artist interview: callie thompson

[images: Callie Thompson]

Austin-based artist Callie Thompson has been making art as far back as she can remember.  She grew up playing in her mom's art studio and went off to college to study art at Dartmouth and Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan.  I first came across Callie's art on Etsy a few weeks ago, and there was an immediate connection to her work.  Callie paints beautiful abstracted landscapes and patterns, and recently, she has translated some of her designs into a new textile line. 



How would you describe your work?



My current work is a combination of reductivist landscapes, biomorphic shapes, abstract patterning, and a heavy use of white and black. I would describe it as contemporary, meditative, minimalist and optimistic.

Studio mate, Bodhi, is relaxing on a pouf that Callie made.

What does your typical day look like?



Until this summer I worked full time at an Austin HIV/AIDS non-profit, now I work part time for a land conservancy. When I get home from work, I immediately go to my vegetable garden in the front yard to decompress. I don’t usually paint after a work day, so after dinner I fulfill orders.



Listening to 'ambient grooves' on pandora while I paint the abstracted landscapes is my painting nerdery secret. When I’m doing more pattern-y work, I like more energy like La Roux or Cults (Pandora stations).

What artist/tool/material do you love using at this moment?



Sumi-e ink is my all time favorite. Nothing matches its luminous, full black. It can cover anything and moves like silk. I also love using hearty cotton-linens and lightweight silk in my fabric line.

 

Now that your textile collection, BEAM, has launched, will you be focusing more of your energy on textile design and production?



My paintings lend themselves intuitively to repeating patterns, so textiles are a logical next iteration. I’m still in the early stages of launching BEAM, so yes, I will definitely be spending more energy on it in the coming months. I’ll be releasing more items and also offering larger quantities of items for wholesale/consignment.

Callie, her dog, and a few favorite objects on the desk- an old hinge, driftwood from the Sonoma coast, a Japanese figurine, and pottery by Eli.

What accomplishments are you most proud of?



I’m proud of four years spent with my girlfriend, Eli. I’m always learning about myself and how better to be in relationships.   



What inspires you to create?



Spending time in deserts anywhere in the Southwest. The physical expanses of the desert inform my work. The openness, the wide spaces.  I’m inspired by friends too: my next door neighbor Cheyenne Weaver, Brian Crumley, Natalie Davis, Adrienne Brabham Butler, my mom, Harriet Huss, and Eli’s mom, Delia Robinson. And finally, GOOD MUSIC: Lovers, MEN, King Tuff, Big Freedia, Jean-Eric, Missions, Ava Luna, Arcade Fire, the Luyas.

What advice would you give to an artist starting out?



Think less. Do things that will get you into feel. The more connected you are to your work, the more authentic and strong it will be. Keep doing what you do with dedication. The artists that affect culture most have created their own aesthetics over the years. They create those aesthetics through pure persistence. You can make a whole new rubric just by making what you make confidently and abundantly. Allow your work to evolve, each piece informs the next. At 28, I’m definitely just starting out myself, so this is what I ruminate on.

[image source: West Elm]

Your art is currently featured in West Elm's fall catalog. Can you tell us a little bit about that experience? 



West Elm found my work through a collaboration with Etsy. There are items from five Etsy sellers in the current fall catalog. It has been a huge amount of exposure for me, which has been wonderful. And, every Etsy and West Elm staff person I’ve worked with throughout the process has been exceptional.  (Look for my prints “Storylines” and “Ice Mountains” on pages 24-26!)



To see more of Callie Thompson's most recent work, visit her website here and her Etsy shop here.  Five percent of all profits go to Florida's Eden, a non-profit working to document and preserve Florida's natural environment.

 

And check back tomorrow for a giveaway of one of Callie's art prints!

New print, "Glacier"

Latest print, Glacier,  in a frame.



