Category archives: people

Meet Laura, an interior photographer and designer.

When you were a child, what did you dream of becoming?

    When I was a child, I dreamed of becoming many things. At different points, I imagined myself as a graphic designer (which I ended up doing!) an animator and writer, and even working in wildlife management, helping to protect and preserve nature. Each of these dreams reflected my curiosity and passion for creativity, storytelling, and the natural world. And, I’m fortunate that in many ways, I’m still engaged in most of these interests in my adult life.

    What inspired you to pursue this particular path?

    After spending 15 years in the graphic design industry, I started to realize just how much of my free time I spent learning about interior design, architecture, and photography. It turns out that the subjects that dominate your bookshelf or Pinterest boards are telling you something.

    I’ve always had a deep interest in space and environment — how people live around the world, the environments they create, and the ways those spaces affect their emotions and interactions.

    I’m the kind of person that tends to embrace opportunities as they come rather than charting out 5- or 10-year plans. When we moved from Arizona to Pennsylvania, a design/build company in my area was hiring an interior designer. We were halfway through our home renovation (which was a complete gut of a 1970 home) and I had taken interior photos of the renovations I had done at our home in Arizona. With these photos as my portfolio, I applied, got the job and took the leap into the world of interior design. 

    After about a year at the company, there came a point when they were in need of a new photographer to photograph their completed projects for social media and marketing. Given my love and experience for photography—especially capturing my own home and life—I offered to take the photos. That moment sparked my career in interior photography, which I’ve come to love just as much as interior design.

    To sum this all up, I’ve learned over the years to take my interest seriously and not be afraid to put myself out there and try. It is hard to do, but in my experience these leaps have paid off.

    What tool, object, or ritual is essential to your workday?

    With two young kids and a number of active work projects underway at any given time, my workday is never the same routine. One ritual that I love is making an afternoon espresso (and usually chocolate!) at home. It makes me pause from my busy workday and appreciate simple pleasures. 

    What’s the most valuable piece of advice you received when starting your journey?

    “You can do it” is one of the most basic and obvious pieces of advice I’ve been given, but it can also be the hardest to believe. It was especially hard for me to believe as I switched careers after having kids. But having someone tell you that you have all of the tools and capabilities to achieve what you are looking for is so valuable and really, so true. 

    What has been the most rewarding part of your journey so far?

      Seeing my interior designs come to life in real spaces is truly mind-blowing. It’s especially remarkable since I’m not the one handling the installation. I find myself just as amazed as the clients when I see everything that has started in my mind come together in the real world.

      With photography, there’s a unique moment when the shot is perfectly set up, and I look through the viewfinder, knowing it’s going to be beautiful because the composition and lighting are hitting just right. In that instant, I feel a rush of joy and a deep sense of relief—it’s incredibly rewarding to capture that moment.

      Can you share an example of a mistake that turned into a valuable lesson or a stepping stone to success?

        I make mistakes pretty much every day! What I’ve learned is to reframe mistakes as just an inevitable part of learning by doing. Mistakes are stepping stones to improvement, knowing that with each one, I become more proficient and confident in my work. Also, when you make a mistake and survive it you realize that you’re more resilient than you may think. 

        I know that not naming a mistake may seem like a cop-out of an answer, but actually I think remembering what we learn from mistakes is more important than remembering or dwelling on what the mistake was.

        How do you stay motivated during challenging times?

          I read once that design is inherently a hopeful practice. The act of creating something new is a belief that what you’re making will improve the future. Think about something as mundane as renovating a room in your house. When you’re redesigning, you’re actually saying, “This present situation can be improved. This space will be better through this work.” That’s optimistic and hopeful. When you’re taking a photo, you’re really saying about the thing with photography, “This thing is worth preserving. This can be inspiring to others.” 

          When you look at design and photography this way, you realize that even in challenging or even dark times, there’s things around you that can be improved for the future and at the same time, there’s beauty around you that’s worth appreciating and preserving. That motivates me to keep creating. 

          Who is a woman, from the past or present, that you admire or find inspiring?

            Leslie Williamson is a photographer and author who has carved her own path, creating projects that reflect her own unique passions. She seamlessly blends photography, design, interiors, writing, and travel to tell stories. She goes beyond simply capturing beautiful spaces; she documents the lives and narratives of the people who inhabit them, weaving their stories into her photography and writing. 

