Summer '23 Studio Update

Hello! I hope your summer has been filled with joy and inspiration. As always, I'm excited to share the latest happenings in my studio and the artistic journey I've been on lately.

Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit my parents’ farm in West Tennessee. And it was a wonderful surprise to drive up and suddenly be surrounded by stunning wildflowers.

I couldn’t wait to bring my sketchbook out into the flowers, and once I walked through them, the sunlight created a breathtaking scene that ignited my creative spirit. It was a truly transformative experience. 

I spent countless hours sketching and capturing the essence of these beautiful blooms. Their delicate petals and enchanting colors have become the cornerstone of my latest artistic venture.

In addition, I have also had the pleasure of visiting Pawley's Island, SC, a place of cherished family memories. The captivating ocean views surrounding the island and the ever-changing colors of the seascape left me in awe. 

I am currently in the studio translating these awe-inspiring moments onto canvas, paper, and linen. Through my paintings, I aim to convey the magical moments the sunlight created when it danced across the waves.

Because of these two fantastic vacations, I have begun to fully immerse myself in my work, bringing these inspirations to life before the colors attempt to fade. I'm working diligently on a collection of larger paintings on watercolor paper, canvas, and linen.

I am infusing the stunning wildflower fields from my parent's home and the ever-changing colors of the sea from Pawleys Island. Each brushstroke is laced with the passion and joy I experienced during my travels.

In the coming weeks, I will still be fully immersed in my studio, bringing these inspirations to life. I can’t wait to share these pieces with you.

Throughout June and July, I've made it a point to maintain my Morning Find sketching practice as much as possible while juggling daily life as a mother while the kids are out of school. :)

I’m excited to share the sketches with you on July 31st at 2 pm CST for email subscribers and 3 pm to everyone.

This collection showcases various sketches, including flowers, landscapes, and seascapes, providing a glimpse into the beauty and diversity of my recent travels. I am offering you a diverse collection that captures the essence of my recent artistic explorations. 

It's the most extensive variety of sketches I've put together this year, and I hope they bring a touch of summer's beauty into your lives.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS for July 31st at 2 pm CST for email subscribers and 3 pm for everyone! I'll release my summer Morning Find Sketches for purchase. 

Thank you for being a part of my artistic journey and your unwavering support. Your enthusiasm and encouragement continue to inspire me every day. Stay tuned for more updates as I delve deeper into these new collections and bring forth my interpretation of the wildflowers and the ocean.

Wishing you a summer filled with creativity and boundless inspiration.

Warm regards,

Kate

Blossoming Spring Collection

Playing with spring's color and pattern combos in a single composition inspired this new collection.

Available Thursday, May 18th at 2 pm CST

Here’s a look at the making of the Blossoming Spring Collection:

Dreamland Books Collection

These paintings are full of stories that can take you to any part of the world and stretch your imagination beyond what you know to be possible.

The making of the Dreamland Books Collection:

New York City Art Trip with Sadie

I’ve felt pulled to loosen up in the studio lately- that feeling had me know instinctually that I needed to see art and not just at one museum. I needed to immerse myself in it, so I booked a trip to NYC- a quick, intense, fully immersive two days of NYC energy with lots and lots of art paired with shopping, people-watching, yummy meals, and lots of walking.

I needed this trip as a marker to say that I could push myself in my work. I can tap into the next level that I feel is coming. I want to make good work. I want to make work that has you look and see and experience and feel. To continue to make this work alone in my studio cabin in TN, I had to see good work in NYC. I knew it was time I needed this deep, intense input to fuel my painting practice. To give me the green light to keep moving forward with my brush. To tap into and feel and look and experience good art to make my own.

I don’t know exactly what this trip will bring, but I do know something will come. I already feel a shift. It was a gift to travel with my 15 year old daughter, Sadie, and to be with her as she experienced NYC for the first time. What a wild journey. I’m so grateful.

