Artist Kate Crowley-Gilbert creates pieces inspired by structures from the man made world, but translates them through using all natural surfaces. I first was introduced to her work via her beautiful dyed fiber tapestries. Read on to learn a little more about her background and her process…
1) Can you tell me a little about yourself?
I was born and raised in Chula Vista, California. Art was the only subject I was good at in high school. I moved to San Francisco in my 20s and took some classes in art and holistic health at SFSU. Never finishing my degree, I fell into the work force, met my husband and had children. Besides the painting I would give my husband every year for his birthday, there was very little art being made for many years. We moved to Boise, ID in 2016 where my kids are now in school and I have begun waking up that side of my brain again and to my surprise found a community that embraced me and my art with excitement.
2) What attracted you to working with fibers?
I like to work in many different mediums, anything that I can use to get a design or idea across. I have a limited background in oil painting and watercolor and there was a time I was making paper collages before I started in fiber art. I think like most of us dip-dyers it first occurred to me to try this medium when I saw photos of Lauren Williams’ beautiful wall hangings floating around the internet. I thought “I want one!” but not being able to actually afford one I decided to try and make one for myself, so I did, but in my own high-control sort of way. Once I posted a picture of it to my Instagram the interest and the orders began to steadily grow.
3) Can you speak a little about your process? Do you generally start with a sketch?
or do you let the medium dictate and just “go with the flow”?
When it comes to my art (and probably my life) I’m not a “go with the flow” kind of person. I remember back to my first painting class at a community college in San Diego where my professor, Michael Schnorr caught me approaching a clean canvas with a ruler and a pencil. He came over and said “No, no, no, painting is about standing back and free-handing. No rulers allowed!” So I put the ruler down and then he came back over and said “Actually, never mind. Do whatever you think you should, its not for me to say.” But he did point out that artists who start off “tight” usually have a very hard time loosening up, but those who start off loose can always get more refined. I always think about this, how I wish I could loosen up, but I couldn’t help using the ruler then and I can’t help using it now. Every one of my wall hangings starts off with an idea that has marinated in my mind for an embarrassingly long time, then there’s at least one detailed sketch and then begins the measuring and the counting of the yarn itself and the obsessive testing and remixing of the dye solutions. Therefore each piece can end up taking quite a while, but when they’re finished I feel a sense of pride and together with the encouragement I receive from my (mostly online) community it is incredibly rewarding.
4) You mentioned that each piece can take a while. On average, how long would you say from start to finish?
Usually around 3-4 weeks, from the sanding and staining of the dowels, the hanging and counting of the yarn to finally the dying and finishing.
5) What kind of dyes do you use?
I use a brand of acid dyes from Australia called Gaywool dyes (but that’s kind of a secret 🙂
6) What has been inspiring you lately? Are there any current artists that you enjoy following?
I’m always inspired by architecture, I love the drama of big, bold shapes, how they can make you feel small and transported for a moment. I’m constantly gathering inspiration from other artists as well. Right now I’m all about bold, curvy shapes such as those seen in the art of Frank Stella, Thomas Trum, Luke Diiorio, Bobby Clark and Elise Ferguson. The designer Mae Engelgeer is also at the top of my list, especially with her recent BLISS collection for cc-tapis which really makes me want to design rugs!
7) What would your dream project be?
To design a line of rugs for cc-tapis!
8) What’s next for you?
Currently working on some new art for the homes in the second season of Boise Boys on HGTV. This season there will be less dip-dyed tapestries and more work with other mediums such as metal, fabric and wood. I’m also actually working on my first rug design which will soon be sent off for manufacturing and hopefully make an appearance on Season 3.
To see more of Kate’s work, follow her on Insta, and check out her site here.
All images courtesy of Kate Crowley Gilbert