I have been wanting to meld my photography with my illustrative works for awhile now.  I didn't think it was going to happen anytime soon until I was about half way through my latest work, Glacier.  As you know, I love layering textures and patterns, and I was looking to add something to the composition in the upper right area.  The light blue cloud reminded me of a clear, crisp day in the mountains, and all of a sudden, I thought of this peak that I captured while driving thru central Oregon. Within moments, I had the image printed and cut out.



The drawing component was complete before I started adding photographic elements, so I had to be very precise in fitting the photographic images into the picture.  Good thing I was once a teacher and had to cut a gazillion shapes out of paper! For the rest of the evening, I went into a collage trance.  I found cutting and pasting to be very therapeutic, like crocheting.  I had so much fun with it, I'm looking forward to starting my next collage piece. 

I thought it was timely that I found this bear sculpture after finishing the Glacier piece.  The first time I ever spotted a bear in the wild was at Glacier National Park.  I was a young girl, and it was the highlight of my trip. 



Just like the wooden whale, I have plans for painting this guy. Not sure how I'm going to work around the deep grooves, but I'm always up for a good art challenge. 

And finally, one more wood panel piece that was added to my Etsy shop.  This one is titled Red Mountains.

Circles abound

You know me, I'm a fan of triangles.  But the circle has grabbed my attention lately.  Take a look at what all the hoop-la is about. 

 

Jennifer Sanchez

Tom Moglu

Bovey Lee

Jeremy Miranda

Chris MacFarlane

   

Marco Suarez

Lesson learned

In the eighth grade I took a career assessment test that determined I would do well in high crisis jobs, like being a paramedic. I don't normally panic in stressful situations.  In the medical field, I can see how this is handy, but, as an artist, I rarely find myself having to make quick, imperative decisions.  Enter Saturday, late evening at my work desk.  I was nearly finished with a new mixed media piece and just had a few more details to add.  I needed a minuscule amount of blue and noticed that the paint bottle was clogged.  I was tired and impatient, so instead of digging out the dried up paint, I gave the bottle a good squeeze.  (You can see where this is going.)  Phthalo blue bursts out of the bottle across my desk and art work! 

After the initial disbelief and feeling of utter stupidity passed,  I realized there was no use in crying over spilled milk, or paint in this case.  There were two options: either let the paint dry or wipe it up as quickly as possible.  As you can see from the photo, I opted for the latter.  I proceeded to salvage the work the next day.  This is what it looks like now.

I'm pretty happy with it, but the test prints have not turned out at all.  The subtle color changes in the sky are not showing up on the prints.  I'm thinking about adding a blue hue to the border and darkening the sky. 

Until I figure out what to do next, I decided to at least use part of the composition to create new business cards and notecards.  

My husband says that the moral of the story is to make lemonade out of lemons. I say, don't squeeze the clogged paint bottle!

New work, "Sierra Basin"

My latest mixed media work is called Sierra Basin.  It's the third piece that I've deconstructed in the last couple of weeks.  You can read more about the process in this post. 



Scraping away the initial layers of oil paint was a little tedious, but I really liked how it exposed all the different colors I used.

I have one more smaller piece that I'm working on in this manner.  Once I finish it this weekend, my plan is to tackle the large wood panel painting that's been sitting on my easel for months. 



Today, my art is being featured on the art blog, The Flopslump.  Chris and I connected through Etsy, and it's great to meet another artist who is not only passionate about his own work but the art of others as well.  While you browse his shop on Etsy, you should also check out my latest treasury.  Christmas has passed, but I still have a long wish list! 

The intricate art of Gretchen Wagoner

I have never met a butterfly I didn't like. They are delicate, have amazing wing designs, and they flit.  Earlier this year, I came across artist Gretchen Wagoner's latest series, Butterfly and Knot, and I was instantly charmed.  The mixed media series showcases butterflies amid knotted rope- an allegorical juxtaposition of profound human emotions.  Gretchen states, "having butterflies or knots in your stomach may physically feel similar but evoke completely different emotional connotations."

