We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kate Harrold a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kate, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I went to art school thinking I’d be a painter, but when you enter a bachelors of fine arts program, you get to learn all the mediums. I fell in love with photography as soon as I entered the darkroom. While I work digitally now, the methods I learned to compose, edit, balance, and color correct in the darkroom, influence how I work with my camera, lightroom, and photoshop now. Having made adjustments with my hands, timers, nobs, and chemicals, has helped me to understand why things work the way they do, and what can be done with color and contrast to truly make an image pop.
The next part of my education came on the job. I worked for a printing company, I assisted and edited for more established photographers, I did product photography and photoshop editing for large retailers, and like most young photographers finding their way, I shot a few weddings. I became very comfortable and confident in photoshop. By the time I began experimenting and manipulating my own photographs, I felt like any image I could create in my mind, I could find a way to get on paper.
The last part of my learning process was figuring out how to share and sell my work, and make a living. Most of this part of my education came from my now husband, then boyfriend, Jason Brueck. He had already started down the bumpy road of being a self employed working artist, and was able to teach me all these important things that they most definitely had not taught me in art school.

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

I am a Nashville based artist and photographer, originally from Elverson, Pennsylvania. I have a BFA in Photography from Cornell University and 8 years experience working as an artist, photographer, retoucher and printer in Philadelphia and New York City.

While my background is in traditional photography, my current work is more surreal. I am building images, building an environment, rather than simply documenting it. I photograph each element separately and then digitally manipulate and merge these elements together in photoshop. Even though my images could not exist in reality, because of the very nature of photography, they feel as if they do. My interest is in the confusion between imagination, manipulation, and reality.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

I think the best thing people can do to support artists, it to buy art. It doesn’t need to be a 10K purchase at a reputable gallery to be considered a contribution to the arts. I always encourage people to buy the art they love. Don’t worry about if it’s an “investment” or if it will match your couch, or compliment your decor. If it’s an image that you can’t get out of your head, and all you can afford is an 8×10 print, buy it. If it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before, and you love it, but you have no idea where to put it, buy it. Hang it in a place of prominence. You’ll find a way to make it work. Artists need customers, but they also need to know that their work is valued. Nothing is more encouraging than knowing that your work was loved so much that someone felt they just couldn’t do with out it!

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I love seeing someone connect to my work on an emotional level. I’ve seen people cry because they were reminded of someone or some time in their lives. I often depict children in my pieces. I’m interested in the creativity and boundless possibilities of a child that has not yet been reined in by the pressures and reality of life. Sometimes those things can remind the viewer of what they’ve lost and what they might want to get back.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kateharrold.com
• Instagram: @kateharroldphotography