Summer Collage Collection

Collage is the perfect medium for the summer- free flowing and unconstrained. I’m able to move in and out of the studio and work among the little and big starts and stops that come with motherhood and summer. 

Here’s a look behind-the-scenes at the making of this series!

I intentionally chose to put the canvas away this summer and bring out the paper. I’ve always loved the playfulness that naturally happens with collage, and I especially enjoy how it forces me to work in stages- painting paper, cutting shapes, and playing with compositions. I can experiment with the shapes and compositions over several days before gluing anything down.

Creating these has freed my spirit and has been a reprieve from not only the summer heat but the heaviness of the world's happenings. 

These painted collage pieces will bring beauty, creativity, and love into your homes. Our homes are a place of respite and joy, and if I can help you create that feeling in yours, I am forever grateful.

This series of original artwork will be available for purchase on Thursday, August 18th at 2 pm CST.

If you would like early access to this collection, please fill out the form below.

Solo Artist's Retreat

I just got back from a solo artist’s retreat. ✨ I booked an Airbnb about an hour away and had two full days and three nights of time alone. I went into the retreat with the intention to enjoy sketching, to play with new materials (neocolor crayons, scissors and paper), to read, to write, to do yoga, and my biggest intention was to be quiet and slow down. 🐌

I sat on my little porch that overlooked a pond and watched a turtle swim around, listened to frogs talk, watched a wild turkey and gophers, and even saw two deer drinking water just a few feet away. I felt the wind and rain come and go. It was exactly what I hoped it would be, a time to reflect and fuel my creative tank. Now, I’m back home with my family, embracing the energy here, and looking forward to getting back into the studio!

Here’s a little glimpse of my experience and some drawings and cut paper sketches that I made.

Garden Collection

Blooming trees, daffodils, and new life popping up each day inspire this new collection of paintings.

I’m creating flower gardens for you to enjoy year-round.

Available April 28th at 2 pm CST

Here’s a look at the making of the Garden Collection:

Books Collection

A new series has emerged in the studio. I’m delighted to share how the paintings evolved in the studio. You will notice a recurring theme here: books + flowers. Two of my favorite things. 

Here are some behind-the-scenes pics of the collection coming together.

To see the completed paintings with sizes and prices, please click here!

Farm Fresh Flowers and Vases

A look inside the studio and at what’s to come!

To continue my love affair with flowers, I've created a personal project to make paintings inspired by fresh bouquets that I purchase from local farmers. My ritual is to go to the Franklin Farmers Market here in Tennessee on Saturday mornings to select what I will paint that week. In these photos, you can see what has emerged in the studio.

In addition to the paintings, I've been working with my potter-mom to create colorful vases for you. Here's a first look at them!

Painting Flowers: I'm flustered

Flowers have been a subject in my paintings for years and years- about eleven to be exact. You’ll find some of them throughout this post.

To continue my love affair with flowers, I’ve created a personal project to make paintings inspired by fresh bouquets that I purchase from my local florists. I’m on week two, and, um, how do I say this? I’m flustered.

I want these paintings to evoke the same feelings that fresh flowers give me when I have them in my home- happiness, new beginnings, growth, a connection with something greater than myself. I recently asked my kids what fresh flowers mean to them, and Knox, age 8, said, “they make me think that I’m alive.” I love that!

It’s scary to proclaim what these paintings will evoke before they are finished; however, sharing this intention with you will help the paintings materialize. 

Welp, it’s out there now. This is what I’m up to in the studio- painting happiness, new beginnings, growth, and most importantly, I’m making paintings that “make me think that I’m alive.” No pressure. :) 

Seriously, if I’m not painting with those intentions, then what’s the point. 

Much more to come! 

In the Making: Floralscapes

The kids are back at in-person school, and so I'm soaking up long stretches of uninterrupted studio time for the first time in many, many, many months!

As someone who savors quiet, alone-time, you can imagine the last year and a half of remote learning; moving to TN after living in Chicago for 20 years plus undertaking a major home renovation has left very little room for quiet or being alone.

