Issue 5 Artist Spotlight | Kathy Cornwell
C+B: Tell us about yourself, Kathy!
KC: I’m a printmaker living in Northern Virginia. While some people would describe me as a self-taught artist, I consider myself an artist who has pursued a self-directed art education. I have had a number of impactful teachers and experiences that have helped me develop my art practice.
My day job is freelance writing for creatives, although I have slowly been paring this down to make more time for my art.
Nature is a huge inspiration for me and often appears in my work. I hike in the woods almost every day, and this sustains my mental health while filling my creative well.
One surprising fact about me is that I have six grandchildren—and yet I never gave birth.
I’m big into functional fitness. Ten years ago, I was weakened from breast cancer surgery and treatment. Playing with my grandkids would throw my back out. I started investing in twice-weekly strength training, and it has paid off. My back no longer hurts, and I recently showed my grandkids how to do a somersault! I want to be as strong as I can be in the second half of life so I can fully participate in art, family, and life.
C+B: How has your relationship with your work changed since you first started creating?
KC: It used to be that making “bad” work would derail me. I’d feel demoralized and perhaps give up for a while. What a waste of time! Now I make more work than ever, and when I make something that I’m not happy with, I know that all is not lost. Perhaps I’ll add a new layer that’ll turn things around, or maybe this piece will fulfill its destiny as a piece of collage paper. Or maybe it’s truly trash—no problem! I no longer judge my artistic potential by each piece that I create.
C+B: Share some details about your process for creating.
KC: I find myself most productive in the studio in the mid- to late afternoon. My studio is a room in my home, which is terrifically convenient. I prefer to create daily. I enjoy listening to music while I create and I have an artmaking playlist that keeps me bopping.
C+B: What is something exciting that you're looking forward to in your life or creative life?
KC: While my work has been shown in gallery exhibits across the US, I will finally be in a show in my region in April. I'm thrilled to have a chance to attend the opening reception and see people respond to my artwork!
Find and support Kathy here:
IG: @kathy.cornwell.art
Website: kathycornwell.com
(Party Favor, 13’’ x 11’’, monotype, ©Kathy Cornwell)
If my work was a meal it would be: My mother-in-law raised six kids, and she was a marketing genius: when she'd make a soup using the foods she had on hand at the moment (including leftovers), she'd call it "cowboy soup." This had the kids clamoring for it! To this day, my husband and I make our own version of cowboy soup. My work is very much like this: it evolves and changes, it pulls in disparate elements and makes them work together, and it also involves creative titling!
My ideal creative retreat: It would have to be in a place where I could hike twice a day in an inspiring landscape, like Saguaro National Park or the coast of Cornwall in England. I'd hike as the sun rises and again in the afternoon. I'd spend the rest of the day in a quiet studio that allows me privacy and lots of light! In the evening, I'd be joined by my husband and our dog and we'd eat a hearty soup, look at the stars, and snuggle.
My ideal collaboration: Art Star helps people collect contemporary art. They sell original art as well as top-quality limited-edition prints, allowing people to express themselves through their art collection without breaking the bank. I’m drawn to Art Star’s focus on exceptional quality and service and I believe my work is a good fit with their roster of artists. The work Art Star carries is fun and bursting with feminine energy. I’d love my work to be collected through Art Star and positively impact the vibe of many homes and offices!
If I didn’t work in my current medium, I would like to try: My work is always on paper, but I’d be excited to try working on canvas, panel, or claybord. In fact, I plan to move in this direction later this year and see what I discover!
My hope for those viewing my work: I hope that my work encourages people to stop, look closely and intently, and have a real moment in the analogue world. We spend far too much time on screens and moving too fast—and we miss a lot. My work invites us to get back in touch with ourselves and our surroundings.
