• About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Get Featured
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
  • Login
Trenzle
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Authors
  • Creators
  • Opinion
  • Reviews
  • Plugs
No Result
View All Result
Cart / ₹0.00

No products in the cart.

  • Home
  • Authors
  • Creators
  • Opinion
  • Reviews
  • Plugs
No Result
View All Result
Trenzle
No Result
View All Result
Home Creators Interviews

A Conversation with Kate O’Brien, a Creator & Artist

Kate O'Brien, based in Stockport, is known for distinctive architectural portraits. She also does commissions of people’s homes, wedding venues, pets.

Trenzle Review by Trenzle Review
November 21, 2022
in Creators, Interviews
Reading Time: 8 mins read
546 12
A A
0
A Conversation with Kate O’Brien, a Creator & Artist
576
SHARES
9.9k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterEmail this

Kate is an artist who loves using vibrant colour to create completely unique renditions of cherished architecture; from the City Hall to your own home! After studying Textile Art at university, she began to teach art at secondary school alongside producing her own work. After 10 years in education, she made the move to become a full time artist.

She specialises in mixed media work, which includes vibrant ink, watercolours and tea staining which contrasts strong imagery with soft bleeding colour. Being based in Stockport, but having grown up in Derbyshire, she takes great inspiration from both the dramatic natural beauty of the landscape and the solid architectural forms which surrounds her.

Let’s get started with a quick rapid fire.

Q1. Your favorite superpower you fantasized about.

Flying. Who hasn’t?

Q2. When do you usually draw? Morning or Night?

Hmm, depends if I have deadlines! My preference would probably be evening but most of the time I dip in and out throughout the day.

Q3. Are you more of an introvert or an extrovert?

A bit of both- I think that’s possible! I love new experiences and a good night out with my friends, but also love to curl up on my own with a good book if I ever get the chance.

Q4. Who is your favourite Anime character?

Nezuko Kamado – Demon Slayer.

Q5. Would you rather travel to the past or to the future?


Past. I need to find out where I left the car keys!

Q6. What is your last Google search?

Anime Characters- haha!

Q7. Which art style appeals the most to you?

I suppose if I was to categorise my own work it would be sort of impressionist, but I love all art styles from the Old Masters to much contemporary conceptual work. But it has to be visually appealing; for me a pile of old bricks as art just doesn’t cut it. Each to their own though!

Q8. What is the kindest thing someone ever did for you?

It’s the small things; my lovely husband brings me a nice brew in bed before I get up most mornings.

Q9. Fellow Creators or Artists you admire.

So many. Art wise, I love beautiful use of colour and I recently got a stunning print by another local artist Chris Cypress. I also love things that make a strong statement or just make you laugh; I’ll never forget the Banksy exhibition in Bristol a few years back, and the digital artist “Jim” who creates hilarious images/ scenes all on MS paint is brilliant.

Q10. Describe your style in one word.

Dreamlike.

Q11. What is one missed opportunity that you wish you could have a second chance at?

I had a place at Goldsmiths college in London to do an MA but after deferring three times decided not to go as it wasn’t financially viable. There was (and I imagine still isn’t) any funding available for arts education at this level. So instead I became a secondary school art teacher.

Q12. An art or piece of work you wished you had created.

Anything by Van Gogh.


It’s time for a more detailed conversation, Kate.

You’ve answered our rapid fire so well, Kate. Now, it’s time for our readers to know more about the person behind the art.

Q. What’s unique about your style that’s been appreciated by your fans over the years?

I think people like the balance of something they recognise, such as a scene, offset with the abstract colours and shapes which create a particular mood. It’s a strange sort of organized chaos (a bit like my studio!)

Q. Do you hide any secrets in your art that only a few people will find?

I don’t intentionally do this, unless a customer has asked me to (recently I did a commission in which the customer asked me to include a subtle cow! That was fun), but often people will tell me that they see things in my art, often figures or outlines of faces. I remember a few years back completing a large painting of Manchester Cathedral and my three year old too one look and said, “What is that boy looking at?” as he’d spotted a figure within the image.

