Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Chatham.
Hi Katie, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Aside from early childhood scribbles, I started drawing around 10. I was obsessed with drawing faces of characters and actors that I admired. That remained through high school and I quickly found that art was the only thing I had interest in when I went to college. I studied art first at Auburn University, later transferring to Savannah College of Art and Design. While at Auburn, I studied in Rome, Italy learning about the rich history and seeing the greats such as Michelangelo, Botticelli, Bernini, and Caravaggio. Viewing the work up close, learning the mythology behind many of my favorite works, and seeing the way this art continues to influence today’s minds and culture was deeply inspirational and transformative for me. This spurred me to dive into my art practice which prompted the move to Savannah, GA for the rest of my undergraduate schooling.
At SCAD, I had professors that pulled out of me the work I wanted to make, bringing me closer to myself, my vision and interests. This is where I began to research comparative mythology, the hero’s journey archetype, and other narratives that followed the golden thread. I was enamored by the human spirit and its capacity for transformation. Its grit, perseverance and power. I explored what the masculine vs feminine transformation processes looked like in personal inquiry, where they aligned and where they differed, and how we all have both within. I used archetypes and symbols from my own life that aligned with narratives that I was reading at the time to create paintings. This set me on the path I am on today—learning, researching, reading about narratives, mythology, and folklore to create personal mythology. These archetypes act as architecture to build our own hero story from and to create a myth so great and personal to our own journey. This is what I continue to explore within my work and creative life.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I think most artists walk a very bumpy and nonlinear path full of brambles and briars and then at moments the forest opens up to a breathtaking waterfall, mountaintop, or a clearing at sunrise. The path is nonexistent but it is one of our making, and there are many blessings along the way. Among the struggles that I have found along the way is not listening to voices that sway you from your calling and cause doubt within; these voices are all around typically, both at a societal level and even closer to home. Financially, there is often an ebb and flow; I know that the more I am on social media sharing my work, the more sales I will make, yet that is also something that pulls you away from the work. Striking the right balance with this is another lesson that I have been learning along my journey. Understanding how to market yourself is something that I am continuously learning, there is not one right way to do it and I think I am still learning what my way of doing it looks like for my practice. Really, I think it’s about sharing the facets of yourself and your work that are raw and authentic, so people that really connect with the essence of what you’re doing will be drawn to you. It is such a learning process.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a visual artist, mainly working in oil on canvas. I explore the infinite beauty of the human spirit and its relationship with change, transformation, and transcendence, aiming to capture moments of tension, surrender, and metamorphosis. I create visual narratives that reflect the archetypal Hero’s Journey through the lens of both the masculine and feminine. These archetypes and narratives are lenses through which you can see the world, offering better understanding of the self, other and human nature. I use them as a framework to build my own personal mythology, conveying certain repeating symbols that show up in the narratives and within my own life. I aim to depict the immensely complex human experience by highlighting how the light and dark interplay. Finding strength in vulnerability, power in surrender, and peace amidst chaos is all a part of the universal experience of transformation. I emphasize contrast both thematically and visually because contrast is what defines reality–it often takes pain and hardship to recognize that every moment is a blessing. The work is a reminder of the innate potential, power and magic that resides within us, and a call to action for the hero within. I am most proud of the opportunity this gives me to connect with others in a deep and meaningful way. I have received messages from people who the work spoke to and I am so incredibly honored to have had a positive impact on their life. I believe when we create from a place of deep authenticity and nonjudgment, though deeply personal, the creation ends up connecting to the golden thread within us all.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
People who meet me and then see my art are often surprised at either me or my work depending on who they encounter first. Day to day, I’m really goofy, lighthearted, and playful. I have gotten “you don’t look like your art” quite a lot. It’s something I really enjoy actually…I like for there to be surprises in life. That is what art is for anyway—exploring parts of yourself you may not otherwise. We are all multifaceted, I guess it’s just how much we are willing to share the hidden parts with others. People sometimes perceive my work as very dark. Which is interesting because I have never really seen it that way. I see it as passionate, holding intensity, but never dark. It’s funny—sometimes people assume that I enjoy dark or gory art, movies, etc, and the opposite is true. I’m a pretty sensitive person and cannot handle anything that is scary…I have to be really careful about what I watch because my brain will soak it up, and it will stay with me forever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.katiechatham.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiechathamstudio/
- Other: https://katiechathamstudio.square.site
