Kathleen Mitchell

http://www.katspfx.com/

 

KAT MITCHELL EMAIL: wonderlandatlast@gmail.com PHONE: (512) 757-6911 ABOUT ME I was born in Katy, Texas in the 70’s. By the time I was six, my mother lost her fight to breast cancer. My father put a paint brush in my hand to help me learn to cope. He lined the walls with butcher paper, bought a 16 ft chalk board, and kept me supplied. He taught me to paint. One of my first oil paintings, in 3rd grade, ended up winning some awards on a state level and I never stopped. Painting and being with animals are the outlets that brought me peace. We moved several times after my mother passed. First to Utah, then Kentucky, a detour to Washington on my own, back to Kentucky and then home to Texas. Is was struggling to connect and trust people. I was sexually violated during my youth. I was so desperate to feel safe that I married young and in the Mormon faith. I found myself even more lost and abused by him. By this time I was raising two boys and had to escape. The escape empowered me. I first moved 15 mins away, which was not far enough to make the abuse stop, then five hours away but it was still not far enough. One evening I heard very distinctly that I needed to sell everything and disappear. The following 2 days I sold everything I owned. I packed the car with two young boys, a dog and left for Utah. We were homeless for a bit, but with help, I got on my feet and enrolled in a community college. I began a surgical tech program. After the first semester three of my professors called me into the Dean's office and told me I didn’t belong there. I belonged at a University because the program I was in was for people just trying to get employed, and that my thirst for knowledge was not going to be met here. They were correct! Two of my professors took me by the hand to University of Utah with a stack of reference letters. I found out I was smart, really smart. You see, in my family, I was the dumb creative one, with a ton of problems. The hunger to learn and evolve has never left. Living in Salt Lake with the boys was rather calm and yielded great personal growth. My education helped me finish severing ties to the Mormon faith. The more I learned, the stronger I got. I finally saw the system and many of its people exactly as it is. This put me on a quest to heal my spiritual self. When I realized my being was not bound by any religious dogma, I found an even deeper connection to the earth, cosmos, and the animal kingdom. I tend to paint to from experiences and the beauty I see. My youngest child has had a great deal of health issues. He has had a group of specialists following him since before he was born. He was born early and sick. Keeping him alive was by far my greatest accomplishment. After a few years in Utah, I found it necessary to come back to Texas for the help. My ex-husband had been in counseling while we were gone. I felt it was safe to move back. I was wrong. The worst attack would be within a year. I transferred to Sam Houston State from University of Utah. After the final attack from him, I transferred to Texas State University and all three of us were hiding and under protective orders. I knew the only way to teach my sons was by example, so I just kept going. Once at Texas State, still plugging along in the Biochemistry world, two very wise professors helped change my course once more. I realized I had been trying to create a path in the medical world to prove myself to people who do not matter. My place is in the art world. Once I made that switch, the true healing started and the doors began appearing and opening. My father died in an accident around this time and it broke me. I took his truck and went to Boston to hide, heal, and learn. I began learning from Makeup Artist, Michael Gemelli. He helped me see what this path could really create before he lost his battle to cancer. After a few months with him, I was turned over to the legendary Dick Smith and his Advanced Course study, and this is where I really found a new level of passion. I found that creating a walking, interactive piece of art took every skill I had in my arsenal, but was so rewarding! All my random skills and education were all leading to a path as Special Fx artist. I think my life has helped me evolve not only as person, but as an artist. I can tap in and touch people's vulnerabilities and strengths through my creations because I found my own. Creating beauty from a dark place is empowering. I found my truth and power in transmuting the negative into a positive creative force. As a Special Effects Makeup Artist (SPFX MUA), I work in HD Makeup for Film, Theatre, and Print. I spend much of my time using cosmetics and creating appliances for blood and gore, old age, beauty, deformities, creatures, mutations using makeup and prosthetics. I design and fabricate props, creatures, costumes, and beards. Commission pieces and Limited Editions Prints are for sale. I work in Oils, Acrylics, Pen, Watercolor and Sculpture. I also teach classes, provide guest lectures, and demos. I am blessed with a unique gift to express myself creatively, without bounds or limitations. Whatever you can dream up, I can create. I am always looking for new projects and people to collaborate with. I am currently in the Austin, TX area and travel for projects. Please contact me for a price quote. Investors and Patrons are welcome. I look forward to hearing from you!