KATRIN EAGLE

A brief biography and artist statement

Biography

Born in Leicester (England) ,I grew up in an environment where art was alway a part of my life as both my mother and grandmother painted. The love of colour and creativity remained with  me ,although I originally pursued a scientific career, obtaining a degree in biology. Over the years I took several evening classes in life drawing, painting and ceramics. I stayed home to raise our children and spent my creative energies on designing and making childrenswear for several years.

Whilst I raised a family, I decided to return to formal study and took a Scottish Higher in art at james Watt College,Greencok .After this I was accepted onto a one year Portfolio course at the Glasgow School of Art ,Scotland . I  then continued my studies in the design field ,taking a two year H.N.D. in Stitched Textile and Fashion at Cardonald College Glasgow ,completed in 2003. Throughout these courses ,drawing in all its forms was emphasised and my horizons for experimenting with many different media widened.

In 2003 , I followed my husband to North Carolina where his work commitments had taken him . Here I found the time to work on experimenting with textile, photography and painting . Through the Visual Art Exchange in Raleigh and the Fine Arts League of Cary I  had the opportunity to exhibit in several group shows and was represented by the Michael Lecher Gallery ,Cary NC.

In 2006 I  returned to my permanent home in Scotland to live and  work from my home studio in Kilmacolm.

In 2008 I licensed two designs to the needlepoint company Cleopatras Needle Ltd who translated them into beautiful cushion cover kits . These premium wool kits are available from needlecraft outlets scross the UK and internationally .I also developed a range of cat designs based on patterns found in Estonian textile and folk embroidery. These are of personal interest as I am of Estonian heritage. I have made several available as a range of cards which are available in various card/gift shops.

Artist statement.

I cannot explain why I need to paint, draw ,be creative but it is something I have had to do as long as I can remember. Now I at last have the time to explore this urge and am combining many different mediums in my efforts to express myself and find a direction for my artwork.

 I spent some time exploring ways of combining textile with photography to create textures and patterns . Then I returned to paper, photo-collage and paint . I am always finding new inspiration in the world around me and always carry a camera to record observations. The natural world is almost always my starting point for colours and shapes . Sometimes I need to draw realistic representations of what I have seen ,other times I lose realism totally and am left with just the atmosphere of a location. Sometimes I need to work on a small scale where I feel in complete control ;other times I need to work large scale applying paint with a roller and working the surface with twigs and wire wool. Recent work has explored cats in several forms. Cats have always been part of my life and I am enjoying  different ways of representing their personality and form.

Painting and drawing always form the foundation to my work which I have recently carried over into wool .Needle felting involves using dyed wools as the medium for building pictures.These are inspired by photographs and sketches of local landscape and the wealth of colours and shapes  on offer in the natural world.

The direction of my work is always changing ,depending very much on my emotions , places I have seen and my frame of mind.  Hopefully an overall progression can be seen and a sure direction will gradually evolve over time.

Interview with Artistic Inverclyde

Nov 2006 http://www.alternative-images.co.uk/page-art2art-keagle.php

How I work,my creative process

   As you can see from my galleries my work is very mixed, translating designs from mixed media, to acrylic and then even into felt or fibre. I think this is because each piece is a reflection of me ,the events around me, the seasons and how I'm feeling. I would not be able to mass produce a certain style to please an audience or appeal to the tourist market. I try to always stay true to myself  and produce things which make me personally happy .Many pieces are not for sale because they are too close to my heart but they are nevertheless shown here so that others can enjoy them too.                                    

Organisations and publications

Member of the International feltmakers Association

Member of Greenock Art Club

Article published September 2009 in 'Feltmatters' journal of the IFA

Exhibitions 2006- current -UK

 Decs 2009 McLean Museum Christmas show ,Greenock

Dec 2009 Grampian Hospitals Trust -donation to small 'CD case' paintings fundraiser

October 2009 Greenock Art Club Annual Show 

 May 2009 -solo exhibit at Original Artists, Kempock Street ,Gourock

April 2009 -group exhibition in aid of diabetes research at the Wilson Davies art gallery in Quarriers Village ,'The Wee art show' of postcard art.

