We make Portland awesome: Kendra Binney

"We make Portland awesome" is a weekly series. I’m interested building our community of artists by helping us all find out more about each other.

This week: Kendra Binney

Who are you?
My name is Kendra Binney. I speak mostly through pictures, and spend most of my time painting, daydreaming, and wondering about small insignificant things.

What do you make?
I paint imaginary worlds of dripping landscapes and insecure, vulnerable characters covered in shiny candy coatings of resins. I sometimes turn these paintings into limited edition art panels, pendants, and other small things.

Besides making things, what do you do?
I spend a lot of time driving around in an ugly van with my dog - occasionally stopping to hike or camp or discover new things. I play a lot of sports in the summer, and also spend a strange amount of time reading about bugs. For someone who's normally very quiet, I tend to be very talkative when it comes to politics or social issues - probably breaching the tolerance of friends who are busy trying to watch a movie or something.

What inspires you?
Everything? I think painting is my way of processing the world around me. I’m often struck by the importance of fleeting moments , the perpetuity of their impermanence, and my inability to understand any of it. The world can be often despairing, and fiercely cruel....and then I see something to make it all completely endearing regardless. For me, painting is a way to grasp what can't be caught, and to express what I can't quite articulate.

Where can your work be found?
In rotating shows in random galleries all over the place. I currently have work up or shows scheduled in L.A., New York, and Manchester, England. - as well as locally. Information on upcoming and current shows can be found at www.twitter.com/kendrabinney , www.facebook.com/kendrabinney Work is also available online at www.kendrabinney.etsy.com

What do you love about Portland?
I was young when I first moved from Arizona to Oregon with my family. I remember taking a drive off the main road - sitting in the back seat with my face against the window - completely awestruck by how beautiful it was - the tangled masses of moss covered trees, the hazy fogs and streaks of rain mixing with the millions of colors of green. Until then, I thought those types of places only existed in fairy tales. I clearly remember thinking to myself that Portland was magic . . . which I'm still apt to believe is true.