The accomplishments of goals, projects, and dreams comes from dedication, inspiration, and passion.
-L. B. McKay
Hi, I’m L. B. McKay, El Paso Gala Award Winning Artist.
I constantly work in oils, and mixed media (acrylic, charcoal, pastels, gouache). With my art, I create portraits that depict the psychological aspect of the human condition that seeks to illuminate the subconscious. My paintings signify the grief and sorrow that comes with the struggles of pain and death. One of my paintings in particular, ‘Juarez’ symbolizes the haunting unsolved murders of young women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico.
My personal search has focused in understanding my creativity and artistic identity to express how I see color, technique, and the body language of art.
Moreover, in my portraits, I explore the relationship of imagery and technique of departure for exploring the human condition throughout portraiture and the state of mind. I use my own ideas and my personal philosophy to create a visual composition with models.
I utilize objects and pieces of cloth that project symbolism most of the time. The end result connects my ambiguity towards life and matters that I do not know how to express in words. The brush has been my best friend in my worst moments.
Artist Statement
I have many disciplines of art that incite me to explore many different phases of art.
For instance, I love to work with female painting portrait in which I explore personal and social women’s issues that I question and that until this day concerns me as an artist.
I am deeply interested in the human condition, especially at the philosophical, psychological, and social behavior levels.
I have done portrait photography, Boudoir Photography, and Landscape Photography but nothing fulfills my heart more than Still-Life Photography. I love using fruit, flowers, and objects that can make me think out of the box. Also, I can use the fundamental elements of art and design in my composition’s. Therefore, I enjoy seeing how the light falls into the compositions and provokes emotions and storytelling throughout the lenses of the camera.
Lastly, as I mature more as an artist, many memories from my Mexican heritage and upbringing are leading me to create more cultural pieces of art and to serve my community.
My painting style, up until now, has been expressionism combined with surrealism using a dark palette. However, I also discovered that I am passionate about creating multi-visual exhibitions that reflect my bicultural heritage.
In these exhibitions, I work with different disciplines of art in which I challenge myself to work productively and to fulfill other aspects as artist and my community.
My Artistic Education
I graduated from The University Of Texas, El Paso with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Art and later in Art Education.
Going back to school as an adult was not easy for me. But my determination to be successful in my education paid off. Education gave me the self-confidence to seek opportunities as an artist and in the field of education.
I have had the good fortune to participate in many art groups and a few solo exhibitions. The experience has given me the knowledge to keep evolving as an artist in different mediums and different types of art.
At this moment in my life, in 2021, I am still growing as an artist and taking higher education courses with Russian art professors. I believe in education, therefore I don’t think I will ever stop learning when it comes to art education.