We were lucky to catch up with Catherine Gutsche recently and have shared our conversation below.

Catherine, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

As with many artists, I knew I wanted to be an artist from a very early age. My first memory of a creative endeavour was the creation of a paper bag puppet at summer day camp. It is crazy to think that I bought my very first computer by making puppets and selling them at craft fairs later in life.

As for knowing that I would be an artist professionally that process started in junior high school when I was desperate to know how to get into art schools. I think the guidance counsellors thought I was pushing it, I was only in grade 8, I had lots of time to figure it out. But I wanted to know I was on the right path.

I think I was also a bit of an art rebel or experimenter. When the school had a contest to create a Santa Claus parade float, I created an upside-down clown. They didn’t know what to do… it wasn’t a float but it was pretty good. So, they gave me an honourable mention prize.

Once I made it to the university’s Fine Arts department, I became fearful of being a professional artist. How on earth would that feed me. So, I became a Graphic Designer, something I did right up until I retired from “paid employment”. Sure, I was a weekend artist along the way but it was when my day job boss got between me and my art workshop week that I decided enough was enough I was NOT going to give up that workshop so I declared my retirement. It was the best thing I ever did! I was finally on that artistic path I was meant to be on.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a self-described process painter. I am inspired by my surroundings; awestruck by nature’s transient characteristics and processes. I find beauty in how nature presents and transforms itself complete with its imperfections. My inspirations often stem from natural forms such as lichens, old crumbling bricks or just simply rusting metals.

I am preoccupied by the intuitive journey that paint takes me on with its colour and texture when working with layers that can be revealed through scratching back, rubbing away or lifting, to bring back the history of the previous layers.

I do not replicate nature; I am inspired by nature’s improvisation and I open myself up to its influences. I hope that people will view my paintings and join me in the adventure of getting lost in nature and my creative process.

More recently I have expanded my practice by exploring 3 dimensional projects with the hope of discovering yet another way to express my feelings about my environment. This interest was triggered by a solo installation last summer at the Sivarulrasa Gallery where I added dimensional objects to the exhibition to embellish what my paintings were depicting.

Currently, I am working with wire and aluminum for wall mounted sculptures that examines rhythmic movements. I use both the 3-dimensional work and works on paper.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Earlier I mentioned a boss that got between me and my art.

I was working at a multi-million-dollar worldwide corporation as their Canadian web master. They were a big sponsor at a major event in the city. We were told that it was all hands on deck and that no one was to book any time off during the event. Even though my job had to be 100% complete before the event and I truly had no further function during the event, I was forbidden to take 1 week off that had already been formally approved by my former boss before they moved me to a new department and my week off was booked and paid for. It was a week-long workshop with an artist who rarely offered workshops.

It was at this moment that I had to pivot and change my life completely by leaving that job and declaring my retirement from that the work force to join the work force of artists and creatives working for themselves. It was a huge change that began with a renovation project to turn my garage storage space into my art studio… my happy place.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known long ago about Artist Residencies!!! I learned about these fabulous retreats only a few years ago. I applied for an amazing residency on Fogo Island, Newfoundland. What was I thinking??? They got, I believe, 1000 applications for only a few spaces. So, as a back up plan I found Artscape Gibraltar Point on Toronto Island… Hey, it was still an island.

I bravely sent in my application and WOW I was accepted. I spent 2 wonderful weeks in a huge classroom at the original old school on the island immersed in creativity. There are difficulties in getting your supplies to an island where no cars are allowed but I managed it and have attended this residency every year since. I eye many residencies now in Ireland, France, Italy, Spain, Australia but I gravitate to Artscape every time because it is truly unique to feel like you are miles away from civilization but only a bike ride and ferry from a great city full of galleries and more art supplies when you need them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.catherinegutsche.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutscheartist/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatherineGutscheArtist/
• Other: https://virtualgallery.sivarulrasa.com/product-category/artists-represented-by-sivarulrasa-gallery/works-by-catherine-gutsche/