Now that this longed-for moment is here, I'm taking advantage of every second! What that looks like for me is deep stretches of creating. I'm drawn to any excuse to have beautiful flowers in my studio and home right now. So, I've started a painting series inspired by bouquets created by a local florist, Amelia's Flowers, in Franklin, TN.

This project is simple: I'm getting a new bouquet every week and painting. I'm staying loose and looking at the flowers as an abstract, flowy floral landscape. It's hard to translate into words the images I see in my head, so I'm sketching, drawing, and painting to get them out on paper and canvas.

You're seeing the beginnings of what's emerging. I'm excited by this project and look forward to sharing more in the coming weeks. If you’re interested in daily studio happenings, I’m sharing them on Instagram @katelewisart.

Below is a glimpse at my Instagram feed. :) @katelewisart

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Colorful Vases Pottery Collection

It all started when…My mom traded a trailer for a kiln. Many, many years later, she created these vases and I painted them.

We are pleased to share our 4th collaboration with you!

Rosa

7 x 6.5 x 5.5 inches

Agnes

5.5 x 4 x 4 inches

All of these pieces began as a block of clay, wedged to remove air bubbles and get the clay particles aligned to go in the same direction, and then formed into the desired shape.

Yayoi

7 x 6.5 x 5.5 inches

Betye

6 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches

These were thrown in cold weather in Mom’s studio, which was chilly.

To remedy this, the water used for throwing was heated in a crockpot perfectly placed beside her wheel.

Hercules

7 x 5.5 x 5.5 inches

Persephone

5.75 x 6 x 5 inches

They were allowed to dry under careful conditions to prevent cracking, cleaned off rough edges, and bisque fired.

Shirin

6 x 5.5 x 5 inches

Hera

7.5 x 6 x 6 inches

All of these pieces were painted following the bisque firing and treated to a final clear, matte glaze and allowed to dry before the final glaze firing.

Alice

6 x 5 x 4.5 inches

Hilma

5.5 x 4.25 x 4 inches

All our pottery is dishwasher and microwave safe and is very durable.

Louise

7.25 x 6 x 6 inches

Apollo

8 x 7 x 6 inches

We hope you enjoy using and giving to others our one-of-a-kind pieces.

My Studio Story

Morning Walk Find at Home

For over 2 years I have sought small moments outside in nature to sketch each morning for my Morning Walk Find Project and shared it via Instagram. Throughout the month of November 2020, I shifted my focus inside to document little parts of my home. While it wasn’t much of a walk, it did take the same focus and intentionality as my walks outside. I sought moments in my home that caught my eye, photographed them then sketched from the photograph.

My decision to focus on my home for my Morning Walk Finds has been about saying goodbye to the place we’ve called home for 12 years. We moved in with one child and are leaving as a family of six plus a dog! We have loved and cared for every inch of this space and have savored every moment. 

When I stepped through the door for the first time, I knew immediately the potential that was here. Tears formed in my eyes (no kidding!) the first time I walked up the steps to see the unfinished attic that would become my studio.

I look back at early pictures and even I wonder how I saw what I saw. But, I did see the potential and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity to turn this space into our own.

It’s hard to leave a home that’s meant so much to us and where endless memories have been made. However, it’s comforting to know that I now have this sketchbook full of vignettes from around the house.

This has been my way of saying goodbye and honoring this space that holds many monumental experiences for me and my family.

What a special experience this has been to capture moments in my home to savor the parts I love and share them with you. Thank you for going on this journey with me to say goodbye to this space.

Floral Collection: Art as Respite

Over the past few months, I’ve been tasked with overseeing remote learning in the studio. While my duties have been mainly focused on kindergarten, we also have a 2nd grader, 6th grader and 8th grader in our home. Let’s just say, things have been a little bonkers around here with 4 remote learners and 2 adults working from home!

In the studio, kindergarten was happening in the background while I moved in and out of being absorbed in beautiful flowers and shapes in my newest series of paintings, Floral Collection: Art as Respite.

