By Amber Ford The Mountain Times
If dynamic colors, realistic shapes, and images that make you feel like you’re experiencing the landscape with the artist is the type of freedom you take from art, Kenzey Ostrowski is the artist for you.
A graduate of Concordia University in Moorhead with a bachelor’s degree in clarinet performance, Ostrowski is no stranger to fine arts. “I took one introduction to art class and absolutely loved it,” Ostrowski said. “When I was 27 I went back to school at PCC [Portland Community College] for graphic design,” Ostrowski added.
Although Ostrowski is also well versed in print making and the clarinet, her professional passion and true dedication comes from finding the magic in acrylic painting. “Painting in acrylics allows me to create really colorful, dynamic landscapes,” Ostrowski said. “This [acrylics] is the bulk of the art that I do. However, a couple years ago I took a Moku Hanga print making class at PCC and was hooked immediately. I really love carving wood and pressing the paper to reveal a finished image,” Ostrowski added.
Inspired by the works of Mark Maggiori, Ostrowski uses the world she captures through photography and memory to create pieces that are real and fresh; they create a longing for each environment through her brushstrokes. “Art is just a part of me,” Ostrowski said. Similar to Maggiori with regard to her beautiful landscapes, Ostrowski’s paintings not only highlight the unique places she’s visited but also demonstrate the beauty and depth she creates on her canvas.
While Ostrowski’s talents and gifts can be seen in every piece she creates, she credits her husband and the beauty around her for her ideas and inspiration. “After I graduated I started to draw more here and there. When I started dating my husband in 2017, he really pushed me to do more art,” Ostrowski said. “Then when the pandemic hit in 2020, he forced me to paint his longboard, since I had no excuse not to! From then on, I got really into painting and slowly started finding my voice as an artist,” Ostrowski added.
Relocating to The Mt. Hood Villages in 2023 from Gresham, Ostrowski seems to find constant inspiration in the beauty of her backyard. “Living on the mountain has greatly inspired my work,” Ostrowski said. “I have a couple of pieces featuring locations in the Mt. Hood National Forest. The outdoors are my number one inspiration,” Ostrowski added.
To view or purchase Ostrowski’s work please visit @bea.alive.art on instagram or stop by Coffee House 26 and Cooper’s Wine Bar [Cooper’s Wine Bar art festival, 7/17].