Katherine Scarritt loves materials: wood, wool, acrylic paint. She loves how they feel in her hands, and is fascinated with how each material responds differently to various processes. More importantly, she is fascinated with how this affects the final product. “For me, working on any type of art almost always means process is foremost. That is, while I may have a general sense of the final product that I wish to make (shapes, colors, pattern elements, mood…), I allow the piece to evolve organically. ”
katherine scarritt – lost again
“Materials can speak to me. Natural materials have wonderful qualities: wool stretches, wood can splinter or be smoothed down… but even manufactured products can have surprising qualities. A permanent marker can create a line that seems luminous. A ball-point pen can work acrylic paint into a unique texture. And learning the capabilities of digital media excites me. So, in art, mistakes can be a new point of departure. Or a perfect imperfection. That being said, I also have quite a few pieces that never make it to the public eye. That’s part of the process, too.”
katherine scarritt – squares squares
katherine scarritt – modern love
Her recent foray into surface design has her exploring materials of the 2D and virtual kind. Often starting with just a marker pen on paper, Katherine brings together her favourite inspirations of African fabric, Navajo rugs, Mayan reliefs, and Aboriginal dream art to create striking abstract patterns.
katherine scarritt – light
katherine scarritt – ya ya
She feels awed and humbled by the possibilities of connecting in the internet age. “I have met so very many wonderful people; artists and designers. It may seem odd to say ‘met,’ as I have yet to meet many in person, but I find that regular correspondence in one form or another can create bonds. Certainly, there are the bonds of shared experience: most of us are at various stages of our design business and are striving for whatever we may feel is success. But, also, I see people’s art on a regular basis, and it can really give you a sense of their interests, their journey.”
katherine scarritt – la la lined up
Katherine laughs when she describes her workspace. “It’s chaos. And not controlled. I would like a more organized space, but I excel at bringing chaos wherever I go. Oh sure, there are bins, baskets, jars, etc. to sort things out…but most everything ends up on my table in a big pile. I tend to work, therefore, in my lap. Or on the floor for big pieces. Let’s hope that one’s space really does not reflect the workings of one’s mind.” So when I asked her if there was anything quirky or curious about her that she would be willing to share, her response was “See above. There is very little about me that isn’t quirky; I was once described as a ‘walking Dr. Suess character.’ Natural klutz.”
katherine scarritt – blue x for la la