Many of her Butterfly and Knot works are monochromatic, either white gouache on light paper or graphite on dark paper.  I love this idea of imagery that changes with shifting perspective.  

As I explored Gretchen's website, I discovered her recent collaboration with one of my favorite Portland designers, Gretchen Jones of MothLove (who just won the latest Project Runway competition).  These images are just dreamy! 

Framed embroidery and drawing now available in my Etsy shop

PDX: Home Sweet Home



It feels great to have my first embroidery works finished and framed- a project that started several months ago.  The whole process was a new experience for me, so a lot time was spent problem-solving.   The most challenging part of the process was actually the framing.  I didn't really think through this part when working on the pieces.  I learned it would have been much easier if I had designed the fabric pieces to fit ready-made canvas frames versus designing custom frames to fit the works.  At least I found a great wood shop connection (just a few blocks away!), and the materials used for both of the outer frames was reclaimed wood.  The frame for PDX is reclaimed white oak, and the frame for Opus is reclaimed mahogany. 



Altogether I spent over 60 hours on the two embroidery works.  It seems like a lot of time for two small art pieces, but I'm quite pleased with how they turned out and look forward to starting the next one.  I'm thinking about going bigger this time, maybe a 10" x 15" piece.  (The two current works are around 9" x 9".) 

Another work that I had framed was this drawing called Sky + Forest.  I really like the minimal look of the frame; it doesn't take away from the art work.  I also like the fact that you can hang the art piece on a wall or have it sit on a shelf.



I attached wire to the new framed works, so they are all ready to hang.  The two pieces shown here are currently available in my Etsy shop.

My Week

it's chestnut season!

one of my favorite treats- boiled chestnuts

each chestnut is like a little nutty baked potato

painted the bedroom walls kelly green

it's always a treat to see my art in other people's homes

this piece was blogged here

my latest work:: jellyfish 

i used epsom salt with watercolor for a textured effect

the print is now available in my etsy shop

Two new prints, "Sprig" and "Lake's Edge"

I rarely work from a sketch when starting a new piece.  Most of the time,  my work is a stream of consciousness.  I first lay down a wash for the background and start building up the details from there.  

The colors that I choose for the background tend to dictate the direction of my work.  In my new mixed media work, Sprig, the blues, violets, and grays reminded me of the Oregon landscape after a period of rain.  

I also had a small pile on my art desk of cut-up drawings from the pocketbook gallery.  I wanted to incorporate some of these pieces in my new work.  I'm not a pack rat by any means, but sometimes it is hard for me to throw away even the smallest of pieces left over from a drawing.  Some of the scraps I see as little morsels of creative thought and execution.  So I keep them in a little bowl to reuse in new compositions. 

Lake's Edge is another work I completed this week.  It's much more graphic and bolder in color than Sprig.  Both prints can now be found in my Etsy shop.

Inspired by macrame

In recent months, I've been itching to take up weaving.  I don't have a loom (as of yet), so I've been thinking of alternative ways to intertwine yarn.  One idea that came to mind was using knots.  I have never been a huge fan of macrame, but I was quickly won over when I saw the works of Australian artist Sarah Parkes.  Her macrame creations are a far cry from kitschy. 

In addition to lighting and plant hangings, Parkes also has a macrame jewelry collection.  I love the rosette necklace on the right.

Yesterday, I decided to try my luck at macrame.  And what started as a spontaneous idea became a several hour ordeal!  Here's a look at what I made.

The only experience I've had knotting yarn was when I made friendship bracelets as a teenager.  I found that dressing a bottle was a little trickier than dressing a wrist! I wanted the macrame design on the bottle to be organic, so I didn't follow a pattern.  And, instead of cord, I used flax yarn (which is more like twine).  The texture of the yarn definitely gives a different effect than cord -more like a crocheted look. 



