Ethereal and omniscient, often steeped in clouds or fog, the imagery of Wyoming-based painter, Kathryn Mapes Turner, features a mystical blending of physical and spiritual. “My style is inspired by the Celtic word CAOL AIT – places separated by a thin veil, where spaces in the solid world and the realm of spirit come close together,” she says. Bringing that concept to her work, Turner employs brushes and paint as a means of sharing with others the joy and awe of nature that lie deep within her own soul.

“My relationship to the natural world is spiritual and, ideally, I want to evoke the same ethereal feeling for my viewers, allowing them to enter a portal between two worlds, which leads them beyond everyday reality,” Turner says.

Turner herself is a product of another blending, that of family heritage and magnificent environment. Perhaps that is what infuses her conviction that she is one of the world’s luckiest women. Born in Jackson, Wyoming, in 1971 but raised in the rural countryside of Jackson Hole, Turner is among the fourth generation of Turners to reside on the Triangle X, a 1,400-acre ranch sited in the Grand Teton National Park.

Kathryn Mapes Turner

Unbridled
Oil
60″x60″

“In this image, I was trying to capture the essence of this horse—its combination of power and grace. It was important to me to create a sense of movement by utilizing soft versus hard edges. The white of the horse is a highly reflective surface, so I love how we find warm tones throughout this painting.”

Kathryn Mapes Turner

One Nest
Oil
18″x18″

“This is a personal painting. I created it thinking of my brother and how much I appreciate him in my life. As a subject, it is simple, but herein there is an interesting sense of space, lots of texture, and a celebration of color.”