Born in: 1956, Elmira, New York USA
Lives in: Chevy Chase, Maryland USA
Media: Painting, Illustration, Drawing, Illustrated novels
Describe your work in 3 words: Contemporary - poetic - realism
See More Work: http://www.kathrynfreeman.com - http://kathrynfreeman.blogspot.com/
"My fascination with storytelling and treading the delicate balance between reality and dream is the catalyst for my work and a constant source of ideas. I love fairy tales and mythology and in my mind, I am able to see the wonder behind everyday existence."
What themes does your work involve?
My art work tells stories that bridge the space between dream and reality. I am currently working on a series called "Animal Dreams" that depict symbolic safe spaces or sanctuaries for animals who are threatened by humans in the real world.Describe your creative process.
I always have a story or a narrative idea in mind when I start a painting. It can be a line from a book or a poem, or even a piece of music. Sometimes it is inspired by something I heard on the radio or read in the news. I usually begin a painting by writing down a few words. Then I draw a few lines on a sheet of gridded paper. The lines are usually the beginning of a space. Then I write a few more words, then draw a little more – a horizon line, a few perspective lines...What influences your work? What inspires you? Why do you make art?
My work has always been influenced by narrative painters of the Italian Renaissance such as Fra Angelico and Piero Della Francesca as well as Magic Realist writers like Isabelle Allende and others. For the most part, I make art to tell my own stories and to evoke stories from the memories of others. I am very interested in that place in one's mind where we aren't quite sure what is real and what is a dream. That is where I like to spend my time.What is good art? What makes a piece of art great?
I think great art is art that makes someone feel and think. Like music, literature, poetry or film, visual art has the capacity to evoke emotion. It can inspire pleasure or pain, calm or agitation, clarity or confusion but it must have the form, a standard of craft and a level of cohesiveness, that supports the theme or message.What is the role of the artist today?
The role of any artist in any time is to get the viewer to see the world in a different way than they may otherwise. Whether it is to see a landscape in a new light or perspective, or whether it is to view a political issue from another point of view.
This page was published by Circle Foundation for the Arts © CFA Press ∙ Images are courtesy of the artist