Katie Fitzgerald

Visual Art – San Jose

I have pursued art my entire life, including writing a rather bad novel at the precious age of 13. I discovered decorative art in my 30s and declared “That’s what I want to do!” A stodgy Silicon Valley job was left behind as I founded my business, A Fine Finish Studio, in 2007. My experience with decorative finishes includes working with plasters. I moved from covering walls in plaster to creating fine art pieces, which is a unique combination of talent and medium. The majority of what you see in my art are processes I either invented or heavily adapted. I trowel different types of plaster onto canvas or mason board in layers to achieve the appearance and tactility of rock. Paints, glazes, powder pigments and other materials are used to fashion different elements. I also employ techniques from other artistic disciplines, such as bas-relief and trompe l’oeil painting to enhance dimensionality. Images in the plaster, such as petroglyphs and fossils, are created with hand-made forms. I add other elements, such as a fish-hook or metal necklace, to complete the tableau.