Q. What’s the toughest work you’ve created so far? What made it so challenging?

I had a customer that insisted on me painting directly onto his wall. I’m always keen that everything I do is in my signature style, and is therefore easily recognisable as mine. So I’m there chucking dyes and tea bags at the wall, while up a ladder, on a staircase and trying to avoid carpet stains. It looked good in the end but never again! I’ll leave wall paintings to all the awesome artists who specialize in that from now on!

Q. How do you progress from an idea to the final piece? Describe your process.

I start with photography; I will visit and photograph a place that I intend to paint and hopefully get a feel for what kind of colours will work. I then prepare the background colour of the artwork using dyes. I then sketch and draw the artwork using a variety of materials; inks, pens, acrylic, tea. It can be quite messy! Depending on the size of the artwork a finished piece will take between 6-30 hours.

Q. Tell us something about yourself that’s going to make us wonder more about you.

I make a mean cocktail but I’m a terrible baker.

Q. Well, that will keep you in our thoughts. So, what kind of art inspires you?

It’s all about colour- contrasting, bold and big!

Q. Interesting. What, to you, are the most important elements of a good art? 

For me, it has to be visually engaging and make you feel something. This is in the hands of the viewer though, the cleverest art is when the intentions of the artists come through, but the viewer can draw their own conclusions, even if it’s not always positive.

Q. What does success look like to you?

It’s lovely when I see how much a finished artwork means to a customer, and how special it is. I’m so blessed to be asked to do commissions for people who love them. Also, these days this also means I can pay the bills, which is also very important!

Q. What inspires you, and where do you seek inspiration for something you’ve never created before?

Although I do have quite a specific process which I tend to stick to, I love immersing myself in anything creative and love to have a go at different things, although just for fun- not on a commercial basis! As I have two young children, we are always “creating” whether it’s crazy sculptures, cakes (not my forte) or recently clay bobble heads! Pinterest is a God send for all of this!

Q. How do you deal with pressure and deadlines?

I try and proritise in terms of dates and always over estimate the timescale I provide the customer with. Although there’s always one who gets in touch a week before Christmas wanting a portrait! I try and allow for these eventualities..

Q. They say time and tide waits for no one, and one needs to keep evolving to survive. How do you adopt and develop new skills?

Ultimately I’m running a business, and although I’d love everyone to buy original paintings every day I realise that’s not going to happen, and for this reason I also sell a range of gift items and prints featuring my work. It means I’m able to sell more, and also that everyone who wants to can own a piece of my work. Art should be accessible for everyone, not just those with money!

Q. It’s been fun. Now, before we wrap this up, do you have any suggestions for newcomers in this field? If so, what are they?

Ok, so it’s going to take a while for you to find your thing (for me, 25 years?!) and you’ll have to do lots of other things along the way to pay the bills while this process takes place, but you don’t want to be a carbon copy of someone else, you want to be distinctive and unique and above all you want to love what you do. So the most important advice of all is to enjoy the journey!

  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Tags: ArtistCreatorKate O'Brien
Previous Post

A Dream of Stewards by Yohann Martin

Next Post

10 Time Travel Books That Will Take You Through History

Related Posts

A Conversation with Amanda S. Dumky, a Book Cover Designer

A Conversation with Amanda S. Dumky, a Book Cover Designer

January 18, 2023
0
980

Amanda is many things, but 'storyteller' is the one she identifies with the most. Whether it'd be by writing books,...

A Conversation with K.D. Ritchie, a Book Cover Designer at Story Wrappers

A Conversation with K.D. Ritchie, a Book Cover Designer at Story Wrappers

December 15, 2022
0
24.6k

K.D. Ritchie is a best-selling book cover designer for indie authors and publishers, with custom cover designs in fantasy. Their...

A Conversation with Alexander Kopainski, a Book Cover Designer

A Conversation with Alexander Kopainski, a Book Cover Designer

December 12, 2022
0
32.5k

Alexander first discovered book design in 2010 through self-written stories and the corresponding covers. On his 18th birthday, he started...

A Conversation with Katia Balab from MiblArt Book Cover Design

A Conversation with Katia Balab from MiblArt Book Cover Design

November 16, 2022
0
5.6k

Katia has found her dream job at Miblart. MiblArt was founded for many reasons and one of those is to...

Load More

About Us

Trenzle

Trenzle

Where Trends are made and discovered

Trenzle is your official source of discovering the latest people, work, and ideas that deserve to trend. Discover Authors and their books, Creators and their work, People and their opinions, and Stories from around the globe.