December 2008- Christmas Exhibition at the Mclean Museum and Art gallery ,Greenock

September 2008 - Greenock Art Club exhibition at the Mclean Museum ,Greenock

December 2007 - Artgecko Gallery ,Largs -Paintings and textile pieces

December 2007 - Grampian Hospitals Trust Exhibition - small 'CDcase' fundraiser

November 2007 - solo exhibition at the Kilmacolm Community Centre ,Kilmacolm .

Exhibitions 2004-2006 Raleigh &Cary ,North Carolina

  • May '06 V.A.E.Raleigh ,'Emulate a master' two paintings accepted into this juried show. 'Quizzical Seneccio (after Paul Klee) received Honourable mention and was sold at the opening night.
  • April 25th -featured artist at the Michael Lecher Gallery, Cary (thru May.)
  • April '06 .Selected ad the 'Spring Daze Artist' .Posters and t-shirts featuring 'Alium 6' promote the Spring Daze art festival in Cary ,N.C.
  • March 25th -June 2nd 'Alium Fantasy' solo show with the visual Art Exchange held at the Cameron Village Library ,Raleigh.
  • Jan '06 Cary Ballet 'Blue Sun ' and 'Forest' until March 31st
  • Jan '06 Wholefoods Market,Waverly Place ,Cary ,four paintings on show until Jan 31st
  • December '05. V.A.E ,Raleigh  .showing Reflections and Mystic moon
  • November '05 V.A.E. ,Raleigh  .Showing 'Ephemeral pond' and 'Foggy forest'.
  • November-December -F.A.L.C .Member's Show at Page Walker Centre, Cary ; 'Blue Barn '(received Honourable Mention)and 'Noone home '.
  • November - F.A.L.C .Cary Ballet ,Alium 4 and 5 showing until January '06
  • October - V.A.E. 'Homecoming' show .'Alium '1 and 2 on show.
  • September 23-30th Textile piece donated to Cindy's House Café Cary for silent auction to benefit hurricane Katrina victims.
  • September 05 'Reflections' show by FALC at Jordan Hall Arts Centre ,Cary .Mixed media work entitled 'Reflection'.
  • June05  'Grassroots' at V.A.E. Raleigh.  (juried) 'Rooster II' receives an honourable mention.
  • May '05 'Our Town' group show (juried)at VAE Raleigh
  • April -May '05 .True Tails of cats and dogs at Nicole's studio(juried),N.Person St. Raleigh (Indoor outdoor cat )
  • March '05  'The art of life' at V.A.E, Raleigh ; annual fundraiser auction. Two textile pieces sold.
  • March 2005  'Out and about Cary ' at Jordan Hall Arts centre. Cary N.C. with Fine Arts League of Cary . Two pieces shown.
  • Feb/March 2005  ,Fine Arts League of Cary, North Carolina , show at Cary ballet school .Two pieces shown.
  • February 2005 ' History in the making' (juried)  ,Visual Art Exchange
  • Jan 2005 'Here today, here tomorrow' , Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh .textile shown.
  • Nov-Dec  - Solo exhibition, Cameron Village Library, Raleigh ( twenty five textile pieces shown)
  • October 2004 -four textile pieces shown at Toni's Cafe, City Market ,Raleigh.
  • Sept 2004 'Never Exhibited Works' , (juried) Visual Art Exchange , Raleigh .'Autumn Sky' textile accepted.
  • July 2004 'A cool refreshing one' , ( juried) Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh .'Winter skies' textile accepted. 
  • June 2004 'Let the Games begin', Visual Art Exchange ,Raleigh .'Energy' textile wall hanging accepted.
  • April 2004 ,'Springfling' (juried) ,Visual Art Exchange, Raleigh ,North Carolina . 'Comfort Zone' textile accepted.
  • June 2003 -Cardonald college ,Glasgow ,course graduation show. Fashion design selected by Scotland the Brand to go to Barcelona to the Scotland in Catalonia Show.
  • May 2001 - Glasgow School of Art, Portfolio Course show- 'Tulips' painting sold.