Artist's Statement
As an artist always looking for inspiration, I turn to nature over and over. Whether I'm working with hundreds of tiny fabric squares trying to find just the right shade of color, a different hue or tone, I seem to gravitate to all fabrics depicting natural settings of trees, bushes, and flowers, usually finding the exact color I need. And, oh, how I love colors, all colors of the Universe!
I draw upon memories from growing up in the beautiful, still unspoiled country of Finland, with its thousands upon thousands of lakes and islands. The fresh scent of spring as the birch leaves are budding, the brilliant colors of the first yellow dandelions or daisies, and, of course, the purple lilac hedges at midsummer. Hiking through forests in the autumn gave me a tremendous appreciation and sense of awe seeing all the hundreds, perhaps thousands of colors of the maple leaves.
My intent with my fabric art pieces, be they decorative or functional, abstract or realistic, landscapes or abstracts, is to bring my vision of beauty to a world that's losing more and more of its natural environment. The fabric medium is highly visual and tactile at the same time, satisfying the need to create by synthesizing various design and textural elements simultaneously.
As I continue exploring various surface techniques, such as painting with fabric paints on a seemingly finished art piece and adding embellishments or freeform machine quilting to handbags, I'm learning more and more what moves me deeply to begin yet another project.
At this point in my life, I have no other choice but to follow my inner yearnings to be involved in the creative process every day. I sincerely hope that my artworks, be they impressionist, abstract, freeform or textured, will resonate with those who view them so much so that the viewers will be stopped in their tracks and gasp at all the wonderful colors and images before them.
Katrina
Holy City of the Heart in progress
and a few words about my background....
ART RESUME – Katharina Sjöberg
ART EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND:
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1966 Graduated from high school in Vasa, Finland. Extensive art education for 10 years, involving everything from sewing by hand and on a machine, sewing from clothes patterns, embroidery, knitting, and tatting. Lots of exposure to art via museum excursions, guest artist/teachers, and classes in drawing, sculpting, watercolor and other media.
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1970-1972 Various design classes at San Diego State University, including fashion design draping. Also volunteered in hanging art shows for the Center for Women’s Studies.
SELECTED EXPERIENCES WORKING WITH ART:
1970-1981 Set up and worked hands-on with husband in Pottery Studio; mixed glazes, applied designs, loaded kilns for firing pottery; sold various pottery items at regular art shows throughout the year.
1970-1973 Began studying weaving on a loom with a Guild Member; continued for several years.
1981-1985 Worked independently for various art galleries in San Diego, providing corporations and business with various art pieces for lobbies and offices.
1998 –2002 Began creating and producing art quilts at home.
2003 – current Rented studio space, continued producing art quilts and utilizing my own designs for wall hangings as well as functional items.
2008 - current. Renting studio-atelier-loft, producing art quilts using my handpainted fabrics and designs. All kinds of embellishments.
SHOWS AND AWARDS:
2003 Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received 2nd place ribbon
2004 Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received Honorable Mention
El Camino Quilters’ Annual Show Received 2nd and 3rd place ribbons
Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received Best of Show ribbon
2004 One-woman exhibit of 17 wall hangings at Cut Loose Fashion Boutique, Solana Beach, CA.
2005 Quilts am Hori, Germany, international show (Beads N' Whiskers & Steps to Enlightenment)
2005 Sacred Threads, Reynoldsburg, OH, national show (Steps to Enlightenment)
2005 World Council for the Arts Multi-media show, San Francisco, CA. (African Savanna)
2005 El Camino Quilters' Annual Show, Carlsbad, CA (Lost Continents)
2005 Oceana Arts League Annual Show Received 1st place ribbon (Steps to Enlightenment)
2006 American Quilting Society, Ohio, (Strings)
2006 Ricky Tims Art Gallery, LaVeta, CO. Miniature triptych challenge "Tree of Life"
2007 Group exhibit; Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland
2008 Group exhibit; Free Spirits Artquilters, Carlsbad, CA.
2008 Group exhibit; El Camino Quilters, Vista, CA.
2009 Group exhibit; Free Spirits Artquilters, Rancho Adobe Gallery, Vista, CA.
2009 Solo exhibit: Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland
2009 Group exhibition, Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland
2010 Group exhibition, Free Spirits Artquilters, Carlsbad, CA.
2010 Group exhibition, Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland
2010 Solo exhibition, Närpes, Finland
2010 Solo exhibition, Vasa, Finland
2011 Solo exhibition, Korsholm, Finland
2011 Group exhibition, Free Spirits Artquilters, Carlsbad, CA.
2011 Group exhibition, Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland
2012 Shared exhibition, Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland
2012 Solo exhibition, Närpes, Finland
2012 Solo exhibition, Bragegården, Vasa, Finland
2012 Solo exhibition, Ateljé Katrina, Vasa, Finland
ORGANIZATIONS:
2004 Joined El Camino Quilters Guild, Oceanside, CA.
2004 Joined Studio Art Quilters Association, Santa Fe, NM.
2004 Joined QuiltVisions Art Association, San Diego, CA.
2004-current Volunteer Docent at the Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA.
2006 Joined Vasa Konstklubb, Vasa, Finland
2008 Joined Närpes Konstklubb, Närpes, Finland
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