Today we’d like to introduce you to Katlin Spain.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I grew up in a small town in Kansas. My parents were two well-rounded creatives that supported and nurtured my artistic side and imagination. My colorful childhood led me to The Kansas City Art Institute where I received my BFA in Painting and developed the skills and mindset to pursue a lifestyle that revolves around my studio practice.
I spent post-grad years working in an art gallery onboard cruise ships. The travel and exposure to the world set a spark to my body of work. I cultivated the overflowing sketchbooks and source material collected at sea into a series of large paintings influenced by the jungles of tropical plants and colors of ‘paradise.’
Tropical environments had impacted my work to the point of no return. I decided it was best to give my paintings what they craved and relocated to my current home of Key West. I’ve found the bright and eclectic town to be the new color palette for a fresh body of large-scale paintings and textile work.
Please tell us about your art.
I make oil paintings that focus on shape and color relationships. I’ll often sketch objects or scenes from photographs, and then break them down by changing their color and/or form. Most paintings start with one mood and end with an entirely different one. Some are similar to their beginnings; some are hybrids of each. I focus on working around colors and how they coexist with each other in a space.
I hope that the viewer can feel a mood, perhaps one they enjoy feeling or one they haven’t felt in some time. My intention for my work is to create a moment to pause in the midst of a chaotic day and become a space to get lost in, even just for a second.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
Don’t let intimidation hold you back. People long for creative connections and community. Don’t be afraid to approach a fellow maker. You’ll have more in common than you ever dreamed of.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I am currently displaying works at Anna Sweet Studios in Key West, FL and at The Delaware in Kansas City, MO.
The majority of my work can be found on my website: www.katlinspain.com.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.katlinspain.com
- Phone: (913)683-8494
- Email: katlinspain@gmail.com
- Instagram: @kspvin
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