Learn more

Latest Posts

6 Best AI Art Generators of 2023: Midjourney, DALL-E and More

6 Best AI Art Generators of 2023: Midjourney, DALL-E and More

February 1, 2023
10 Best Mystery and Thriller Novels Coming in 2023

10 Best Mystery and Thriller Novels Coming in 2023

January 31, 2023
To Crown A King by Raedene Jeannette Melin

To Crown A King by Raedene Jeannette Melin

January 31, 2023

Categories

  • Authors
  • Books
  • Books
  • Creators
  • General
  • Health
  • Interviews
  • Interviews
  • Opinion
  • Reviews

Top Links

  • Ads Manager
  • Advertise on Trenzle
  • Browse Book Reviews
  • Browse Trenzle Monthly Magazines
  • Buy Guest Post Packages
  • Contact
  • Featured Author Spotlight
  • Get Featured on Trenzle Online Magazine
  • Get on Trenzle
  • Submit your Book
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Follow Us

Twitter Instagram

Join us on Instagram

Follow

  • 2023 is here, and with it comes the first issue of Trenzle Vol II. 2023 has started on a high note, introducing us to some great authors and creators around the globe. To our readers and subscribers around the world, Trenzle Magazine
  • We have a book list you’ll adore if you enjoy dark thrillers and complex mysteries. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best mystery and thriller novels coming in 2023, including new books by some of our favourite authors and much anticipated debuts. Which one of these novels are you going to add to your TBR list?
1. Bright and Deadly Things by Lexie Elliott
2. The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson
3. I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
4. The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda
5. For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes
6. Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott
7. Killing Moon by Jo Nesbø
8. All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
9. The Survivor by Iris Johansen
10. The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs  Read about them:  https://www.trenzle.com/10-best-mystery-and-thriller-novels-coming-in-2023/  #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #books #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagramfeature #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #booksaremylife #bookstoread #trends #trends2023 #viralposts #viralpost #viralpage #trend #instapost #viraltrend
  • We have a book list you’ll adore if you enjoy dark thrillers and complex mysteries. We’ve compiled a list of the 10 best mystery and thriller novels coming in 2023, including new books by some of our favourite authors and much anticipated debuts. Which one of these novels are you going to add to your TBR list?
1. Bright and Deadly Things by Lexie Elliott
2. The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson
3. I Will Find You by Harlan Coben
4. The Only Survivors by Megan Miranda
5. For You and Only You by Caroline Kepnes
6. Beware the Woman by Megan Abbott
7. Killing Moon by Jo Nesbø
8. All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby
9. The Survivor by Iris Johansen
10. The Bone Hacker by Kathy Reichs  Read about them: https://www.trenzle.com/10-best-mystery-and-thriller-novels-coming-in-2023/  #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #books #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagramfeature #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #booksaremylife #bookstoread #trends #trends2023 #viralposts #viralpost #viralpage #trend #instapost #viraltrend
  • 2023 is here and with that comes new books, launches, and new reading goals! ❤ Like always, we interviewed some great Authors and Creators this January, and also had the chance to review great books and creations.
We look back and acknowledge those who made this month so fun. Numbers wise, we averaged around 5000 daily visitors on our website.
Thanks for your support! 😀☺😇  January Featured Authors:
@sarah.wallace.writer
@authorjbecker
@michellereeveswrites
@kittycookbooks
@jeffberneyauthor  January Featured Creator:
@amandasdumky  #authorsofinstagram #author #authorlife #authors #fictionwriters #writer #writerscommunity #writers #authorcommunity #authorofinstagram #writerofinstagram #creator #creators #creatorgrams #magazine #instamagazine #indieauthor #indieauthorsofinstagram #aiartists #amwriting #authormag #newyear #jan2023
  • For many years, cowboys have starred in swoon-worthy romances. How can anyone resist the allure of these fervent country men, who are rugged, fearless, and environment lovers? We’ve compiled a list of 10 sultry romance novels that you won’t be able to resist if you like jeans and boots over suits and dress shoes!
