Kathleen Powers - Illustrative Fine Art Painting < Drawing - Portland Oregon

Honorable Mention

This hare is very upset. He came to the Fair to win. He knew the competition at the Science Fair would be fierce, yet he entered his experiment proudly.

Being thorough and organized, the hare scientist demonstrated his theory using every means possible; carefully prepared test tubes, colorful graphs and charts, a giant molecular model, and his crowning jewel, the Erlenmeyer flask full of his magic bubbling potion.

After the awards were given he stood motionless for a few moments confounded and devastated, reluctantly wearing his conspicuous Honorable Mention ribbon around his neck. He could not understand how all of his research, hard work, and effort did not impress the judges and earn him first prize.

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This is a painting about the unfair pressure and expectations we often place on ourselves to succeed. Ironically, this kind of fine focus and concentration toward a goal can limit our scope and vision, blindly sabotaging our efforts from the very start. We can be so unforgiving and self-deprecating, especially when we look to others for ultimate approval and validation of our own self worth.

The hare scientist should be proud of achieving everything he set out to do. Instead, he stands devastated having relied on the judges’ subjective opinion to gage his own talent and merits.

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The Wolf surgeon and the young Raven ~ a Fable by Kathleen Powers ~

And the Wolf said to the bird “Once I cut, there is no turning back!”

“You must be careful young one,” said the Wolf surgeon. “I know your broken foot has brought you to me. But I caution you to be mindful not to jump into this end-stage fix with haste. I urge you to be thoughtful to first ponder this surgical intervention in all directions and through all outcomes. Experience tells me this surgery will only last a few years before it fails, and it will fail!”

“I understand,” said the young Raven, with a sincere and heart-felt screech. “I know this foot will require additional surgeries at a later time due to my young age”. “But you must understand,” the Raven insisted, “I am no longer able to jump to flight or land because of the great pain. I can no longer find my own food or water, or even defend myself if one of the neighborhood cats were to find me lame in my nest. I’m in a terrible state! I’ve heeded your warnings Doctor, but as certain as the great sun warms my feathers each morning, I am certain you should do whatever you can to repair my foot.”

The Wolf thought the Raven’s condition over and agreed to help her. Without another word, he began to cleanse and prepare her broken foot for his work. He gathered his implements, positioned his magnifying lens, and then wrapped his paw around his scalpel. He paused for a moment, looking over to be certain the Raven was fast asleep from the anesthesia. The Wolf was ready to make his first cut. And so he began.

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The good guidance and expertise of others
should never be ignored.

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The Sentinel

I know my love of powerful predatory birds and my desire to illustrate certain species such as the Black Vulture, the California condor and the African Secretary bird was the impetus for me to begin this fable-like painting.

In a metaphoric way, I believe this painting illustrates my need to always feel prepared and responsible. To always be thinking ahead and ready for whatever life throws my way. The sentinel is a tough bird and he’s weathered many physical and mental challenges thus far. He’s missing many feathers, his skin is aged and wrinkled, and he requires the use of a walking stick/crutch for balance. He’s done his work and gathered his food, and pauses for a moment to contemplate the ominous sky behind him. He knows this will bring the next storm in his life. Yet, he remains ever diligent, on alert, and mindful to use his past experience to choose the right path for survival.

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The Pious Sailor

One day at work my co-worker told me two amazing stories of how he “cheated death” twice in his life. One involved a red dragonfly and a car when he was a child, and the second was about a two-day boat ride that ended as a harrowing 20-day nightmare at sea. Both are true and incredible tales and as he spoke, vivid images flooded my mind. Even as months passed, I could not stop thinking about them. So with permission I began to paint. These are Thanh’s stories. I hope I do them justice.

The first story happened when Thanh was just five years old. While playing outside in Vietnam, he became transfixed while chasing a beautiful red dragonfly. Without paying attention he ran after it and straight into traffic. A car struck him, and he sustained a serious concussion as it rolled over his head and body before screeching to a halt. His family took him straight to the hospital.

The second story was about Thanh’s journey from Vietnam to Indonesia when he was just 16 years old. He and 38 other passengers set sail on a small engine powered boat. The unforgiving South China Sea produced storm after storm and to avoid being washed overboard, many tied themselves to the boat with rope. Exhausted and losing hope for rescue, some days they baked in the unrelenting sun as they floated without direction because of a broken compass. Lost at sea for weeks, water was rationed to just a fraction of a teaspoon twice a day. Rice was plentiful but people starved because there was no fresh water to cook with. He told me about encountering a large Russian boat, which sailed up close enough to see they were in distress. They were terrified at first, but the Russian sailors were kind in the end and threw them limes and gave them a small amount of fuel. Thanh said everyone prayed and prayed, and finally after 20 days at sea, the small boat blew over to Malaysia where they found land and their nightmare ended.

In my mind I pictured Thanh as an innocent white bird, a true representation of his inner spirit and soul. His wings and feet clutch the inside of the boat for some semblance of stability. He lays helpless, overwhelmed, and at the mercy of the thrashing sea around him. Yet, there is hope in his gaze. There was an inner strength and perseverance that implored him to survive and ultimately call him to be of service to others on this earth. At the tender age of 16, Thanh was wise and selfless beyond his years. He helped, comforted and touched many lives on that boat. Yet, he remains so humble that he still does not realize all he did for the sake of others.

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Midnight Portrait

From as far back as I can remember creating art has always come naturally to me. There is no other activity that makes me feel happier, more fulfilled, or free. In stark contrast, nothing at times frustrates me, or goes against my “creative grain” more than the precise rules of math, chemistry and science.

So what do I go and do? In 2004 I entered into the Medical Laboratory Technology program at Portland Community College to earn my Associates of Applied Science degree. I did this to gain access to steady health insurance benefits and income.

This program turned out to be the toughest scholastic challenge of my life. I was suddenly neck deep in the very math and chemistry classes I had successfully avoided my whole life! Although I had to start from scratch and inched my way up with each class to meet the program requirements, I realized that I actually do have working “left brain cells”. I worked with tutors, classmates, friends, instructors, and did whatever I needed in order to understand the concepts that were so foreign to me.

This painting illustrates my transition from the art world into the science world. Literally, like a change from “midnight” into a new day. Although I’m proud of my accomplishments, I don’t think I’ll ever feel completely comfortable as a Medical Technologist. In fact, I’ve often felt like my white lab coat and job duties are like an actor wearing a mask on a stage. But don’t get me wrong, I very much enjoy my job and my tendencies for precise & detail-oriented work in my art translate surprisingly well into the lab world where these qualities are paramount. Even though art will always be my first love, I’ve learned that there’s room in my life for science too.

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