like it was a bad thing. I was young and wasn’t exactly sure what that word meant at the time. When I went home and took the time to look up the definition of arbitrary I decided it wasn’t a bad thing after all. Some of my favorite color schemes have been based on random choice or personal whim, rather than any reasoning or system.

That being said I do have a few paints that I will always gravitate towards. I use the brand Liquitex Heavy Body acrylics. My top three favorite colors are: Indian Yellow (research shows that it was originally derived from the urine of cows that dined on mangoes... Yum!), Green Gold (Go Pack Go!) and Deep Turquoise.

Are prints, stickers, posters or any other reproductive works a major part of your endeavors?

There is something very rewarding about selling an original painting to someone who is absolutely in love with my style. But it’s also important for me to make my art accessible to everyone. My work is not exclusive only to those who can drop $500 on a whim. This is why I do offer reproductions of my work such as stickers and prints on my website.

Are you currently holding any public showings?

Because of Covid regulations my show at Mela in Wenatchee was cancelled. I was scheduled to show at Lemolo in July but decided against it because my painting inventory was getting sparse. In Wisconsin in September I will be participating in a live painting tournament called Art 64. In this tournament 64 artists compete bracket-style for a chance at $20,000. I’m super excited at this prospect to say the least.

My artwork has recently been showcased on LedgeStone Vineyards’ 2019 Semi-sweet Red Wine Bottle. They are a winery out of Green Leaf, Wisconsin but you can order a bottle off of their website to be shipped to you. The Semi-sweet Red has notes of cranberry and cherry and is absolutely delicious. (You can find a link to this wine below.)

How has social media impacted the way you do business concerning sales or promotion for any events you are part of?

Social media has been a game-changer for me in terms of generating an audience. Platforms like Instagram and Facebook allow me to create hype around new collections and upcoming print releases. If someone loves my work they can follow me. If not, they don’t have to follow me. It’s such a simple concept but it allows me to actively cater to my artistic audience.

Commissions seem to be a regular part of your creative output, talk about that process and how maybe working on a piece for somebody else differs from a blank slate piece of work.

Commissioned pieces are a big part of my income as a painter. Right now I’ve got a list of paintings a mile long to complete and I couldn’t be more honored. I know that some artists get burnt out on custom paintings, but for me this couldn’t be further from the truth. It is true that with commissions I have less freedom than I would if I were painting a piece from my own inspiration. But I always remind myself that when a customer orders a painting they are doing so because they love my unique form of artistic expression. They don’t want me to change my style to suit their needs because they are already a fan. In some cases the painting process is actually easier for commissions. I don’t have to delve deep into my artist brain to capture some nuanced message because the theme of the painting is already decided upon by the customer.

How has the pandemic affected your creative output and professional processes/sales?

I am a weekly vendor at Leavenworth’s Village Art in the Park. Normally this would have opened at the beginning of May. But because of Chelan County’s Phase 1 status we weren’t able to open until mid-June. As mentioned, I also had my show at Mela cancelled. Despite these delays and cancellations I have actually been able to remain quite busy with commissions throughout this whole mess. I have never been more grateful for my "self employed artist” status as I am now.

Are you an “always in the studio” kind of painter?

With all the tools and trappings of a mixed media painter my creative spirit is not at peace working in small quarters. Therefore I generate much of my work outside in the studio space that nature provides. It is here where I honor nature’s imperfect beauty by drawing inspiration from the great Pacific Northwest.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckennaihdeart/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mckennaihdeart/

Website: www.mckennaihde.com

LedgeStone Vineyards Semi Sweet Red Wine with my Barn Swallow Art