            Her work inspires me because it shows that we don’t have to conform to predefined job roles. Instead, we have the power to design our own careers and lives by merging our passions into something meaningful—both for society and for ourselves.

            You can check Laura’s website here: https://laura-wentzel.com/

            Meet Hilary, pastry chef.

            How did your passion for baking start?

            For as long as I can remember, I have always been in love with the magic of baking! As a young
            child, I would look up wide-eyed as I watched my grandma create these beautiful pies for our
            birthdays and holiday celebrations. She taught me how to make pie crust by hand, how to
            carefully crimp the edges of the dough, and was always willing to try my new ideas! As I grew
            older, I became more adventurous in my recipe choices and I started to get super excited about
            the chemistry and science of baking. I love how you can start with the same basic ingredients
            but your techniques, temperature, and baking method can yield wildly different results. This
            enthusiasm and fascination led me to pursue an associate’s degree in pastry art in 2014! Once I
            started working as a professional, I was able to truly hone my skills and focus on consistency
            and speed in a large scale production environment. Working in a busy kitchen is an experience
            that I wish everyone could have. It pushes you to develop production speed, fast reflexes,
            discipline, quick communication, and problem solving skills in addition to appreciating the joy of
            hard work and creating amazing food for others. These are life skills that I will always carry with
            me! Over the past few years, my passion for baking has shifted and changed a bit. I still love it
            intensely, but I know that it’s time to chase my next career dream. I left my pastry position at
            Terrain at the end of May and I will be starting graduate school in a couple weeks for digital
            marketing! I’m an avid food photographer as well and I hope to someday combine my visual
            skills with my food knowledge into a successful career.

            Where do you find your inspiration for each of your creations?

            I am inspired by a few things: balanced flavors, varied textures, and aesthetic beauty. My
            favorite desserts usually contain herbal or floral notes! I love using things straight from the
            garden when I can, especially summer fruit. I am often attracted to more rustic styles; I love
            French breakfast pastries and I don’t like anything overly sweet. I’m a pastry chef who doesn’t
            have a big sweet tooth! I’ll take fruit pie over chocolate cake any day. My absolute favorite
            pastry is a fresh “kouign amann.” Imagine croissant dough rolled in sugar (and salt!) before
            being carefully folded and tucked into a metal ring for baking. The result is out of this world! It’s
            both sweet and salty, super flaky, and the sugar on the bottom melts into a crunchy caramel
            layer that dreams are made of. You can visit my friends at the Malvern Buttery to try one
            yourself!

            Is there anyone who’s been a big influence on what you do?

            I had the privilege of working closely with pastry chef Robert Toland for the past five years at
            Terrain in Glen Mills and he’s had a huge influence on what I have accomplished. His menu
            vision and ideas always kept me learning and pushing to expand my own repertoire. He
            introduced me to countless desserts and methods; his drive to try new things opened my eyes
            to flavors, ingredients, and recipes that I never would have reached for! We have both recently
            moved on from our roles at Terrain but I count him among my closest friends and it’s a
            connection that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I can’t wait to work on another project
            together.

            What is your most well used cookbook?

            To be honest, I have a habit of mostly using online resources for recipes. I do have a large
            cookbook collection, but I don’t bake directly from it as often as I should! My most frequently
            used resource is Deb Perelman’s blog smitten kitchen. The recipes are delicious, streamlined,
            and heavily tested; every single thing I’ve made from her site has been amazing! She has a
            wide variety of both savory and sweet recipes, ranging from weeknight dinners, to amazing
            party appetizers, and wedding cake advice. She explains things in simple terms, tries to keep
            dirty dishes to a minimum, and she’s hilarious. Check it out! I will add just a few of my cookbook
            author favorites: Rose Levy Beranbaum for all things pastry, Erin Jeanne McDowell for pies, and
            Yotam Ottolenghi’s Plenty and Plenty More for delicious vegetarian food. I am also a huge fan of
            the New York Times Cooking section — they have excellent savory recipes, fun desserts, and
            great videos!

            How long have you lived in Kennett square? And What do you like most about Kennett
            square?

            I’ve lived here almost all my life! When I was two years old, my parents moved to a family farm
            outside of Kennett. It has truly been an incredible place to grow up. This is where I got my start
            as a professional baker! Dan and Dorothy Boxler of the Country Butcher hired me as their head
            baker in 2013 and I spent a year learning the ins and outs of bakery production, ordering
            ingredients, keeping track of inventory, taking custom cake orders, etc. It was a great place to
            get my start! I adore the warmth and energy of this town. I love Kennett Square for its
            welcoming support network and engaged community; over my lifetime, I have watched this
            place evolve and grow into a vibrant town of extraordinary people and businesses with a strong
            shared identity. After the past year and a half of fear and uncertainty, it’s particularly comforting
            to see Kennett emerging as a thriving community once again.

