The New Studio

Once again, it has been longer than I'd like since I've posted, so I decided a little something is better than nothing. 

This past Fall I moved from my studio of 20 years at the Anderson Arts Building in Rochester, NY to a new studio at The Lower Mill building in Honeoye Falls, NY. As of December 19th, I am still not at all settled. This will definitely take me some time. Lots to adjust to and I'm already on my second time of rearranging the space. 

I've already held workshops here and my Open Studio days are up and running and I am getting more comfortable by the day. 

Hopefully, I'll get a few more images that show the space a little better than these, but wanted to give you an idea of where I am now. 

And, I'm already working on my art which is fantastic!!!

Summer Happenings

I can't believe it has been since May that I last posted. Time has really flown by this summer, and a full summer it has been with lots of travel, both for business and personal. In addition to all the travel a wonderful opportunity was presented to me in August and I accepted. Please read the letter I sent out to my mailing list with my exciting news. 

Dear Friends,  

Soon after sending out my August newsletter to you, Denise Heischman, founder of The Mill Art Center and Gallery in Honeoye Falls, contacted me and after several conversations, asked if I would like to become the next director there. It is one of those things that felt like it came out of left field, but in fact, I had been seeking this for a while. I’ll be honest, when I said yes, it was from a purely intuitive place. Every time I let my brain in on the decision, I just found myself getting in my own way, that overly protective inner voice was at an all time high with all the reasons not to. Still, I found myself repeatedly driving to The Mill and imagining all the what ifs. 

I’ve had the whole month of September to let my decision to really sink in and now it is time to begin my move.  I am truly excited to step into this new world and new direction. 

I will dearly miss my studio of 20 years at the Anderson Arts Building. If I could hold onto both, I would. The friends I have made there are very special to me and I will miss bopping down the hall to say hello to them with ease. 

I also know that my new position at The Mill and studio will ultimately be as rich a place for me, and for all of you. I look forward to welcoming you there. I should be all moved in by the end of October, but you are welcome anytime.  

With Love, Kathryn 

For those of you who are the Rochester, NY area, please feel free to contact me for a visit. Those of you who live far away, you are certainly welcome, too. I look forward to hosting artists from around the globe at The Mill, which is located in a small western NY town just minutes from the city of Rochester. My personal joy is the drive to and from my new work. 

Here's to a beautiful place that I considered my second home. 

Painting With Fire...Creative Alchemy at Ghost Ranch

A week ago I returned from teaching my workshop, The Inspired Landscape to nineteen women who attended the Painting with Fire workshop at Ghost Ranch. The workshop was also shared with Lora Murphy who taught portraiture along side me.  

I often ask myself if teaching is the direction I "should" be going in. Am I really suited to lead people in workshops? Am I walking the path I was intended to walk? In other words, am I walking my talk? 

If some how the rug gets pulled from under your feet and you have to pick up the pieces, isn't it time to really make sure that you only pick up the pieces that feel right??? Even if the rug didn't get pulled, doesn't it feel right to ask yourself (over and over again) is this right? does this nourish me? am I aligned with this direction I am heading? 

As I said to the group at Ghost Ranch, I faced a lot of vulnerable feelings. I felt being open and transparent would be honored in their presence. Somewhere within me, there is a voice that keeps pushing and prodding me to step forward, share what I know, and trust that it will be beneficial to another person's growth. Courage is my world for 2018 and it seems to be serving me well. During the workshop, I tuned into myself many times, asking all the questions again. I can tell you, that I felt true joy being in the midst of these women. I felt deeply connected to myself and to them and their process. Sharing what I know seems effortless. Being in the midst of creativity feels amazing. 

I know I will continue to asks these questions of myself, have self doubt, wonder if this is the right path, but I also know that I have the courage to find out and course correct if need be. 

To all the wonderful women who were on this trip with me, my eternal thanks for being such an open, creative, and supportive group of tremendously talented and gifted people. You are a gift in my life. Your ability to create wonderful art in the midst of the unfamiliar, the pioneering spirits that came forth within each of you, the sharing of community, bonding at lightening speed with new friends and deepening relations was profound.  I thank you for your courage. 

Please enjoy examples of art that was created in The Inspired Landscape portion of Painting with Fire at the amazing Ghost Ranch. The instruction was to let the surroundings find itself in their unique vision. This could be interpreted as an outer landscape as well as an internal landscape. 

 

The Lilac Festival Poster Commission

This past winter I was honored to have been asked to create the poster for the 2018 Lilac Festival for Rochester, NY. 

I was a little nervous at first. Its December, there is nothing in bloom in Rochester and certainly no lilacs. Its cold, too cold for me to stand outside and paint even the leafless bushes and trees at Highland Park where the infamous festival takes place. So, I began with what I knew I could do. First thing was to google lilac trees, next google Highland Park, next go to the park and take pictures (of dormant trees) then, pull from memory the feeling of being there on those warm days. 

The Lilac Festival is a huge deal here, why I didn't feel pressure is beyond me, must be my zen mind ;). The festival is the most attended festival of the year, and has a huge impact on our community. The poster is used for publicity everywhere (this clearly escaped me). 

Highland Park is in all its glory during the festival with literally hundreds of lilac trees in bloom. The air smells incredibly divine. The pathways and hills in the park, each has its own personality. It is a gentle, peaceful, and inviting park where people stroll and meander. 

I think that is what I wanted to capture most. The sense of walking through the park and also the sense of a rolling landscape and discovery as you walk the paths. 

There is one pine tree that stands boldly against the sky and I knew I wanted to include that in the scene. A path to lead you into the park seemed important, like an invitation. And, of course the lilacs. I wanted to celebrate the lilacs most of all. Put is all together and this is what I created. It is what is called in art terms a composite, but I'm am positive when you go there, you will feel like you are this very path at some point during your visit. 

I'd like to thank the Springut Group, Inc. for commissioning me. This has been a very interesting process and I learned so much from working with them. I was also honored with an unveiling along with our fine city and county officials. Casa Larga even used the artwork for a wine label. Plus, T-shirts!!! Who could have asked for more. If you happen to be at the festival on May 19th, I'll be signing posters at the events tent. Come see me. 

Hosting Leah Macdonald

At least once year I host an artist to come to my studio and teach. March 2018 was the long anticipated workshop with Leah Macdonald. Leah is the embodiment of an artist, and that is a tricky word and label to put on someone, but I'll leave it to that. Her teaching, and attention to what she brings to the table excels. Here are just a few images of her and the workshop. I look forward to her return. A special thank you to Hahnemuhle papers for the generous donation of papers.