Crane's blog you are missing out big time! Kate is a wonderfully talented mixed media artist. Her work is filled with inspiration and fun!
1.. Hi Kate and welcome. Please tell us about yourself.
I am happily married, with two children, a dog, and several small animals, and we all live in a rural village in the north of England, UK. I am a school teacher specialising in music and currently teach children aged 10 and 11. I am also a crafts tutor and love to share my passion for all things arty with others.
I contribute regularly to Craft Stamper magazine (UK), and I'm proud to be on the design team for Dylusions for Ranger, and Stampotique Originals. I have had my art published in several publications including Somerset Art Journaling, Stampers Sampler, Artful Blogging, Somerset Studio and Somerset Apprentice. In May 2012 I spent three glorious days at Ranger Ink, USA, to become a Certified Ranger Educator.
I have dabbled in many different crafts over the years from knitting, dressmaking, to ‘clean’ cardmaking and scrapbooking, but now I feel that I have really discovered my passion in mixed media art and art journaling. Music also plays an important part in my life. I am a musician and regularly play in a ceilidh band. But more than anything else, I am the QUEEN of MESSING ABOUT! I love nothing more than playing with paper, acrylic paint, old texts, rubber stamps etc etc etc! I also love wine and chocolate, and plenty of it
2. What are your favorite art materials to work with in your art journals?
My ‘favourite’ constantly changes as I discover new things to play with but right now I am enjoying using acrylic paints (various brands), Dylusions ink sprays, stencils, rubber stamps and gesso. Amongst other things of course! I love to build up multiple layers in my journal pages so I will often use a huge variety of mediums all on one page, as that allows me to add even more layers and achieve the depth of colour that I love. I have an ever-growing collection of useful junk, that I use for stamping and adding extra texture to may pages … things such as old credit cards and bottle lids.
3. How long have you been keeping an art journal and do you have any advice to give about keeping an art journal?
My ‘favourite’ constantly changes as I discover new things to play with but right now I am enjoying using acrylic paints (various brands), Dylusions ink sprays, stencils, rubber stamps and gesso. Amongst other things of course! I love to build up multiple layers in my journal pages so I will often use a huge variety of mediums all on one page, as that allows me to add even more layers and achieve the depth of colour that I love. I have an ever-growing collection of useful junk, that I use for stamping and adding extra texture to may pages … things such as old credit cards and bottle lids.
3. How long have you been keeping an art journal and do you have any advice to give about keeping an art journal?
I started art journaling towards the end of 2008 and have been at it ever since! My advice would be to just start! Don’t overthink things, but just start and let it grow. Creativity breeds creativity, and the more you do the more ideas you will have.
And also never give up on yourself. I have been on such a steep learning curve since I started. It would be so easy to give up when things don’t go right, but you have to allow yourself to get things ‘wrong’ occasionally – that’s how we learn. Join art journaling groups, look on you tube, do some on-line classes … there is so much out there just waiting for you!
4. Describe your creative style and has it changed since your first art journal.
My creative style has changed quite a lot over the years. I think the things that define my style are my use of bold and vibrant colour, lots and lots of layers, and honesty in my actual journal writing. I say what I think! Over the years my pages have got bolder and brighter in colour, and they have also got more busy, with more and more layers being added.
5. You have just returned from a teaching trip. Please tell us about it.
I have recently returned from a trip to Holland where I taught several classes at de Craftorij, Ede, in the centre of Holland. It was busy busy busy, but a wonderful experience, and my first experience of teaching abroad. The Dutch girls LOVE their art and I was met with a passion and enthusiasm for the subject. I taught four full days of art journaling classes using a variety of inky and painty techniques. Some of the girls were self confessed ‘clean’ scrapbookers but they soon got their hands dirty!
Where can we find you?
Thank you so much for your time Kate! It was wonderful to take a look into your world of art.
Hugs
Ansota :)
Nice interview, not my style of journaling but I love what she has done.
ReplyDelete