An exploration of curiosity

“Conglomerate,” a collection of mixed media work by Homer artist Ingrid McKinstry, features both new and earlier works done in a variety of techniques.

“Originally, I planned to create all new work and expand on some techniques I’ve been experimenting with, but found I didn’t have the time or energy to devote to creating ten or more entirely new pieces,” she said. “So I shifted direction and decided to make this show a blend of old and new work.”

An exploration of her curiosity, experimentation and finding joy in the creative process, the exhibit includes McKinstry’s Photoshop art, paintings on glass, mixed media, stickers, cards and a children’s book, “Louie the Puffin’s Burrow of Boots,” that she created with her friend and fellow Homer community member, Ruth Dickerson.

With a passion for mixing materials to create rich textures, McKinstry often combines molding paste and plaster with acrylic paints, applied with a palette knife to build up thick, interesting surfaces. More recently, she has been drawn to creating reverse glass paintings, a process of painting the frontmost details first and the background last, the opposite of traditional painting.

“I love experimenting with different tools and materials, like palette knives, molding paste, plaster, glass and digital editing, whatever helps me capture the textures and movement I see in the world around me,” McKinstry said. “Whether I’m mixing acrylics with plaster, layering paint on glass or playing with digital textures, my goal is always to capture the energy and spirit of my subjects.”

“Overgrown Silence,” on display in “Conglomerate,” depicts a dilapidated building covered in weeds and bushes and was created with water-based oil paint mixed with molding paste.

“I came across this old building on the island of Oahu and wanted to capture that quiet moment when nature slowly reclaims what we leave behind — when silence hums with hidden stories and new life grows through the cracks,” she said.

Her mixed media piece, “Summer Bliss,” showcases summer colors portrayed through vibrant flowers.

“When I painted this piece, my Trollius and other flowers were in full bloom and I wanted to capture the energy and movement of summer — soft pinks, warm yellows, bright greens and hints of cool blue,” she said. “Layered with molding paste and acrylics, I used a palette knife to blend and shape the colors to mingle like petals and sunlight drifting in a warm breeze.”

Born and raised in the Netherlands where she earned her nursing degree, McKinstry moved to Homer in 1978, falling in love with the wild beauty and with Ron, the man she would later marry. The couple raised their four children in a small cabin surrounded by nature that provided ample inspiration for her creativity.

“Nature is full of contrasts — dark and light, rough and soft textures, constant motion and endless change,” she said. “Nothing ever looks the same for long and that sense of transformation keeps me curious and inspired. And while Mother Nature always inspires me, starting a new piece isn’t always easy. Sometimes I just have to play around on top of an old painting to get my ideas flowing. Once I’m in the zone, I can’t stop as one idea sparks another and it becomes an adventure of layers and surprises.”

Creative since a very young age, McKinstry’s artistic explorations were further nurtured while raising her children, when she signed up for a Photoshop Art class with Kachemak Bay Campus.

“With my young family there wasn’t much time for art, but this class was something I could do late at night when everyone was sleeping,” she said. “I developed my own style using my own photos, turning them into something completely different. This gave me a chance to be creative while raising our children and it also made me a better painter.”

Today McKinstry blends her Dutch roots with American Impressionism, the way she sees color and movement influenced by artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe and Wolf Kahn. Recently retired from teaching middle school math and art, she is excited to delve deeper into her art.

“When I was working full-time, I painted whenever I could squeeze it in,” she said. “Now I plan to paint every week because I know how important it is to keep that spark alive. I’m so grateful to have more space now to focus on my art.”

McKinstry named this show “Conglomerate” because she wanted to share all the ideas, styles and techniques she loves exploring without limiting herself to just one theme.

“Over the years, I’ve become much freer with my style, more willing to experiment and mix old and new ideas,” she said. “This exhibit feels different because it brings all those experiments together under one roof. It’s more playful, less restricted and reflects how my creative journey has opened up over time.

“My goal is to show how fun and freeing it can be to mix things up, try new approaches and see where the process leads. I hope people view my work and feel inspired to experiment too, to break out of boxes, stay curious and trust where their own creativity wants to go.”

McKinstry has exhibited her work at Katie Sevigny Studio in Anchorage as well as Fireweed Gallery in Homer. Looking forward, she plans to take online art classes to continue to learn new techniques. She is also eager to continue to expand and grow her creativity, including her greeting card and sticker lines that are available at Fireweed Gallery, the Homer Bookstore and Ulmer’s Drug & Hardware.

“Conglomerate” is on display through July at Fireweed Gallery, where McKinstry’s work is available year-round. Find her online at instagram.com/ingridsimages.