| behind the brush |
new inspiration for future artistic creations. After all, Morgan
County is where she first discovered her fascination with animals,
volunteering to work with cows and other wildlife before
eventually incorporating animals into her artwork.
“I have always been drawn to animals. Growing up in Rutledge,
my sister and I would ‘collect’ chickens, dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles
and other small critters,” says Wibell. “I have lost count of the
number of kittens and puppies we fostered over the years. The
older I got, the more time I invested in my love of animals from
showing and judging dairy cows through the local 4-H club to
becoming a licensed wildlife rehabilitator for the State of Georgia.”
After college, Wibell merged her
love of animals with her love of art.
“I have been painting all my life.
My family always encouraged my
love for the arts, yet I did not take
it seriously until I was in college. I
have been actively painting since
2007,” says Wibell. “I graduated from
Mercer University in Macon with
a double major in Psychology with
an emphasis in animal behavior and
Fine Art. Clearly, both animals and
art were going to have a huge impact
on my life.”
After graduation, Wibell began
volunteering at the Humane Society
of Morgan County. That’s where she
found her own canine companion,
her dog Alli. She signed her new
pup up for obedience classes at Sit
Happens in Athens, which served
as a breeding ground for her artistic
inspiration.
“As a result, I had many opportunities
to get up close and friendly with
a variety of breeds and could observe
in detail their individual differences and personalities,” explains
Wibell. “At the same time, I nurtured my artistic side by working
at the Madison Artists Guild and Steffen Thomas Museum of Art
while also painting and drawing on my own.”
That’s when Wibell discovered her signature style: reverse glass
painting.
“This is the style in which I paint today,” says Wibell.
At the time, the style was such a foreign concept to her, that she
first thought she discovered an entirely new way to make art.
“I will be honest and admit that I thought I had invented something
new. A couple weeks after completing my first reverse glass
art, the museum hung a show of Steffen Thomas’s reverse glass
paintings. I had to laugh at myself,” shares Wibell.
Wibell may not have invented reverse glass painting, but she
surely has perfected it over the years.
16 LAKE OCONEE LIVING | SUMMER 2021
“My art is a subtle blend of stippled inking and reverse glass
painting. If you do not know what that is, think of it as painting
a mirror image on glass,” explains Wibell. “The process involves
painting in layers starting with the foreground and working all
the way to the background. The glass serves as the canvas. I have
to wait until the paint dries before I can flip the glass over and
see the final image,” explains Wibell. “My style of painting does
tend to be on the realistic side combined with a painterly quality.
I enjoy vibrant backgrounds, and if someone looks closely, you
might see the inked stippling (dotted) details at the forefront of
the pieces.”
As Wibell honed her artistic skills and developed her own style,
the requests for pet portraits began
piling up for the blossoming artist.
“Pet portrait commissions are received
from all over the country and
often lead to additional portraits or
referrals,” says Wibell. “I always aim to
capture the specific pet’s personality.
Though dogs and cats are most often
requested, I have received commissions
for other pets including cockatoos,
horses and even a hedgehog. The
only portraits I avoid are humans. That
is simply my personal preference.”
While Wibell eschews painting
human portraits, her art is not only
limited to animal portraits.
“My larger scale work uses old
windows from buildings destroyed
by Hurricane Katrina and focuses on
themes ranging from iconic New Orleans
streetcars to Mardi Gras masks;
squirrels grabbing beads out of trees
or alligators emerging from the bayou.
My dog, Alli, has even made a guest
appearance cooking gumbo,” explains
Wibell.
Wibell’s work has been displayed at Zelé, RHINO Contemporary
Crafts Co., Pollack Glass Studio & Gallery, Good Children
Gallery, Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center, Wetlands Art Tour, and
RAW Artists in New Orleans among others.
Wibell is looking forward to new opportunities to be found in
her old stomping grounds.
“My work has been carried by several NOLA galleries, so I hope
to find some new galleries or artist co-ops to be a part of once I
settle down,” says Wibell. “I have loved living in New Orleans for
the past seven years, but I always knew that I wanted to return
‘home’ one day.”
For more information on the upcoming Animal Kingdom exhibit
at the Steffen Thomas Museum of Art (STMA) in Buckhead
this summer, visit www.steffenthomas.org. To see more of Wibell’s
art, visit: www.katharinewibell.wixsite.com/kwibellart.
/www.steffenthomas.org
/kwibellart