New Directions with Karen Stiehl Osborn
This article is was written by Virginia Spiegel, a regular contributor to Valley Fiber Life.
I had my very first show with Karen Stiehl Osborn and three other artists. Karen and I soon discovered that we had a shared interest in cloth, painting, and experimentation. When I lived in Nebraska, we would meet at a local art center, paint and print fabric, plus engage in mad experiments in discharging and burning fabric.
Since moving, I have seen Karen's artwork move back and forth between art quilts and mixed-media collage. Lately I've seen a new direction in her work - working on canvas.
VAS: Karen, what prompted working with canvas rather than painted fabric and/or paper?
KSO: I have always admired Fran Skiles' work, so when I had the opportunity to take a workshop with her in St. Louis, I jumped at the chance. I enjoyed learning her techniques for adding color and imagery, but for me, the real thrill came from working with canvas and adding hand stitching to the work.
I come from a painting background originally, so I quickly abandoned Fran's techniques for gluing images and color to the canvas in favor of actually painting on the canvas. Then I started hand stitching on bits of canvas and adding paint. I loved the texture that the stitching added to the canvas. Next I experimented with cutting up the background canvas and re-stitching it together by machine. Now I am exploring the possibilities of adding multiple layers of canvas to my work. The more I experiment with canvas, paint, and stitching, the more I am in love with this new direction!
VAS: What's different about your artwork now? Same themes? Different themes?
KSO: As I get older, I think my themes are getting more personal and possibly more political. They're still subtle though, because I like a bit of mystique in a piece of art.
I have also seen my color palette shift as I get older. Originally I was known for bold colors and very graphic designs. Now my palette is earthier. I'm not sure if it is a reflection of the fact that I spend more time outdoors, gardening and walking, or if it is simply a reflection of a more relaxed lifestyle.
I'm also taking more risks in my new work. I think emerging artists have a tendency to play it safe, trying to get established. After several years of "paying my dues", I am moving in new directions that are fun and meaningfulto me and trusting that my patrons will understand and appreciate the new directions and resulting artwork.
VAS: What is the hardest part of working on canvas? The part you like the best?
KSO: The answer to both of these questions is the same --- the stiffness of the canvas. It is the attribute that most intrigues me and the one that most frustrates me. I am able to easily utilize painting techniques on canvas that would be very difficult, if not impossible, on lighter weight cotton cloth or paper. The canvas takes more abuse with painting tools. But thes tiffness also makes the canvas harder to stitch, whether by hand or machine.
VAS: What kind of canvas are you using?
KSO: Initially I used duck cloth, but I quickly decided that it was too stiff. Now I am using an unprimed artist's canvas. It is a dream to paint on, and it is not quite as stiff as duck cloth, which makes it much easier to stitch on.
VAS: Have you received any feedback from patrons about your new direction?
KSO: Many patrons have written to tell me that they love this new direction, and the pieces are starting to sell. I recently sold several pieces to a gallery in Western Australia (Guildford Art on Swan), and I am thrilled with this new relationship.
VAS: What advice do you have for artists who may want to work in a variety of media?
KSO: I think it is important as an artist to continue to grow and experiment in your art. It may look like I have had success with every technique I try, but there are plenty of failed experiments that no one else ever sees. My first yard of very expensive artist canvas was a total bust by the time I got done experimenting on it. But I learned some valuable lessons that have allowed me to continue to move forward and refine my techniques. Experimentation is what keeps my studio time interesting and fun!
Learn more about Karen here:
http://stiehlosborn.blogspot.com/
Thanks for an insightful interview, Virginia! Virginia Spiegel recently released a new book:
"Wild at the Edges: Inspiration from a Creative Life"
Website: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com
Blog: http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/blog/
Tweets: http://twitter.com/vspiegel
Also, click here to read a great interview with Virginia Spiegel at Quilting Arts magazine!
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