INTERVIEW: Artist Cathy Kline
Here at the Cactus Creek STORE we are super excited to be the newest home for Artist Cathy Kline. Cathy is a native Kansas City resident who has been creating and teaching art for over 15 years. We love Cathy’s aesthetic and are pleased to now have her original work here in the store… Here is more about Cathy in her own words, plus a few images of her fantastic work.
CACTUS: What path led you to become an artist?
CATHY: When I was a child, I picked up a pencil, and was forever changed as I watched it leave its mark. I knew as early as middle school that I would be a commercial artist someday. But even before that it was my mom. She was always making something out of . . . something else. And her creativity has always been an inspiration to me. For instance, what she saw in our ping-pong table. It was not how she hacked it into bits, per se, that was so creative. Instead, it was how each one of those newly worthless pieces of ping-pong table fit together so perfectly to form a quite beautiful, and very functional shelf/desk combination. She painted the shelf white, and added lavender and blue flowers to the desk. I was very happy to have it, even though I had to share it with my sister. Ping-pong was not missed.
There have been so many people and experiences that have shepherded me towards art that to identify all of them would be maddening, and to name them, life-consuming. But one in particular is too influential to leave out. Her name is Pat Lierly.
Pat Lierly was my Blue Bird and Camp Fire Leader. Her creativity nearly rivaled my mothers. Pat was incredibly gifted and will always be an inspiration to me. Her daughter, (and my best friend) Elaine Lierly Jones, is a local artist as well.
Selling an oil portrait in high school only confirmed what I had believed all my life; that I wanted to be an artist. But any type of artistic career, commercial or otherwise, had to come second to four boys. When my youngest entered high school, I finally had the time to get serious about a career. So I began pouring a foundation in hopes that by the time Mark graduated I would have something on which to build.
‘Robin’s Eggs’ original painting Now Available at the Cactus Creek Store ~ call 816.386.4013 for price & details
CACTUS: And you also teach art?
CATHY: At that time in my life, I had painted a float and done some graphic design for one of my son’s football teams. This led to a portrait here or there, and a mural every once in a while, all through word of mouth. This provided exposure, but it was not enough to build a career on. Had I not read the book, The New Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain
Even now, I am not what one might call super successful, and I do not expect to strike it rich as an artist. However, I have had my victories and to this point a surprisingly fulfilling career and it is doubtful that I would feel that way without the anchor that my weekly classes have become. I have had a class, in some form or another, for the last fifteen years, and I have no plans of stopping.
‘Cows’ original painting Now Available at the Cactus Creek Store ~ call 816.386.4013 for price & details
More from Cathy Kline after the break below…
CACTUS: What is your style and who influenced your perspective??
CATHY: I paint with color, have a fluid style and strongly emphasize motion. I range from photo-real to abstract. Some artists who have inspired me include: LeRoy Neiman (use of color), John Singer Sargent (portraiture) and Robert Henri (instruction). I shared a gallery and a couple mural commissions with Michael Young-or, he shared them with me-throughout 2001, and I have taken a portraiture class from Lee Hammond. I learned a great deal from both of them. Finally, there are the art camps my parents use to send me to. Other than that considerable instruction, I am self-taught.
CACTUS: How much is your work commissioned art??
CATHY: Aside from teaching, I stay busy with corporate and private commissions, portraits of many mediums, including graphite, oil and colored pencil, murals and much more. The bulk of my business comes from commissioned art. From 2002 to 2008 I did all of this out of my studio in Parkville, Missouri. But eventually decided it could be done just as effectively out of my home.
I have painted murals of all shapes and sizes. 17’x9’ for The Peach Tree (18th and Vine), 27’x9’ for the original Piropos and a 35’x10’ for the Piropos in Briarcliffe Village. There are many others including two for the Parkville Athletic Center (both 15’x15’), and many private murals as well, one of which was 100’x11’. Another was a 12’x12’ mural of The Appian Way.
I am currently working on two projects. One requires me to transform a propane tank into the Beatles’ yellow submarine. The other will be of The Plaza Lights and will be available in the Grant M. Tinsley Gallery, towards the end of the year.
CACTUS: What is your process in creating a new piece of art… how long does it usually take to create something new??
CATHY: My initial process in creating a new piece of art depends on whether it is personal or commissioned. But the difference is only in the inspiration for the piece. Once I have the idea, my process is usually quite simple and always the same. I close my eyes and visualize the finished project. Sometimes the vision is more complete than others. And there are always a million details to work out along the way. But it always starts with a vision.
CACTUS: What would be a dream project?
CATHY: One dream project would be a very large oil painting, preferably commissioned by someone of great importance…but do not let that intimidate YOU! You are perfectly important enough to commission a very large oil painting of yourself. In fact, you deserve it.
CACTUS: How can people sign up to take art classes with you?
CATHY: I teach classes every Monday. Kids from 3-4:30 and adults from 6-9. I also teach at Farmstead once a month. Contact me through Facebook, by email at cathyklineartgallery@yahoo.com, or call me at 913-449-4460 to get signed up.
CACTUS: If somebody wants to purchase art from you how would they find your work??
CATHY: My work is on display and available for purchase at the 2010 gallery {20th and Main in the Crossroads’ Art District in Kansas City}, The Great Frame Up in Parkville, MO and in November, 2010 I will be showing at the Grant M. Tinsley Gallery on Kansas City’s Country Club Plaza.
CACTUS: What would be your advice to a young person who is interested in pursuing a career as an artist??
CATHY: I tell my students to diversify their skills. To paint as often as possible. To challenge themselves. But that the art is what matters, not the money. For art is not an occupation, it is a passion, which occasionally pays for dinner. Tailor what you know. Learn what you don’t. Paint what you feel.
Cathy… you are as talented at writing as you are at painting ~ I’m so proud to know you and to work with you!! BIG love, Fancy
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August 26th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Just a note: the famous book, DRAWING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BRAIN, was written by the brilliant Betty Edwards. Jeremy Tarcher was just the name of the publishing company, but Dr. Edwards is the sole author. Her work truly transformed the way drawing is taught around the world. Glad to hear it meant so much to this artist.