Glass and rope scream beach to me, so hopefully you caught on to the sea theme.  I titled the piece Seafarer, in honor of the explorer in all of us.  I imagine the newly adorned vessel to hold sand from a faraway place or notes of affection.



I added this piece to a new section in my Etsy shop called Exclusives.  This will be home to unique, one-of-a kind creations (like my embroidery works, painted rocks, etc.). 



Oh, and don't forget the mega giveaway ends tomorrow!  I've enjoyed reading all of the comments so far.  Your thoughtful feedback and encouraging words always fuel my creative energy.  Thank you!

My Week

found grandma's pink doily in my memory box and now it's hanging on the wall

created a few paintings on black paper.  this one with six feathers i decided to keep . . . for now

fabric that my dear friend brought back from Uganda.  i feel loved

finally having time to hang some of my art on the wall, even if it's temporary

i'm thrilled about my new estate finds: metal boxes (at a buck apiece)

 one of them is full of aged note cards. i'm brainstorming ways that i can reuse them

the notes (some typed and some handwritten) are all related to trees and plants

my thought is to hand print my designs over the text

a couple of my ideas so far: shipping tags, mini zines . . . any thoughts?

new to my Etsy shop: Summer Thunderstorm 

mixed media on 4" x 4" birch panel

New print, "Bloom"

I thought this piece had gone to the "point of no return."  It's been sitting on my desk for some time now, waiting to be salvaged, cut up, or chucked entirely.  This week, I finally took one last stab at completing the work.  I have found that many times, this problem-solving stage yields some of my most creative works.  I think it's because I am willing to take more risks at this juncture in the creative process.  



In this particular piece, I decided to create a more dramatic contrast by adding an indigo wash to the bottom portion of the work.  The dark background, in turn, allowed me to layer some patterns on top in lighter tones. 



I am very pleased with how the piece turned out and am just as enthusiastic about how it looks as a print! The colors are vibrant and the small details are preserved.  I really love how it looks in a white mat and frame.  For more info on the print, go to my Etsy shop here.

 

New works, "Spirit" and "Feather Lake"

When I start a new piece, I rarely work from a sketch.  I lay down a watercolor wash first and work in the details as I go.  This was the case with my latest piece, Spirit, which I had been working on for the past few days.  



I usually use pen, ink, and marker for detail work.  I like using ink when I am wanting an opaque look, like the chevron design.  One kind of ink I use is shellac-based, so when it dries, it's like hard candy.  If you look at the right image below, you can see that the red ink is more reflective than the other colors. 

Unfortunately, the shellac-based ink doesn't show up as well on prints. I went back and forth on uploading this piece in my Etsy shop as an original or print.  I ultimately decided to sell the work as a limited-editon print with hand painted features.  So, after I make a print, I touch up some of the colors by hand. 



Also new to my shop is an original piece called Feather Lake.  I like how it shows the different elements I normally incorporate in a composition, but in a more simplified way.  I picture this scene at a lake in the quiet hours of the morning. 

New work, "Midnight"

The scenic mountain ranges in Oregon never cease to amaze me.  Earlier this week, my husband took our girls backpacking in the wilderness near Mt. Jefferson.   I had some business in Bend to tend to, so I dropped them off here.

I spent the next two days with a dear friend of mine, and we had an art and projects retreat.   On the second day, I started this painting, "Midnight."  While I was working, a huge thunderstorm rolled in.  It dumped rain for the next few hours, and I couldn't help but worry about my family.



Fortunately, everyone was okay and stayed dry in the tent.  On the drive home, I enjoyed listening to all of their stories.  My husband described the beautiful lake, and the girls shared their adventures.



Yesterday, I decided to finish my painting "Midnight,"  and it took most of the day.  It was a lot of stop and go (i.e. blank stares and repainting).  The dark color palette kinda threw me off a little, but I am actually very happy with it now. 



I titled the work "Midnight" because this is what I envision the lake to have looked like at night.  A print of the painting can be found in my Etsy shop here.