On this creative path I’ve met and become friends with many wonderful, interesting people across the world. It’s high time I introduced you to some of them.
‘My Creative Life’ is an interview series where we get an insider view of artists and their lives from different disciplines and on different stages of their own journeys. My intention is to ask questions that are perhaps a bit different from the usual – the answers to which might spark ideas or simply reassure you as you follow your own artist path.
Enjoy!
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I met Katherine Quinn twice. First through blogging; I loved her quiet and whimsical illustrative paintings, and her dry humour. The second time was when I crossed the world to travel round New Zealand, and we met up in person, which was awesome. Thankfully she dismissed the idea suggested by her daughter that I might be an axe murderer, and we spent some wonderful time hanging out in her town and talking art. Katherine has recently started moving into the world of licensing her work, {about time, I say!}, and I’m absolutely loving seeing her illustrations on products. I’m just waiting to see them in John Lewis or Paperchase now…
Meet Katherine…
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What is your favourite thing about being an actively creative person?
I am lucky… as well as having my own creative practice I also work part time in a creative industry surrounded by people who think, talk and do creative.
Is there anything you wish were different? Have you learned a way to accommodate that?
I have moderate confidence in my work but not so much in myself as the creator. I sometimes think people will be disappointed when they meet me, that they might be expecting someone else to have created my drawings? I don’t think I usually let the not good enough feeling get in the way of my creative process, so I guess in a way I am accommodating it to a certain extent.
How else does your creativity express itself in your life? {Especially if you’re having a dry spell in your ‘main’ area.}
I think having a creative bent overlaps into most aspects of my life… it is hard to explain how I express it, it is just there… {except when I walk… there is nothing artful in my gait}.
If I feel something isn’t working then it feels that everything is wrong with the world… and it can become all enveloping sometimes. But I have learnt that it will work itself out and sometimes getting on with something else helps and not to stress over it otherwise it makes it worse. You can’t make an appointment for creativity, it comes when it is ready. Doing something I am very familiar with can get me back in the zone.
Do you have any favourite resources, books or blogs around creativity you’d recommend for inspiration or support?
I have recently purchased a lovely book called ‘The Craft and the Makers’… which is full of inspirational people making a living from their craft.
The two people I live with are a great resource; some of the conversations we have can lead to all sorts of ideas.
I have also found a lot of inspiration and support from doing Lilla Roger’s ‘Make Art That Sells’ course and also being involved in her Global Talent Search has been of great value to me. She is a wonderfully generous and talented woman with a wealth of knowledge which she is more than willing to share on her courses.
What one easy and simple creative activity would you suggest to someone who feels like there’s no time for creativity in their life?
I have this little shoe box of old paper cut offs and discards and I sometimes find it can be good to make a little collage with the bits and pieces…. the act of cutting and pasting and looking at shapes and colours will trigger some sort of creative wallop.
What’s your creative process like? Are you an all-in-one-intense-hit-then-collapse type or a more of a slow and steady sort? Or something else?
When I am in the mood or have a deadline or project, I am totally focused and will work hard and steady… then have a bit of time off and back into it again. If I go for too long without doing something creative I feel a bit lost.
What does being actively creative bring to your life that you might not have expected?
I think one of the big things was the fact I can make money out of drawing, people will pay money for something I have made on my kitchen table… Growing up, my mother was a bit wary of me going down a creative path, but she has since changed her mind on the matter.
And after taking the Make Art That Sells course I have found a whole lot of new possible markets for illustration that I never thought about.
What best supports your creativity to thrive?
I think having a supportive partner is a huge encouragement and I really appreciate him for that.
Also working in a creative environment with like minded people is invaluable.
Have you ever lost touch with your creative self for a long period, and if so how did you bring it back?
I accidentally fell in love nearly four years ago and the creative side of me just vanished. My brain couldn’t focus on anything creative and I started to worry it would be gone for good… but it lasted about a year and then slowly the urge came back. It was like a little niggle at the back of my mind like something I had forgotten that was trying to be remembered.
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I live with my partner and son in the beautiful Hawke’s Bay countryside and I have a daughter and grandson who live in Wellington.
I love to create patterns and illustration for stationery, paper products, children’s apparel, wall art, bolt fabric, the gift market, scrapbooking & children’s books.
My work is influenced by curious animals, nature and conversations with strange people… I have a great need to collect old tools and I would never turn down an adventure.
Website | Facebook | Instagram | Spoonflower
If you have any questions or comments for Katherine, or have had any ahas reading her words, please do share in the comments!
Utterly charming, the individual and her art. Thank you for sharing.
I agree! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Good morning Tara, I have finished reading the first interview and what an amazing vision this artist has. The illustrations are beautiful, charming, engaging and the palette is so soft and balanced. The repeat patterns allow us to imagine the objects, paper that could be printed with these charming creatures.
