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Kathryn Frix

This is a charcoal drawing, done in about 1991. I did this for a drawing class, we were to use charcoal for a still life. I arranged my daughter's ballet slippers on the window ledge and did some study sketches, then did the final drawing. Those ballet slippers had to remain on that window ledge for a couple of weeks. I had to wait till the light was right each day.

This was done in that same drawing class. Again, it is a still life done in charcoal. I called it "One Nightstand" but it was actually the corner of a dresser that I drew. I had to leave it like that, with those things stuffed in there, as I worked on it, for several days, I suppose. I loved working with charcoal, it starts to feel like sculpting after you get into the drawing.

This still life was also done for an art class. Again, charcoal. It was the first phase of a project where we would create an abstract from it, first tracing the diagonal, horizontal, then vertical lines and then creating a new piece of art from the tracings.

Since these were the keys I used every day, and it was the portfolio I carried my papers in each day, I must have just arranged it exactly the same each time I worked on it, or maybe I did this in one sitting. But I doubt it.

This is graphite, done for a drawing class. The assignment was to do a graphite self protrait from a photograph. I used an old photo. I had just cut my own bangs, and from the looks of it, I was not that sorry.

I called it "Fresh Haircut"

One more drawing. This was also done in an art class. Ray was a friend of the instructor, and he dressed in his mountain man clothes and came in to model for our life drawing class. This is done in pen and ink, which was also part of the project.

I placed him in a widerness setting, and he's about to encounter a big bear. Grizzly, I think. I just called this one "Ray"

These pieces are more recent than the drawings. I started working in mosaic and stained glass about 15 years ago, learning from my cousin Dave Hetland when I traveled each year to North Dakota. But I did not spend much time on it myself at home till about 5 or 6 years ago.

These are stained glass tubs. I made tubs till I was tired of making tubs, and till I solved some of my construction problems. One features shells I collected on vacation in the Outer Banks of NC, and the design is inspired by the ocean, sky and beach there.

This is 4 views of the same tub. There are two panels for each season, and the design just flowed from one panel to the next, changing seasons. It was done in stained glass, copper foil method. this piece had a ton of little pieces in it.

Next are three stained glass suncatchers and some mosaics. Some of the mosaics are glass on glass, others are a mixture of glass, broken china and jewelry parts on wood. The mosaics were grouted and some finishing painting was done on some of them.

I made 2 stepping stones this week. As you can see, I often use the same design from earlier projects. This time, I used the butterfly. Doing that, when the mood strikes me I can start right in on the construction. the mosaic mirror uses glass and seashells.

  This is 3 views of the same set of windows. I made them for the 3 small windows in our front door. The design needed to be simple because of the small size, and I wanted to give a nod to the original owners of the house, a family in the florist business. I also wanted to blend somewhat with the style of the house, built in 1955. I used a kind of glass that reflects lots of room light, showing much differently than when outdoor light is shining through them. They don't let as much sunlight through, but they look great even without sunlight. The glass is different front and back. The top photo shows the panels with sunlight coming through. The bottom left panels show the same side, with room light. And the bottom right shows the other side of the panels, with room light. Hopefully they are interesting to view from outside or insde.  
SunflowerSunflower 2
  This is a suncatcher I made of scrap glass from the above project. It is about 8 inches in diameter. Again, because of the glass, it looks different depending on the light. On the left, it is lying on a table, just room light reflecting off of it. On the left, it is in a windwo with sunshine glowing through it. It is interesting in the window both in sunlight or room light.  
 

About the Artist: Kathryn Frix

I've always done some sort of art, crafts or sewing/needlework projects and gardening, from childhood right up till now. Sometimes I spent more time on it, often it took the form of making things for the house or kids, or lots of times, making things with the kids.

When I was about 40-something, I took some art classes at a community college. That was where I first used a computer, in a design class. I have presented just a few examples of the work from some of the drawing classes. There were people from age 18 to 80 in those classes, and it was a great experience.