1. A Cowboy to Remember by @rebekahweatherspoon
2. A Texas Kind of Cowboy by @deloresfossen
3. Kiss Me Now, Cowboy by @dylanncrush
4. Her Wayward Cowboy by @maiseyyates
5. Busted by @gretarosewest
6. Fool Hearts by @emmysandersmm
7. A Cowboy Kind of Thing by @reeseryanwrites
8. Colorado Country by Diana Palmer
9. The Reluctant Cowboy by @kate4queen
10. A Rancher’s Heart by @vivarend  Read about them: https://www.trenzle.com/10-romance-novels-featuring-swoon-worthy-cowboys/  #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #books #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagramfeature #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #booksaremylife #bookstoread #trends #trends2023 #viralposts #viralpost #viralpage #trend #instapost #viraltrend
  • For many years, cowboys have starred in swoon-worthy romances. How can anyone resist the allure of these fervent country men, who are rugged, fearless, and environment lovers? We’ve compiled a list of 10 sultry romance novels that you won’t be able to resist if you like jeans and boots over suits and dress shoes!
1. A Cowboy to Remember by @rebekahweatherspoon
2. A Texas Kind of Cowboy by @deloresfossen
3. Kiss Me Now, Cowboy by @dylanncrush
4. Her Wayward Cowboy by @maiseyyates
5. Busted by @gretarosewest
6. Fool Hearts by @emmysandersmm
7. A Cowboy Kind of Thing by @reeseryanwrites
8. Colorado Country by Diana Palmer
9. The Reluctant Cowboy by @kate4queen
10. A Rancher’s Heart by @vivarend  Read about them: https://www.trenzle.com/10-romance-novels-featuring-swoon-worthy-cowboys/  #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #books #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagramfeature #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #booksaremylife #bookstoread #trends #trends2023 #viralposts #viralpost #viralpage #trend #instapost #viraltrend
  • Book Review is here! We recently had a chance to read and review Spark by Krysta Maravilla (@krystamaravilla). Before we get to the review, let
  • Crossing time barriers is seldom important when it comes to love. We are reminded of this by characters in time travel romance stories who wander into the past or emerge from the future. In any situation, pure love triumphs and overcomes all obstacles. Check out these 8 hot time travel romance books and fall in love with all of the generations, then.
1. Opposite of Always by @justinwritesya
2. One Last Stop by @casey.mcquiston
3. Intersect by @elizabethoroark
4. The Portrait by B.D. Anderson
5. A Highlander for Hannah by Mary Warren
6. Yesterday Is History by @kosokojackson
7. Spin Me Right Round by @davidvaldeswrites
8. Borrowed Time by @russelldeanwrites  Read about them:  https://www.trenzle.com/8-time-travel-romance-books-you-must-read/  #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #books #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagramfeature #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #booksaremylife #bookstoread #trends #trends2023 #viralposts #viralpost #viralpage #trend #instapost #viraltrend
  • Crossing time barriers is seldom important when it comes to love. We are reminded of this by characters in time travel romance stories who wander into the past or emerge from the future. In any situation, pure love triumphs and overcomes all obstacles. Check out these 8 hot time travel romance books and fall in love with all of the generations, then.
1. Opposite of Always by @justinwritesya
2. One Last Stop by @casey.mcquiston
3. Intersect by @elizabethoroark
4. The Portrait by B.D. Anderson
5. A Highlander for Hannah by Mary Warren
6. Yesterday Is History by @kosokojackson
7. Spin Me Right Round by @davidvaldeswrites
8. Borrowed Time by @russelldeanwrites  Read about them: https://www.trenzle.com/8-time-travel-romance-books-you-must-read/  #authorsofinstagram #bookstagram #books #bookshelf #booksofinstagram #bookstagramfeature #booksbooksbooks #bookstagrammer #booksaremylife #bookstoread #trends #trends2023 #viralposts #viralpost #viralpage #trend #instapost #viraltrend
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Submit your Book
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund Policy

© 2023 Trenzle - Online Author News & Magazine

No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • Cart
  • Home
  • Authors
  • Creators
  • Opinion
  • Reviews
  • Plugs
  • Monthly Magazines
  • Get on Trenzle
    • Get Featured on Trenzle
    • Submit your Book
    • Advertise on Trenzle
  • Ads Manager
  • Contact
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

© 2023 Trenzle - Online Author News & Magazine

SUBSCRIBE

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.