OK, let’s crank up the heat and kick out the jams. Kristen Terrana’s Mad Hatter Girls should do the trick perfectly.

I first fell in love with My Precious after watching the artist at work on YouTube and was thrilled to meet her cohorts in person at Jadite Gallery, this spring.

Born and raised in New York City,
Ms. Terrana is accustomed to the frenetic sights and sounds that bombard our minds daily. The vibrancy that is part of this city is reflected in her use of bright color and movement, and she finds the fluidity of watercolors and ink to be ideal for expressing this excitement.

Here’s the good word from the artist: “My subject matter can often be grotesque, and I exaggerate the emotions of each piece. There is a dark humor and irony hidden for the viewer to find. Things may appear light-hearted from afar, but upon closer inspection, there is a darker truth. I take inspiration from the German Expressionists, who used their art to comment on the ugliness that they saw within society. I enjoy using art in a similar way, to make a statement about vanity and the pressures on women today.

“My latest series depicts a group of extraordinary characters called the ‘Mad Hatter Girls.’ Facing the demands of society to stay young and beautiful ‘naturally,’ the women in these paintings heavily adorn themselves with animals. The women believe they are enhancing their beauty and hiding their flaws, under feathers, fur, and scales. But the beauty of nature is taken to the extreme. The Mad Hatters become overpowered by their animal counterparts, and their vulnerabilities become revealed in the chaos.”

And their strength. Bold, giddy, and (sometimes sweetly) demented – Guest Spot is delighted to present My Precious, One Headlight, Bird of Paradise, Suck My Kiss,
and All that Glitters, by Kristen Terrana.

Original artwork by Kristen Terrana © 2011.
Portfolio: www.kristenterrana.com, Twitter: @kristenkahlo