Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katherine Parfet. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Katherine, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started working in the art world in 1970 when I started a needlepoint design business, creating custom work for shops, private clients and churches and synagogues. The creative process called for was all “inside the box” – very controlled, well planned out, meticulously painted on a grid format. There was no room for spontaneity. So when I retired and opened an art studio the one thing I knew I wanted to do was to have no plan, to use no references, to just feel my way around each painting. The dedication involved in running a small design business, where I was the only one doing the creative work, helped me in developing a good work ethic today. Though I regret not having been able to move on from the design business earlier, the skills I learned from those days have helped me to find my own painting style.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I have been painting full time since 2000, with acrylics as my main medium. I travel between northern Wisconsin in the summer and Florida in the winter, and maintain studios in each location. I began to work in a small format as it seemed an easy way for me to transport completed paintings between the two studios. The more small work I created the more I liked the concept of being able to express a mood in a limited amount of space.

My subject matter ranges from landscapes to florals and fauna, working in a style that can either be impressionistic or mere line and form. The one constant for me is a love of color. I do not use physical references for my work but rather try to remember the feel of a specific place or thing, a memory that I can interpret on to the canvas.
My process involves working on three or four paintings at a time, moving quickly from one canvas to the next. The repetition helps to create a familiarity with the subject, which gives me confidence to try different techniques and color combinations. Fresh, loose, spontaneous.
I worked alone in my studio for many years, and that has its drawbacks. I have been very fortunate in the past few years to have met fellow artists who have not only helped me grow creatively but who have opened up opportunities in the arts community.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

There are lots of highs and lows. Even now, fifty plus years after becoming a professional artist- meaning getting paid for your work- I still have doubts about my worth. When I first made the switch from design work to pure painting I thought I would produce some good work, but my attempts left me in tears. I kept at it, tried to find the time to dedicate myself to the work, tried to find a voice that was mine. A painting is a puzzle to solve, and it is a struggle a lot of the time. I thought after all these years that the creativity would come easily but that is not always the case. Some of my best work seems effortless and simple, but I know it has taken years of work for that to happen. But if it comes together quickly and effortlessly then that is a gift.

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

What keeps me motivated and interested in painting is the idea that when I work I am creating something that is my own vision. Nothing on the paper or canvas existed before I put it there. I am at heart a stubborn person who does not like being told anything, and as an artist no one can tell you what to do. I take personal pride in my work, and when it is viewed similarly by my peers I am very thankful for being an artist.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.katherineparfet.com
• Instagram: KatherineParfet
• Facebook: KatherineParfet

Image Credits
Katherine Parfet