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

Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

I am very happy as a creative. Some days I feel like the luckiest person on the planet. Other days I do wonder what it might be like to just show up, know what I’m supposed to do and go home. I was an elementary school teacher at one time. It was also a very creative endeavor. Sometimes, when I’m having trouble getting started I think I might like the structure of a “regular” job.

Katie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I began my creative career as a fine art major back in the days of big hair and Vuarnet sunglasses. I was told, in my second drawing class, that I was an excellent copier but the world has Xerox machines for that. In retrospect, I think the teaching assistant was trying to get me out of my comfort zone but I felt shame and changed my major. I loved my career as a school teacher and I had kickass bulletin boards! After our second child was born, I decided to make her a quilt. I quickly found that following patterns and directions was not for me. After my first class with Susan Shie (Turtle Moon Studio) I found my passion painting on fabric and layering and stitching my paintings like a quilt. Right around 2015 I was certified as a Kaizen-Muse Creativity Coach and self published my little book about creativity An Artist’s Journey through Wonderland.

I love to teach almost anything, speak about creativity, and help individuals find their creative selves. I often say my lectures give you permission to play and my classes remind you how to play. I’ve written several books: Foolproof Art Quilting, Foolproof Color Workbook, and Foolproof Color Wheel Set, all from C&T Publishing.

I believe we are all creative because we are human. I believe there is no creative hierarchy, no form of creativity is superior to another. I believe everyone has the answers and I’m just available to ask the right questions.

I think I am most proud of the times people have told me how much my lecture, class, or coaching has helped them to feel like themselves.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

The primary goal driving my creative journey is self-acceptance. It has taken literally decades for me to accept the art I make as valid and valuable. I have finally learned that external validation is nice, but will never be enough as long as I need external validation. What I make, how I make it, and what I do with it is just the way it’s supposed to be. Creativity can be tough as it is difficult to define and sometimes hard to find. I’ve finally learned to not make it harder by loading the process with expectations and judgements.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is finding flow. I love finding that “time without time” when the clock means nothing and I’m totally lost in the process. I also love the little surprises that arise when I get a new idea or figure out how to solve a creative problem.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katiefowler.net/
• Instagram: katiefowlerwonderland