Artist Statement
The images found here are a meditation on nature. I create collages that reflect my love of earth, sea and sky, as well as fiber, moss, and blades of grass. I use my own monotypes as the basis for these works.
I would like the viewer to approach my work from a distance, taking in the patterns, movement, rhythms of the piece in its entirety. As you come closer, you can see the intricacies of the materials. The most delicate piece of thread or cell of lichen can transmit a powerful message when you look closely. Even the paper I use, typically Mulberry, has a translucent, delicate appearance, yet has an enduring strength.
There has always been something about the printing process that has drawn me in. I love that I can create images, using organic materials, or just let paint flow across the plate. When I send the image through the press, I’m always surprised by the outcome. It is a medium that feels like the art creates itself.
In my studio, I surround myself with the prints and allow for the images to come together to express the colors, rhythms, patterns and movement that inspire me. I tear, rip, sometimes coat them with a paste that allows me to mold the paper, then sew, tape or glue them together to create something new.
I adopted this practice during the pandemic, and it became a creative as well as healing process for me. Creating, tearing apart and reorganizing brought new order, new life during challenging times. I hope you enjoy exploring this work.
About
Kate Rogers is a collage artist in Sonoma, California and has been creating monotypes since the mid 1980’s. In her current work, she uses natural materials to allow the viewer to see something familiar in a new way. By highlighting the intricacies of materials like linen thread, raffia, or lichen, her work brings the viewer into more intimate contact with what these materials offer us.
Kate studied painting, drawing, design and printing at the University of Miami in the 1980’s. In the 1990’s Kate returned to school for a Masters Degree in Psychology and Art Therapy. After working with adolescents and families at the Children’s Health Council in Palo Alto, CA, she opened a private practice in San Mateo. For almost twenty years she helped children, adolescents and adults work through life’s challenges, finding their voices through the process of making art.
Kate is a Certified Mari Practitioner. Mari is a psychological assessment tool using mandalas to help people understand their inner truths. She runs an art group for seniors in Sonoma, emphasizing self care through creative expression. She prints her monotypes at the Sonoma Community Center’s Printing Studio and then creates her collages at her home studio in Sonoma. Kate is a member of the California Society of Printmakers.