I used nature and the changing seasons as my guide while creating these paintings. Get lost with me in the luscious colors of oxblood and deep navy with a hint of cerulean blue. This series is about becoming immersed in colors and organic shapes.

Below you will find photos of the making of this collection.

My wish is that these paintings are a reminder to allow ourselves to get lost in the beauty of our surroundings and welcome nature to guide us. They are an ode to Mother Earth.

All nine paintings will be available for purchase in a few days on Thursday, October 29th @ 4 pm CST.

Earth and Form: Pottery Collection with Mom

It all started when…My mom traded a trailer for a kiln. Many, many years later, she created these vases, platters, and bowls and I painted them.

We are pleased to share our 3rd collaboration with you!

All of these pieces began as a block of clay, wedged to remove air bubbles and get the clay particles aligned to go in the same direction, and then formed into the desired shape.

Three’s A Charm

8.5 w x 7.5 h x 5.5 d inches

Rainbow and Square

5.25 w x 5.25 x 6.5 h inches

Some shapes were formed on the potters wheel while others were hand-built.

Curlicue

6.5 x 4.5 x 6.5 h inches

Spotted Wave

10 x 9.5 x 4 h inches

They were allowed to dry under careful conditions to prevent cracking, cleaned off rough edges, and bisque fired.

Together Again

10 x 10.25 x 2.5 h inches

At Last

9.25 x 9.25 x .75 h inches

All of these pieces were painted following the bisque firing and treated to a clear glaze and allowed to dry before the final glaze firing.

Midnight Bloom

7.5 x 5 x 1.5 h inches

Crisp Hello

11.5 x 6 x .5 h inches

These were thrown in cold weather in Mom’s studio, which was chilly. To remedy this, the water used for throwing was heated in a crockpot perfectly placed beside her wheel.

Better Together

9.5 x 5 x 1.5 h inches

Go With The Flow

6.5 x 3.5 x 1 h inches

Mom frequents thrift shops for molds for the hand-built pieces.

Loop de Loop

10.5 x 3.5 x .75 h inches

Harmony

11 x 3.5 x .75 h inches

My paintings on these pieces are inspired by my love of drawing from nature as well as the work of Ellsworth Kelly.

Kinship

7.5 x 5 x 1.5 h inches

Little Lady

8.5 x 4 x .75 inches

All our pottery is dishwasher and microwave safe and is very durable.

We hope you enjoy using and giving to others our one-of-a-kind pieces.

Delicately Strong: Spring 2020 Collection

New Paintings Available April 30th

A collection full of mystery, magic and whimsy.

Get a glimpse of how it came to be in the photos below.

Here’s a closer look at a few of the pieces!

Whimsical Magic, acrylic and ink on canvas

Refined Rhythm White and Black, acrylic and ink on paper

All paintings will be available for purchase on April 30th!

Want to see more?

Go here to see more videos of paintings in the collection : )

Benefits of Daily Sketching

Recently, I had the opportunity to talk with Print Fresh about my Morning Walk Find project and the benefits of daily sketching. I thought some of you may find this post inspiring to read; and so, I’ve posted it here. Happy reading!

In the midst of an especially frustrating period of Mercury Retrograde, we were finally graced with a moment of positive serendipity. We’d recently been reading more and more about the benefits of daily sketching when an artist named Kate Lewis began tagging us in posts about her morning sketches using our Hand-Dipped Marble Sketchbook. Kate is a Chicago-based artist who produces beautiful paintings and prints of her signature floral designs and has implemented daily sketching as a way to take some well-deserved breaks from her other responsibilities as an artist and mother. 

Some of the benefits that are said to come from this practice are improved creativity, focus, confidence and relaxation. It also improves communication, as drawing is a visual language—developing the ability to translate what you see into an accurate two-dimensional depiction. Sketching is even said to improve holistic health. Through mimicking meditation, it can assist with mental and physical health by calming the mind and focusing on the here and now.