I think fabric for drapery, etcetera would be a huge hit, anyway, aside from all of that, thank you for the article, it brings the art work and the artist into a closer association, and allows us to see into the life of a creator. It brings things down to earth and I feel as if, I,too..can do this.
So many times we see the lives of artists over here being on this artsy trip, so special and removed from the normal lives of others. Yes, our minds are removed in a different way, but no need to look as though you are sleeping on the streets for your art.
Thanks, hope the weather is good and you are on the sands.
Joanna. (Montreal).
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Joanna Louise! Katherine’s work is really a delight isn’t it! I always want to demystify art and make it feel possible for anyone, so am glad that came across too.
What beautiful artworks and a wonderful look into someone’s life as an artist. It certainly does give some kind of hope as to what others could possibly achieve with the right attitude, persistence and talent. Although we’re all leading these “ordinary lives” (don’t take that the wrong way Katherine Quinn because your life still sounds amazing) we can still make something of ourselves if we really set our minds to it and still live “ordinary lives” just going about our business … If that makes sense. Thank you for sharing. XXX
I know what you mean Brigitte, and am so glad that comes across as it was part of my idea when I started these interviews. That you can make your art a large {and even lucrative} part of your life alongside families, relationships, day jobs etc.
Oh phew, I’m so glad you “get” what I meant Tara. I didn’t want it to come across in the wrong way even though I thought it was important to share. Yes, yes, exactly that – being able to have a life alongside the thing we really want to do. I really feel stuck with that. REALLY stuck!!! Hopefully that will change next year for me. I’ll just start working towards it over the coming 10 weeks in between school holidays (we’re on school holidays at the moment which is probably why I sound so disheartened at the moment). It can be quite frustrating at times but reading things like this, gives me hope thank goodness. Thank you for recognising the very thing that gives us hope. 🙂
I can’t imagine how any parents get much done during school holidays! I think there are times when the art has to take a back seat – as long as it’s a conscious choice to put the majority of our focus elsewhere for a time {which reduces victimitis! ;)} – I think it can be really helpful just to acknowledge that it’s simply not doable to fit it in sometimes. And that’s ok!
Thanks for this reply Tara. It gave me a bit of a reset! I woke this morning feeling very disheartened by the whole holiday thing and not WANTING to make it a conscious choice to focus elsewhere as I’m worn out with tantrums and what seems like 24 hours of dealing with the crisis of a child. I don’t know how some mothers deal with more than one. All I have to do is remind myself that “this too shall pass” so as to not get “victimitis”. Not easy at times, let me tell you. My patience is running thin. Thank you for the reminder that it really isn’t doable sometimes … much to my horror … and that’s “ok” although my brain doesn’t want to know that scenario right now. I’m keen to get on with it. I’m exhausted but “this too shall pass”.
Sending hugs! And check out Katherine’s comment too. 🙂
Thank you all for your kind words and lovely comments, I really appreciate it.
I think managing time is something that you have to do intuitively… you have to be firm and push yourself but also be kind to yourself. When the creativity is there go with it for as long as you can. It’s ok if the kids have baked beans on toast for tea, you have a sink full of dishes and the washing is still in the machine, if the creativity is flowing than that stuff can wait… although in saying that if the ministry of health gets called, might be time for a break!
And sometimes when the creativity is just not there… as disheartening as it is at times you have to go with it and trust that it will come back you can’t force that stuff, it just doesn’t work that way.
Then there are the times when the creativity is flowing but life gets in the way… it can be very frustrating to keep it on the back burner while you deal with whatever needs to be done. In these times I just think of it as something to look forward to and try not to feel resentful for the fact that I can’t do it at the moment. I always have work on my computer screen or ideas on paper on my desk so as I am rushing around doing other things I see them and can keep them present in my mind and mentally work on them.
I think also as life changes, our kids grow up or we start having children, new jobs, partners etc… our creative process will also change. Our each and individual creative paths will always be an organic thing. I think it is just a matter of making the creative process a part of our lives, however that is, will be different for each of us and it is finding what is right and what works for us and making the best of it at the time, and remember, it is a gift {even if sometimes it feels like a curse}.
