Kathy Canfield Shepard
I have been an artist for most of my life, working in a variety of mediums and techniques. Most recently, I’ve returned to quilling, an art form which I first learned as a young child. Also known as paper filigree, quilling uses strips of paper that are rolled, shaped, and glued together to create decorative designs. I have also painted with watercolors for many years, and studied drawing and painting at Pratt Institute and Parsons School of Design in New York City.
My quilling and watercolor work explores my own experiences, from encounters with everyday objects to complex life events. My work embodies my belief that everything we experience is intertwined. Perhaps that is why the organic detail that fills many of my works seems so animate - simple objects or incidents seem to become liquid and alive. Geometric patterns and spatial relationships have interested me from an early age. The works that investigate symmetrical patterns and depth seem to draw from a different internal source than my more flowing works. A collector of high-end kaleidoscopes, I often explore their patterns in my work. I love to stretch the boundaries of quilling and watercolor technique. When painting, I incorporate different colored inks and use the paints in forceful ways, combining these approaches with watercolor's more traditional translucent and flowing quality. When quilling, I tend to stray from flat designs, instead creating three-dimensional and sculptural works. A recent student of textile and surface pattern design, I frequently cut prints of my designs into strips and incorporate them into my forms. I often begin with a simple idea and work in partnership with the materials, allowing them to guide me. I'm frequently surprised by what I produce. Even when I begin with a firm concept, my pieces evolve on their own accord, with compelling new ideas emerging in the midst of the process. I frequently alternate between projects, letting each one rest. A piece can take me between an hour and several years to complete. In addition to creating my art, I own Canfield Design Studios, Inc. (www.canfielddesignstudios.com) a web and graphic design firm specializing in arts, nonprofit and small business clients. I’ve also held full-time web design and production positions with two major web development firms and received my certification in interactive multimedia design from the Pratt Institute. I’ve also enjoyed a successful career as a French horn player since 1985, playing with orchestras and ensembles including the Metropolitan Opera, Detroit Symphony, Orchestra of St. Luke's, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, and with such artists as Lenny Kravitz, Leonard Bernstein, Frank Sinatra, and Joni Mitchell. I have credits in over a dozen Broadway shows, including eight years in the orchestra for the original Broadway production of Les Misérables, and can be heard on recordings, film scores, radio, and TV. I hold a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan and a Master of Music degree from The Juilliard School. |
Contact InfoKathy Canfield Shepard
Canfield Design Studios, Inc. Pinole, CA Websites: http://kcshepardart.com www.canfielddesignstudios.com Phone: (212) 243-5295 email: [email protected] |
My Art |