Kate Findlay's work has been hugely popular at Wraptious, and we can't get enough of her beautiful textile designs inspired by both science and nature. From rustic country scenes to huge Hadron Colliders, Kate has proven to be a truly versatile artist. We asked her a few quick questions about her art and inspiration.
1) How long have you been painting for?
Forever! I had work on display from the age of 4! Its my passion. I also did a four year textiles degree, which was quite industrially biased.
2) What or who has inspired your style?
Hmm, I think it has just evolved over the years. I have done quite a few different things artistically, and new techniques get absorbed into my work. I love the well known great artists such as Matisse and Kandinsky – also Hockney is an inspiration and contemporary artists such as Mark Hearld and Angie Lewin
3) What's your process when creating an image?
I'm always on the lookout for inspiration and take photos and sketch when I can. Back in the studio, I draw up a design in pencil on white paper, or tracing paper the size I will make the finished piece. I take templates off each part of the design and cut them out of hand-dyed fabric usually. The last stage is a much freer intuitive addition of shapes in fabric, before stitching the whole piece.
4) What are your favourite things to draw?
I love drawing things in the natural world and strive to capture fleeting combinations of colour and light. However when I was inspired by the Large Hadron Collider I worked in a very different way as it was much more about the design of the piece and the colour combinations. These works were big – some 2metres square, designed as Art Quilts to hang on the wall. I worked on that one series for 4 and a half years! The wildlife and landscape pictures came after, and were driven by a desire for a complete change.
I do have an inner geek – which is where the Hadron Collider work came from. I have also been playing around with electronics and fibre optics too, making unusual wall pictures which light up!
You can see an interview here with Kate talking about her amazing Hadron quilts. The huge works of art were made from a combination of quilting, applique and screen printing, and are impressively detailed!
5) How do you promote your work?
I have a website, and social media accounts which need feeding regularly! I also show my work on art trails and big art or craft fairs in the south of England mostly. I have just been at Henley Country Craft Fair for four days and have the Newbury Show coming up as well as a whole host of other weekend events.
6) What's the most challenging aspect to being an artist?
Finding time to actually make the work! It sounds weird, but there are so many other things that fill up the day so quickly.
7) What piece of advice would you give an emerging artist?
Block out dedicated art time and don’t give it up for anything else! Show up in the studio and work at it every day – it’s the only way you get better at it.
8) In an ideal world, what would you like to be doing?
Creating stuff all the time……..
9) What has been your greatest arty achievement so far?
My Hadron Collider Series. It has been seen by a big audience and went viral on the internet briefly, putting me in touch with scientists from all over the world.
You can buy Kate's beautiful work on our Wraptious page , or take a look at her website to see more of her work.
