Meet Katie Fitzgerald

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Fitzgerald.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
The arts have always been part of my life, including writing a bad novel at the age of 13. I abandoned that novel and wrote a fantasy novel while in high school. I also love animals, and had planned on becoming a veterinarian. I still remember the moment I reasoned out my future. I knew becoming a vet would be hard work, but it was a safe and sure path. Thinking like a hero from a sci-fi novel, I chose the harder path and studied writing. You rarely see the protagonists in novels needing to pay rent, yet I did. After college with no money coming in from fiction, I transformed into a technical writer, creating computer documentation for Silicon Valley firms for many years. While the salary was good, to someone who wanted to create art, the work did not feed my soul.

In my early thirties, I discovered decorative art (faux finishing) through a friend and fell in love with creating finishes for people’s homes. I again left a safe path to follow art and founded the decorative art side of A Fine Finish Studio in 2007.

The decorative arts include a wide arrange of mediums and techniques from marbleizing and wood graining to decorative plasters, gilding, and mural work. After a few years of getting my business going, I began feeling a desire to create art for myself and from my own ideas, rather than for a client. The crash course in decorative art gave me an amazing base of knowledge to draw from for fine art. While I still have decorative art clients, I’m now transitioning to a full time fine artist.

Please tell us about your art.
Like many artists, I have several different series in different styles. The natural beauty of leaves and flowers and the hidden worlds of fossils and natural history inspire me. For my Leaf and Botanical series, my goal is simply to create something I find beautiful and elegant, often while investigating new techniques.

Artists from ancient cultures especially inspire me – from European cave paintings and Native American petroglyphs to Roman mosaics and Celtic knot patterns; this fascination is the basis for my Petroglyph and Roman Mosaics series. I am amazed at the beauty created by ancient artists using ancient techniques and tools. When I think about how long it took an ancient artist to create an image by carving it out of stone, I am humbled. I’m also interested in how the art of the past relates to our present; this usually sneaks into my art through my sense of humor by creating scenes with ancient images in a modern situation.

Since we can’t take home ancient art, I create pieces that history, science, and art lovers can display and enjoy, and perhaps reflect on where we come from and that art has always been a part of who we are, no matter the culture.

What do you think about conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
Conditions for artists today are both better than ever before, and yet still difficult. When cheap (and I mean poorly made) prints and factory-made pieces are sold at home stores, it isn’t possible to compete if a buyer just wants to fill a spot on a wall. On the other hand, it is easier than ever with the Internet to have a website where people can view your work. Getting people to your website is a whole different difficulty. We are also blessed in where we live, where more and more people are interested in original art and have the funds to buy at least a few pieces they love.

The best way for individuals to support artists is to buy from them directly in person or through their website. Skip the online “warehouse sites” that list hundreds of artists. Most of the profit is not going to the artist. Once you find an artist whose work you love, become a fan and follow their work or even become a collector.

The best ways for cities to support artist is to create artist housing, especially work/live complexes so artists can afford to create in the cities they love. Opportunities for artists to interact with the general public are also important through events cities can host like Art Fairs and Open Studios.

How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I take it as a win whenever anyone supports any artist. The best way to support my work is of course to purchase originals, prints, or commissions. The best way to see my art is to visit my website: www.katiefitzgeraldart.com

All my original artwork is available through the website, as well as customizable prints. People can get regular updates, studio news, and special sales by signing up for my newsletter. People can also follow my work on Instagram @katiefitzgeraldart, where I post videos of how I create my art. I also have a display of my work at The Art of Santa Cruz Gallery in California.

I’m just starting to dip my toe into the art fair scene. Next year I hope to participate in the Verde Valley Art Fair in Camp Verde, as well as other art fairs around the four corners area.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.katiefitzgeraldart.com
• Phone: (831) 419-2748
• Email: katie@afinefinish.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/katiefitzgeraldart
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/A-Fine-Finish-Art-175798479120060/?ref=br_rs

Image Credit:
Katie Fitzgerald, David Reese Photography

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