D-E-F

CREATING IN all ways is my passion. My love of design has been a constant in my life, but abstract painting is real “magic”. It seems I am having a conversation with an unknown world that suddenly appears. Every day, I am amazed to see how an artful life matches real life.  I look for energy and playfulness with my materials that delight and surprise. I am fascinated with old cities walls, old street papers, and new construction. I love torn down buildings, the shipyards, and revel in taking risks in life and art.

Kathleen is a mixed media abstract painter in both acrylics and Cold Wax & Oil. Walking the streets for the perfect photograph inspires her abstract art which is abundant. She is based in the Northwest near Seattle, having moved from San Jose, CA where she earned her B.S degree in Industrial Design, Graphics Design and Photography. All these disciplines rightfully inform and influence her work. See Kathleen's available work at Fogue.

 Artist Statement

I’ve spent my life creating and designing: from music, to granite carving, woodworking and custom furniture design, leatherworking, photography, knife making, textiles, cookery, the lamps and other functional sculpture. 

I’ve almost always stuck to craftsman/artisan as my identity and “functional” in the things I’d made.  I don’t know if that was some attempt at practicality, or if I was hiding . . . probably both.  I’ve always felt an affinity toward beautifully handcrafted objects; so, it was also attraction.

Until the Spring of 2022, when I took my first shot at painting.  Why?  I don’t know.  Perhaps it was on account of rubbing elbows with all these wonderful Fogues.  I just wanted to see what would come of it if I gave it a sincere effort.  And what came of it is that I discovered that it may be the most direct and effective way of communicating what it is I’ve been wanting to say . . .

 . . . “what a strange, exotic, and beautiful world we live in . . . did you see?”

The paintings are all done with India Inks on watercolor rag.  I mix my own colors and shoot my own compositions, exploring the greater Seattle area with my camera (and searching for those moments when the words fall away and the world becomes light and shapes and movement).

Peter's current work at Fogue. 

ARTIST STATEMENT

When I was a child, I was so introverted that I could hardly speak to others. I began drawing before I have memories of doing so, and through my artwork I found my voice. I nearly exclusively drew

images of people, attempting repeatedly to get at what makes individuals unique, what defines them, and trying to work out how people see me. I constantly looked inward to find a sense of self that I could project to the world. It seemed to me that identity doesn’t just happen, it is something created by what compels you, by the experiences you have, or want to have, by what brings you happiness, but also by what you fear. Creating artwork, for me, is a way to put out into the world who I am, what I care about, what concerns me and what I love. 18 years ago, my daughter was born, and then my son three years after that. The nature of my creative impulse evolved from primarily inward-looking exploration to incorporate outward facing expression.

I felt a need to offer something to the world through my artwork, and to show my kids that art can matter, that you can speak non-verbally in ways complex, thoughtful and sincere, a sort of visual commentary on life. I want my work to tell an honest story. As importantly, I seek to capture a feeling in my work that goes beyond a particular narrative, to use the combinations of imagery, lighting and construction to hopefully give the viewer a sense of how I feel about the work, about the world, about life. Joy and wonder surround me daily, and being able to recognize and embrace that gives me the ability to express myself, to be able to be who I want to be, to give a little something to the world.

Michael's current work at Fogue

 Artist Statement

Ferrell is a Seattle native who has had long term interests in fine art, architectural drafting, and the graphic arts. With a minor in Art History, the Bauhaus School from Germany impacted him most. He also pursued photography with an interest in the large format process. 

Painting predominantly abstract art and celestial visions in various mediums, they are the kind of images you feel like stepping into. The artist often muses that he’d like to take a two-week vacation in one of his own paintings. 

Ferrell's varied art background led him to Mary Tudor, an artist, whom he studied with and shared a studio with for several years. Being third generation Elaine de Kooning and Bill Ivey, the influence shows in some of his work. 

His commitment to his art has put several pieces in art auctions for fund raising and numerous art shows, public spaces, and private collections. 

Ferrell's current work at Fogue