scavenger hunt…Texture

Texture. One of my most favorite things! I have been enamored by all things textural for as long as I can remember. I often spend time wandering around in search of new and interesting patterns and textures to use in my art. I see them everywhere from the weird rust stains on a sidewalk to the way the afternoon light cascades across a buildings brick facade. It is amazing that when you truly open your eyes to something, you notice it everywhere! Not only do I take endless photographs of interesting patterns and compositions that appear to me, but I also scan tons of different objects that I discover each day. Think about it; Have you ever spray painted something and then looked at the dropcloth that you painted on? These are the places that the coolest lines, shapes and patterns appear. Often times you can discover the best things in the most mundane of places.

Here is my challenge to you..while taking a walk or wandering through your office building or sitting in your backyard, take notice of the small things and see what cool patterns or textures you can find and post them in the comments! It will be like a scavenger hunt!

Happy hunting!

guess who’s back

Hello creatives! How are you!? It has been quite a long while since I have written so I am here to reengage and enlighten you of what has been going on in the world of Kathleen. I feel as though I need to recap myself and my work for those of you who are unfamiliar, so here goes!

I have been creating my entire life. My means of creation has taken many forms over the years landing me exactly where I am today. My art, as we speak, is an amalgamation of all that I have learned, been taught, and pursued over time. My many paths in life have taken me allover; I began with drawing based media like charcoal, pastels and colored pencils, transitioning to the liquid realm of paints and inks then onto the camera and photographic media. After many years focusing heavily on photography and the like, the twists and turns of life brought me to the world of fabrics and surface design.

I have had an obsession with fabrics since a young age. My mom got me a sweet Crayola fashion design kit when I was about 4 which I used endlessly to create cool fabrics. Most people use this to design different outfits, but I used it to create cool surface designs for fabrics. Don’t get me wrong, I created outfits but my love was seeing what cool designs I could think of to make the outfits above and beyond. (And it was the 80’s so I know there was some outrageous stuff…And let’s be real, I just have always loved the outrageous!!) Funny thing is, I save EVERYTHING however, unfortunately, I do not have any of my designs from the kit..uber disheartening at this point in my life! How cool would it be to see what I came up with as a child and see if any of it translated to my designs in adulthood.

Anyways, fast forward to 2013 when things come full circle and I decide to pursue my obsession with fabrics and get my master’s degree from NC State University College of Textiles. (FUN FACT: While there, I designed the official NC State tartan registered with the Scottish register of deeds!! Look it up!) After finishing I landed a position in the wonderful world of bedding, something I never would have thought for myself. For the last seven years I have been creating fabrics and developing products for the global bedding industry. It is not incredibly glamourous, but it has 100% made me a MUCH better artist and designer. Imagine having to create a really cool design for a mattress fabric that can only be white on white..now that is a challenge!

Well, as to not drone on and on, I will stop here for now and pick up again in a few days! Stay tuned!

Go get creating!