To learn more about daily sketching and its positive effects, we spoke with Kate about how she began her practice and the changes she has seen since implementing it.

Your daily sketching began from your project to document your finds during your morning walks—can you tell us a little bit about that and the initial perspective change?

In the fall of 2018, I started taking morning walks as a break from studio work. At that time, I had just landed a dream project to illustrate my first book. Simultaneously, I desperately needed an outlet—something to do and create that would take my mind off of the book even for a little bit. It had to be a small task because I simply didn’t have extra time to spare. I longed for something to distract me while raising a young family (my children are ages 12, 10, 6 and 4) and being immersed in this exciting book project—an activity that would help me tap into another part of myself.

And so, during this very full time in my life, something told me to walk. Enter my Morning Walk Find project. I found myself being called to go on long walks through my neighborhood. I am grateful to live in the East Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago which is full of interesting buildings, expansive parks and, most importantly to me, Lake Michigan. Having this ocean-like body of water to visit gives me energy. As I began walking, I started to post pictures on my Instagram stories of little things that caught my eye while outside—a flower, the lake’s waves, the lines of a building, etc. After a few weeks of this, I decided to give a go at not only taking photos and videos of these things but also painting and drawing them in a sketchbook.

Had you heard about the benefits of daily sketching and decided to implement it for the benefits, or did it just naturally fall into your morning routine?

I am a life-long journaler. I have kept a writing journal since 3rd grade; therefore, I intuitively knew the benefits of keeping a regular practice of documenting, purging, and brainstorming my thoughts. Ironically, I never kept a regular sketchbook and had an ongoing conversation with myself that went something like, “I am an artist, right? Why do I keep a journal and not a sketchbook?” To which I would respond, “What’s the point? A sketchbook is a waste of time.” 

Then, I started my regular morning walks. After a few weeks of posting the photos and videos on Instagram, I thought to myself, I’m an artist. I should be painting or drawing these things, too! Unexpectedly, under these circumstances, sketching made sense to me, and the daily practice of sketching happened naturally. 

What were some of the initial and most direct benefits you saw, both personally and professionally, upon starting?

The initial perk and the one I was seeking was to have an easy, playful outlet that didn’t have anything to do with the book I was illustrating. I was able to draw and paint whatever I wanted with little expectations. The Morning Walk Find project granted me permission to explore my neighborhood for my next subject then create a carefree sketch; a concept very different from the interiors I had been methodically painting for years. 

An unexpected and welcoming benefit was seeing nature all around me. As fall turned into winter in Chicago, I was struck by how much life exists among the concrete. I honestly was not able to see my surroundings in frigid weather before I went outside with the intention of finding something to draw. Taking the time to depict what I see has deepened my appreciation of life all around me. And, I realized that I don’t have to live on a farm in Tennessee (how I grew up) to reap the benefits of nature and her beauty. 

The benefits for me professionally are continuing to unveil themselves. First, my ability to capture the essence of a flower, leaf or bird in a sketch is so natural after regularly doing so for over a year. My process for making artwork before this sketching project was to work from photographs which are naturally flat representations of what I was sketching. Working from real life has pushed my ability to see and my confidence in drawing.

What does the time it takes to do these sketches on your walks mean to you, is it a meditative experience for you as it is for many?

It is very much a meditative experience for me. At first, the walks were very long—up to an hour and a half. I would walk along the lakefront and through the parks, walking and looking then stopping to sketch outdoors. As the weather turned cooler and my book deadline got closer, I realized I couldn’t and didn’t want to spend that much time outdoors walking and sketching. It was a tough decision to greatly reduce the time I was taking with this project because it was a thoughtful adventure, different than any other part of my day and yet closer to what I wanted my artwork to be. I assumed that if I shortened the time it wasn’t going to mean as much to me. However, the opposite was true. 

Now, my walks are short—from the gym, where I go after walking the kids to school, to my home which is about a 10 min walk. My routine is to walk and find something; take a photo and a video for my reference and for my Instagram followers to see. Next, I walk through my front door, go to the kitchen to fix myself a cup of tea then head up to the studio to sketch. It’s my way to transition from being a mom to being an artist. My morning sketch is the way I enter my studio practice. 