Around that same time, I started traveling to North Dakota to work on a large project for about 10 days each fall. It was at those times I also learned mosaic and stained glasss techniques, as I worked with an artist during that week each year. He designed the Concordia College Christmas concert mural we worked on in the evenings, a huge volunteer project that involved dozens of people. I started designing a website for David Hetland then, and maintain it even now. I was self-taught in working with images on the screen and website design.

I worked with Dave Hetland on several of his projects, and I even constructed a couple of mosaics that he designed. One went to the King and Queen of Norway.

When Dave was diagnosed with PPH, I joined the PHFriends email list to learn more about PH. There were less than 100 members back then. Soon I was using my web skills to put things online for members, like a photo album and bio pages. When Armond recruited me to work with PHCentral, a newly-forming organization, I said yes. I have been the webmaster ever since.

I have recently started working on my own in stained glass and mosaic, experimenting with different techniques and just enjoying creating things. I hunt through thrift shops and garage sales to find materials for my work, whether it is old china I can bust up, old costume jewelry I can use parts of or objects I can cover with mosaic. I have quite a stockpile of those things now, in the basement where I also have the large sturdy work bench Corey built for me.

I live in Columbus, Ohio with my husband of two years, Corey. My daughter Patty is 30-something and lives in Portland, Oregon.

 

Copyright © 2006 Kathryn Frix. All rights reserved.
Images on this web page are the property of Kathryn Frix
Any use, private or public, without prior written permission from the owner is prohibited.

 

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Visitor Comments

Jeni Raiche - Phoenix, Az
Sunday, December 30 2007

I remember when I was little and I would watch you do this stuff in your garage.

This is jeni your neice.

My aunt kathy is the most talented woman that i know.

I love you...

Jeni



Linda Teddlie Minton - Houston, Texas
Saturday, December 29 2007

Kathryn, your work is beautiful. It was wonderful to read your comments about your individual pieces as I cruised down the page, admiring your work. Your sister Nancy is on the QuiltArt list, and she sent us your web page link. She's obviously very proud of you ... and rightly so! Thanks for posting your work for us to see.



Raven - Santa Fe, New Mexico
Friday, December 28 2007

Your work is awesomely beautiful, Kathryn! Thanks for having a web presence.



Karen Jo Whittlesey - Ft.Worth, TX
Monday, January 15 2007

Excellent work Kathryn! I really like the stained glass, it's absolutely lovely.



Rose Olewnik - Phila
Saturday, October 28 2006

Kathy your work is beautiful. You set up the site for Melissa Suder on PH that is a great source of comfort for me. I appreciate all that you do for PH patients and families. Rose Olewnik



June - Massachusetts
Wednesday, October 4 2006

WOW! I'm blown away by your talent, Kathy!! I just don't know what to say. I'm speechless and it takes a lot for ME to be speechless!



Rena Giammona - Virginia Beach, Virginia
Wednesday, October 4 2006

Kathryn,

You are truly a remarkable artist and I feel privileged to have a piece of your work hanging prominently on my bedroom wall!

Rena



Janie - Georgia
Sunday, October 1 2006


WOW, your charcoal work is exceptional. I know how difficult charcoal is to work but you have mastered it. And your stain glass is fab. You are multi talented and I love ALL of your work, Janie



Nancy - Wyoming
Sunday, October 1 2006

My goodness what a variety of fabulous art. You are a very, very talented lady!

Thanks for sharing and for all the work you and Corey do for PHcentral.



Cheryl - San Francisco
Saturday, September 30 2006

Wow! Wow! Wow! I'll bet you got an A++ in that drawing class! Wow!

Your work is very diverse and just fabulous. I breezed through tthis page with my jaw hanging open. Now I will spend more time with it. It's a feast.

Bravo! I cannot wait to read what others will have to say.



Kathryn Frix - Columbus, Ohio
Saturday, September 30 2006

Well now, I guess I am welcoming myself to the Creative Corner §:-)



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