Inside Northside Magazine June/July 2002

To be so Fullilove

by Jamey Landry

As I sit down to start my interview with this issue’s cover artist, Kat Fullilove, she has some important career news to share with me. “I’m getting a nail gun tonight,” she exclaims, beaming with obvious delight at the thought of it. So begins an interesting conversation about art, life and family.

Kat’s formal training began more than 20 years ago at Louisiana State University and has continued at various universities and colleges since then. Her exposure to art began much earlier, however. “My whole family are artists - my parents and even my grandparents,” she explains. “I really think I was born to be an artist."

Although she has over 100 college credit hours of art instruction, Kat feels that her greatest successes in art come from trial and error. “A lot of my work is about layering and texturing and mark-making – being able to see layers behind layers. You know, to see what works and what doesn't.” Seeing what works and what doesn’t work really seems to be a euphemism for her penchant for rising to the challenge of mastering a new medium, or to satisfy herself in honing her technique in an established medium.

Kat explains that she often has several projects going at once, and they are as varied as her artistic interests. At any given time, she may have a contemporary sculpture in progress, or perhaps an abstract painting or possibly even a body casting in her shop. “I’m not just going to paint water colors the rest of my life,” she says, with obvious resolve.

Apparently, a lot of what Kat creates does work, because she has seen a steady increase in demand for her efforts, especially in the last 10 years. Her style is best described as contemporary, encompassing realism, landscapes, sculpture and fully abstract pieces. Kat’s work often combines media in non-traditional ways, such as using oil and acrylic together on a piece. She frequently includes the use of bronze leaf or other metals in her abstracts to add the depth and layering that she strives to achieve.

Kat’s cousin, Susan Fullilove, was the inspiration for this month’s cover painting. After not having seen each other in years, the cousins had an opportunity to catch up at a Fullilove family reunion. Several weeks after the reunion, a package arrived from Susan. “It was this ring, which has been in our family for over five generations. I was so moved by her gesture that I wanted to do something special for her.”

Kat credits the support of family, friends and former teachers for her success, especially her mother and father. Her strongest supporter, Kat feels, is Jan Dukes, because, as she explains it, “At times when I didn't want to go into my studio, she pushed me to get back in there.” Her former art teacher at Delgado Community College, Robin Cole, is another positive influence to whom she is grateful. Lynne Black and Vickie Morgan are strong supporters who have helped Kat learn about the business aspects of making a living from art. She also considers fellow contemporary artists Jim Dine, Cy Twombly and Larry Rivers sources of inspiration.

Which brings us back to the nail gun. Kat’s supporters have always encouraged her to be satisfied with only her best. She applies this goal right down to the very foundations of her work. Dissatisfied with the quality and durability of the stretched canvas frames currently available, Kat has taken to building her own frames out of heavier, more durable woods, and then hand stretching the highest quality canvas available over those frames. Says Kat, “The nail gun is going to make that job soooo much easier!”

Kat's work has been shown in galleries throughout the northshore, Louisiana and the Gulf South. Currently, she has an exhibit at the Brunner Gallery in Covington, and soon will be featured on the gallery's website at www.brunnergallery.com. She is also showing at the Montage Gallery in Baton Rouge and Collaborations Gallery in Seagrove, Miss. Kat welcomes all inquiries and comments. She can be reached at katbefullilove@aol.com.