How often do your daily sketches turn into something you elaborate on and turn into a finished piece?

When my daily sketching practice started, I didn't want it to turn into a finished piece. It was a reaction to my innate need to create finished work. However, as the months went on and the sketches grew, I felt the pull to create a series of paintings based on the spring sketches of tulips and gardens. More recently, I made a group of paintings inspired by the same dahlia from her glorious, vibrant days of fall to when she was wilted with her head bowed for winter. 

I can feel the morning walks and daily drawings moving more into my main studio practice rather than staying on the periphery. I sense something bigger coming from them; however, I’m allowing the process to unfold without a clear path ahead, which is very new to me. 

You have mentioned that you didn’t use to sketch and would jump straight into painting, how has your perspective of sketching changed? Have you seen this change to your creative process make a difference in your resulting pieces?

This project has ignited my love of using a sketchbook and the power of capturing images over time. More importantly, it has shown me the value of letting ideas evolve slowly and show themselves in small moments. 

Typically, I have not been a sketcher. I’ve always been a let’s-get-it-on-canvas-and-done kind of artist. This method of painting and urgency came from having children and the very limited time I had to make work. Now that my children are older (my youngest is four), I’m able to give myself more space in the studio. I don’t feel as rushed to get a finished product out into the world and posted online. I am working on embracing the process of being an artist. And, I believe the resulting pieces are unveiling themselves in layers that have yet to be seen as a whole. 

Can you talk about how this journey has given you a new perspective and appreciation of your surroundings?

What an eye-opening experience this has been! First, I realized that I didn’t have to take long walks to find something that piqued my interest. Also, I have been “seeing” my surroundings for the first time. For the over 19 years I’ve lived here, I have had an ongoing conversation about how Chicago is lacking nature. I grew up on a 70-acre farm in Tennessee where nature is at the forefront. I absolutely love my parent’s farm and cherish every moment I am there. And, I especially love seeing my children experience the openness of their land. Surprisingly, through my Morning Walk Find journey, I am shocked to report that I can now see Chicago in a similar way to how I view my hometown in rural Tennessee. Nature IS everywhere! I can discern nature here in the city among the concrete, buildings, cars, sirens and movement. My morning walk finds have made me decelerate to a pace found in Tennessee. As I walk, I am struck by the mighty beauty and wonder that has always been at my doorstep all these years. It’s right here.

Is this daily practice something that you think can benefit anyone, even those who aren't artists?

Of course! I believe establishing a daily or regular practice of anything positive can benefit your life and the lives of those around you in unpredictable ways. Your daily practice inevitably becomes a part of who you are and how people see you. I urge you to listen to your internal voice that’s tugging you to start something. You know what it is and it’s probably more than one thing—that project, book, drawing or course. Get started on something (one thing at a time, ideally), and most importantly, be gentle with yourself as it unfolds. It may not be what you intended; so, trust the process. 

Kate’s first illustrated book, written by Melissa Wyse, will be released September 22, 2020 by Chronicle Books. The title is Artists in Residence: Seventeen Artists and Their Living Spaces, from Giverny to Casa Azul.

Dahlia: A Life in Sketches

On one of my morning walks this fall I spotted her in a small parkway garden. She was a bright spot of color amidst the dull skies of Chicago. Instantly, I knew we were going to have an ongoing relationship. And, we did. I admired her glorious, vibrant days of fall through today as she is wilted, head bowed for winter.

Below are a series of sketches and photos I made throughout her life. 

The last sketch was created on Wednesday, December 4, 2019. Will it be the last one, I wonder? Or, will she change even more over the winter? What will her owner do with her now? 

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Dahlia flowers symbolize elegance, inner strength, creativity, change, and dignity. They are also known to represent one who stands strong in his/her sacred values. Find out more at GardneNerdy.com