Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathryn Pitt.
Kathryn, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have been making art as long as I can remember. The art room in my high school in the UK, was a place of wonder, solace and hard work. A place where life changing discussions and affirmations took place. It was the best place to be a teenager.
An Art foundation course followed and then a BA in Art, Design and Film from the University of Northumbria. My early working career was based in retail staging, interior design and Interior styling, then I made a 180 degree turn and worked for the NHS (National health Service) supporting patients with an acquired head trauma and their families in their homes as they adjust to life back at home.
In 2010 my husband and three children and I moved to LA. As the move was supposed to be temporary I took the opportunity to return to my first love, art, and I started a Pet Portrait business, which I still do. From there I have continued to explore and experiment with different subjects and mediums.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
My latest collection of paintings is of female nudes. The human form is a very traditional subject matter that reoccurs throughout art history from the beginning of humankind. The female figure never bores me and I return to it time after time.
Depicting a human body is complex; it is technically difficult; the perspective, the form, the contours. It is even more difficult to create the illusion that the person is physically alive; breathing. You want the viewer to wonder what the person is thinking and feeling. To create that sense of movement in the figure I usually use just one or two flat headed brushes for most of my paintings to sustain momentum, using short broad quick strokes, blurring boundaries. Observing the skin tones deeply you realize the broad spectrum of color. I try and recreate those hues in my paintings by layering paint color over paint color. The layering of paint and undefined edges create an ambiguity, an incomplete picture. I try to make paintings that the viewer has to work hard to complete in their own imaginations. I want them to create their own narrative for the piece. I draw the eye of the viewer into the paintings by paying particular attention to the background, making them very concentrated either by texture or depth of color.
Throughout Art History the female form has been celebrated, objectified, worshipped and distorted but has always been a fascination for artists. In this era of #metoo and as a woman I am also fascinated. I am influenced by many of the great artists in history but am inspired by women of today and their voices that are coming out loud and clear. In my exploration of the female form I wish to show how powerful, empowering, vulnerable and beautiful women are in every way.
What do you think is the biggest challenge artists are facing today?
One of the biggest challenges for me and I think many in my field is that you have to be not only an artist but a business woman, a PR and social media expert and great at admin, yet all you want to do is create art!
At the beginning of your career it is a bit of a catch 22 situation because you need representation for people to see your work therefor to buy your work but to get representation you need to get your work seen. It is a full-time job just applying for shows, getting work to and from shows and attending shows! Getting good advice about how to represent yourself and doing the ground work makes life a lot easier. Making sure your website is up to date, Instagram or other social media platforms are current, creating professional cards/ postcards and practicing your spiel about you and your work so it is ready to roll off your tongue, really helps to engage galleries and clients – know your work, know how to describe your work , be enthusiastic about your work.
As social media has elevated artists from the realms of obscurity to the spotlight and is the number one tool in the belt of most artists, it also has it’s challenges because there is so much competition out there and keeping ahead of the ‘new ways’ of self-promoting Is tough.
Networking and speaking about your work is so important but for someone who is shy or reserved this can prove very difficult. Maybe because I’m a Brit I am often too self-deprecating. Practicing speaking about my work to friends has helped make me more confident.
Lastly finding your own artistic community helps enormously. The LA Art community has allowed me to find my direction and voice and is essential for emotional and physical support. It’s a very welcoming, positive and vibrant art scene here in LA.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can see my work, find out more about what I do, follow me and keep up with what’s new at www.kathrynpitt.com or on Instagram @kathrynpitt
You can also find out about my pet portraits at www.kathrynpittpetportraits.com or on Instagram @kathrynpitt_petportraits.
Happy to answer any queries by email – contact@kathrynpitt.com
Some of my screen prints will be in an upcoming exhibition by CA Artists – Emerging Artists of California Spring show at the Open Mind Art Gallery, 11631 Santa Monica Blvd., Tuesday 29th May 7.30-10pm. By following me on social media there will be notifications of more up and coming exhibitions.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kathrynpitt.com and www.kathrynpittpetportraits.com
- Phone: 2133611852
- Email: contact@kathrynPitt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathrynpitt/ https://www.instagram.com/kathrynpitt_petportraits/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kathryn/ https://www.facebook.com/kathrynpittpetportraits/
Image Credit:
kathryn Pitt
Matt Creasey
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