Thank you for leaving such a comprehensive response Katherine! So much reassurance and wisdom here, and great to see a bit of insight into how you deal with these things. xx
Thanks for the reply Katherine and thank you Tara for your kind words too. I tried several times today to read the messages and now at 9pm, I’m finally free to do so … For a little while at least. Goodness knows what life has to offer tonight. There’s been a lot of neediness lately from a little one so I’ve just got to be patient while that little person needs me. What you say all rings true and makes total sense to me Katherine but I’m at a turning point now where it’s taken back seat for way too long now so I’m on that brink, desperate to have it properly in my life. To me, it’s telling me there’s huge changes coming so I need to sit and wait for that to flow in while still guiding it in the very direction I want it to go among other things that are going on in my life. I’m at that point where I need to listen to MY needs as well as the needs of my little girl, partner and finances. There’s a point where we realise that if we want to be truly happy with where we’re headed, there’s changes need to be made within ourselves and around us. This is exciting times for me and to read your words Katherine and to see what you do and how you go about it Tara is just more inspiration to keep going with my gut. I CAN make this happen if I truly put my mind to it, bearing in mind that my little girl is an integral part of that. It’s lovely to hear about how you weave it into your life. I’m weaving it but just not in the capacity I want to quite yet. Exciting times! And yes, I am soooooo grateful for this gift. As so many have said to me in the past, “You are lucky to have such a gift, so don’t waste it. Some of us want it so badly and it doesn’t come to us so easily”. They’re right. {Even if it can be a curse sometimes, yes}. 🙂
Both of my children have grown up surrounded by me being creative… Whether it’s being dragged along to exhibition openings, giving me a few hours of peace to get something finished, eating their tea at the table surrounded in art supplies, being mindful of half finished or drying art works. One of my daughters friends reminded me of the time when I made them some toast and there was some shellac on the crust, I just chopped that bit off, she said that is a fond memory of her childhood… She refers to it as the day I tried to make them eat varnish…:/
I think it is important for children to learn from an early age to be respectful of your creative time, partners too! And me spending time painting meant that we can afford to do extra fun things etc… And I think it is important for kids to see that process of hard work being financially rewarding.
I would sometimes get them set up to do some drawing while I work as well which is nice, although they both seemed to be overly chatty at these times, which could be a bit distracting but nice!
Ha ha ha! I had to laugh Katherine … On the birth of my girl who’s now five (last week), I had a studio built as I’m in a two bedroom unit so unless I worked on the roof, something needed to happen but in the end, it’s been taken over by my partner. Don’t get me started on that one!!! I now work just off the kitchen area – in the teeny dining area – so the dining table (my desk REALLY) houses my computer and all my art supplies and is also where my daughter does her crafts as well (alongside me). I’ve even set up my daughters arts and crafts behind me so they’re totally accessible. I spent a couple of months building shelves above the desk, behind me and in the laundry to “re-locate” myself from the studio that got taken over. There’s not much space so my “wanting” to paint big ain’t happening until I get my studio back so my works are a lot smaller and get stashed above the table when the food comes out. For a long while – we ate at my daughters little three-seater craft table and still do 30% of the time when I really can’t be bothered moving my stuff but it’s working a lot better now I have things a little more organised. Nice that they have homes. Every single moment of my time was taken up by paid graphics work earlier this year which meant I got TOTALLY burned out! Seriously, it was crazy! Things have changed slightly as I lost my major client recently, which honestly is a huge relief besides the money not coming in. Now I’m re-focusing on the area that I really do want to be working on. There’s a lot of catch up to do as my computer seriously needs some work and clearing done on it – it’s overloaded with family photos mainly that I haven’t been able to deal with til now – so that I can work on digital work and be able to work up my paintings for selling. My computer is chugging but a lot better than it was a few weeks ago. I’m soooo thankful for this time as it’s getting me back on track to be able to have those moments of painting. It’s already freed me up immensely to be able to paint. Now, all I need to do is get my daughters health on track and things will be good. At the moment, it seems, it’s just 24 hours care. Painting and crafts certainly helps her although she tends to lose it a bit when I start painting and she tries to do a painting alongside me and “it doesn’t come out as good as Mummy’s”. I’m working on that one – showing her the way other people paint and explain that we all have our own styles and that how she works is just as wonderful. Once I browse through others works, she gets inspired and settles but sometimes is can be touch and go … It’s been my dream to be at this point with my girl next to me enjoying the process. I want her to grow up knowing she can do anything she puts her mind to. She’s more interested in taking the lead and wants me to do crafts of HER doing – making clothes for her dolls, making concoctions, getting messy, she gets almost manic with her creativity. It’s hilarious! I love it but it is time consuming. But yes, eventually, she’ll be able to do all of that on her own and it won’t be a HUGE mess to clean up for me. I love the shellac incident. I want my girl and her friends knowing that they can come and join me. I built the studio for that very reason – to house all of us. It was going to be my “playroom” for me and my girl. The house is that at the moment and that’s all good. 🙂 I’m just getting much closer to where I would prefer to be with it. It’s lovely to hear your story. Thank you so much for sharing. It helps me feel like I’m on the right track and gives me hope. XXX
Awesome designing and nice creativity…