My current work may seem very different from my previous art, but the subject matter is the same. Nature. It’s just the techniques that are different.
I make textile art that reminds us of how we feel in nature. On the water’s edge, forest trail or open prairie.
I live in the Great Lakes Region of the US and we have an abundance of natural areas to experience. Currently, I select a few of my favorite places in nature and create a series of art centered on that place and the feeling of being there.
I received some positive feedback about this new technique from friends. So I decided to enter my art into the Brushwood Center Nature-Inspired Holiday Art Market. I was ecstatic to be accepted into the Holiday Art Market.
Click on KATHLEEN’S SHOP to purchase art as a gift for the holidays (for yourself or others) and support a good cause. 25% of all proceeds go to support Brushwood Center and all their activities around art and nature.
The Holiday Art Market will be both online and in person.
Online Wednesday, December 1 to Friday, December 3
The online shop opens this Wednesday at 9 am and closes this Friday at 5 pm
Brushwood will combine all your purchases and mail them directly to you. Such a nice service.
In person Saturday, December 4 (10am-5pm)and Sunday December 5 (12-3pm)
This in person event will have artist discounts and giveaways including me
Brushwood Center is part of Ryerson Woods in Lake County Forest Preserve nearby where we live. We’ve been going to Ryerson to hike with our family for over 25 years. Our daughter’s butterfly artwork was in a show at Brushwood when she was in third grade. Click on MAGGIE’S SHOP to see her illustrations of birds and other animals. Now 15 years later, we will both have art in this Holiday Art Market.
Click Holiday Art Market. to see all the other local artists work for sale.
Fall Forest #5, 2021 Imagine walking in the forest seeing only bright orange leaves swirling in the wind
Most of the art in the sale are 5”x7” float mounted on mat board 8”x10”. Some are sold framed for your convenience and several are unframed so you can decide your own frame style and color. A few pieces are attached to a 6” square wide edge stretched canvas that can stand on their own. Prices range from $40-$50.
I have included images of all my artwork for sale at the Brushwood Nature-Inspired Holiday Art Market below to preview. It includes 3 series of work, Lake Michigan Shore, Fall Forest and Summer Prairie. However, to purchase this art, click KATHLEEN’S SHOP
Now you might be curious about my new creative process using painted textiles and thread and why I changed. I will explain the technique and how it evolved.
First, I use a seam ripper to take apart discarded clothing like jeans and old shirts. By taking all the sewing thread out of the garment you are left with holes, strings and ridges to use as texture in my artwork.
Second, I paint the fabric with acrylic paint and use several different mark making techniques like using a roller to spread paint, making lines with the end of my paint brush, spreading paint with a credit card etc. This process creates more texture for the materials.
Finally, I cut the fabric up, sew the pieces together and add thread embellishment by hand and sewing machine to create abstract landscapes.
Forest, 2018. Imagine you are standing in a forest looking up at the sky through the leaves.
In March 2020, I took an art class with Tansy Hargan @palimpsestparade called From the Sketchbook to the Wall. I’ve been following Tansy for years and was so drawn to her artwork. The minute I saw she was teaching an online class, I signed up immediately. No hesitation. Now this is rather out of character for me. For years I have decided to just do my own thing in my own way. I was sure wrong. This class was like opening a door into self expression in a whole new way. When I discovered all the steps involved with this new process I learned from Tansy, the interesting thing was that I had all of the materials already.
One of my favorite fabric pieces from the past is the Forest. Interestingly I have a new series called Fall Forest. I didn’t realize that til I started writing this article. They may look different, but the inspiration is the same. I am using the colors and textures of nature to re-create that feeling for the viewer of being in a forest, looking up and seeing the leaves and the sky.
It’s like this technique was just a natural next step. For years now I’ve secretly wanted to learn how to work with paint and watercolors. This new process really did bring together many interest into this new way of expressing my creative ideas.
As always, if you have any questions, reach out on Instagram @kathleenwarrenstudio or email kathleenwarrenstudio@gmail.com
