Art & Life with Kate Hughes

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Hughes.

Kate, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I started creating embroidery art after a few years of working in banking. I began to crave a creative outlet and in 2015, I bought an embroidery kit from the craft store.

I set out to make a “thread painting” of a treasured photo. I stitched my first one. I was hooked! I started sharing the process of creating these pieces on Instagram and found a community that welcomed me and enjoyed my art as much as I enjoyed creating it. I started taking on custom work and have been following this passion ever since!

Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I use thread to paint hyper-realistic yet impressionist portraits and landscapes. They can take weeks to complete, as I only stitch with one strand of thread at a time. I have recently started recording my stitching sessions to make time-lapse videos, showing the process of layering thread. I find inspiration in treasured photos, moments in time, facial expressions, anything a little out of the ordinary. I love pop culture and often stitch my favorite celebrities. My clients often provide me with the purest inspiration. I love stitching grandma’s favorite necklace, the veil that was passed down for generations, an old Pepsi logo or a couple’s first dance. Capturing those memories in thread and bringing those stories to life is a true honor and makes my heart so happy.

In your view, what is the biggest issue artists have to deal with?
Copyright infringement and online impersonation. Sadly, many artist friends of mine have had someone running an Instagram account impersonating them and using their images without permission. Others have had people outright copy their designs and pass them off as their own, in worst cases, major corporations like Forever 21 and Target have stolen the original artwork of artists and profited off them.

What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
I share my art daily on Instagram and participate in art shows about 2-3 times a year in the Phoenix area. I sell my original art on Etsy and am always available for custom work via email.

Contact Info:

• Website: KateHughesArt.etsy.com
• Email: Kate@katehughes.biz
• Instagram: KateHughes.art
• Other: www.katehughes.biz

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