Amy Chamberlain contacted me on Thursday, September 10, 2020. “Hello Cat ~ Do you have current options or would you design something new? Waterfall, Flowers and Landscapes are beautiful. Much appreciation for your use of color and a sense of movement, Thanks.”
Could I possibly have been happier to receive this message? No. I was entirely delighted. Wrote back that “each print is created for a particular person or event. And there are many options. Most images at [CatRutgers4Art] could become prints. I also have archives of work that I’ve already printed, so know what the quality will be. And we can create a new image as well. … You could choose a few that you like at the website, and send the image or link — and we can take it from there.”
And indeed we did take off from that point! Ms. Chamberlain chose six ideas, including the four below.
She also sent snapshots of the walls where they would be, which was truly helpful for envisioning a possible mix.
I hadn’t printed any of these images before. Would they express the same intensity when translated from screen to ink on paper?
I had mentioned that “because the source is digital, I can adjust colors (to a certain extent) and the sizes – up to 13 x 19 inch paper.” Now this was inspiration to experiment with colors, details, sizes, orientation. Should they be vertical or horizontal? What looks good larger or smaller? Do they work well together?
When tests were completed, I shared images and comments on the results and we enjoyed rounds of discussion via email. Gradually, a coherent scheme emerged and we agreed on four definitive choices: Treasured Orb, Bit by Bit, Twisting into Pink and Blue, and River.
They printed beautifully and were ready for a Skype debut. At the time, my paper supplies were running low and the largest size on hand was 11 x 14 inches. So I decided to also show larger print samples from an earlier series. We added two of those – The Center and The Gem Inside – and the collection was complete.
The next step? Fresh prints, signed and ready for her visit to the studio on Friday, October 30, 2020. As an artist, this couldn’t have been more thrilling.
What was the experience like for the collector? Here’s the word from Ms. Chamberlain:
“What a joy this was! I am so appreciative of this journey with Catherine Rutgers. Her work is so unique, vibrant, and lush. She is such a talent – so humble, bright, and easy to work with. Her artwork, on the walls of my new home, makes the space come alive with warmth and vitality.”
Images and text by Catherine Rutgers © 2020
With thanks to Amy Chamberlain, including for agreeing to contribute to this post!
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