            TAGS: pastrychef

            Meet Annie, the glass artist.

            When did you first start making your glass art, and who or what inpsired you to begin?

            I started making glass art a long time ago at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  Over the years after I graduated I made art on the side while working in restaurants and gardening, but recently decided to focus on glass to see if I could make a career out of it.

            What mediums or techniques do you work with?

            I’ve been working lately with stained glass, specifically the tiffany style, which is copper tape and solder.  I sometimes do mosaic work which involves cutting glass, glueing to a surface and grouting.  I really enjoy exploring different processes and techniques and I just purchased a kiln to do some glass fusing and slumping.

            Please tell us a bit about your design process?

            My design process has gone through many changes over the years and varies depending on what I am making.  With my stained glass sun catchers I try not to rush an idea, I do a bit of light sketching and look at things that inspire me (mostly plants) until I finally get a design I like.  I then darken the lines with a thin sharpie so I can trace the glass.  Next comes choosing glass.  This might be my favorite part because the colors of the glass itself have a lot to do with inspiring the design in the first place. After colors are chosen I trace the design onto the glass on my light table, cut glass, grind glass, copper tape the edges, solder, add hangers, add a patina if I want, and then polish and clean! 

            What is the main inspiration for your designs?

            I find that my inspiration often comes from deep in my psyche and is very nostalgic.  My childhood was full of exploring nature and having adventures with my sisters, so I would say that along with the natural world I experience today in beautiful Chester County is the basis of my inspiration, coupled with my love for plants and interior design.  

            What has been your favorite piece that you’ve made?

            I would say my favorite piece would be a circle suncatcher that I recently made.  Shades of blue, geometric shapes, asymmetry and circles are things that I love very much and they are all included in this piece.  I don’t think it’s any crazy feat of skill or talent but I feel very satisfied with it’s authenticity.   

            Meet Catherine, she is a Pianist, improviser, Steinway Artist.

            Who or what inspired you to take up the piano, and pursue a career in music?

            When I was 8, my parents bought me an 80 year old piano at a yard sale with a cracked soundboard.  My dad who was good with woodworking repaired the soundboard and built me a piano bench.  I played non-stop after that! I was a music minor in college when I discovered that I could improvise, and the music started coming in torrents after that.  Even though I was performing classical and my original music in many solo concerts a year, it wasn’t until five years after graduation that I decided to leave my corporate job and pursue music full time.  By that point I had released two albums and was performing throughout the region!

            Who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?

            Pianist George Winston, Cellist David Darling and his organization Music for People, and Pianist Dr. Robert Bedford.

            Which performance/recordings are you most proud of?

            River Flow, Maiden’s Voyage and I Dream About This World: The Wyeth Album.

            What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?

            Learning to be self-aware enough to know when I need to practice and continually improve!

            How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?

            Purely by emotion, and a reflection of my state of being! I have found that some years I’m more melancholy and want simplicity and depth, others I’ve craved structure and light-heartedness, and others I seek a deep-dive into intellectual and technical challenge.

            Meet Tara, Freelance writer, Communications coordinator at Historic Kennett Square.

            What has influenced you as writer?

            I was recently at an author reading where a college student asked for advice on overcoming writer’s block. After giving a few of the usual tips, this writer said, “And maybe you’ll have to live a little before you find your stories.” That resonated with me, as I’ve always been immersed in words—as a reader, student, editor, and writer—but only more recently have I found inspirational writer-mentors (through the MFA program at Rosemont College) who have helped me see how I can shape and tell the stories I’ve always wanted to write. So I would say everything I’ve experienced in 52 years has influenced me as a writer—particularly perhaps motherhood, nature, and a strong sense of place rooted in the places I’ve lived (New England, Ireland, and now Pennsylvania).

            What do you think makes a good story?

            Conflict, desire, and complicated characters—but also beautiful, lyrical language.

            Can you tell us a little bit about your project with your grandfather’s lifelong diaries?

            My grandfather kept a daily diary from the day he married in 1939 until the day before he died in 1989. He was a bank president, and so most entries log bank activity as well as weather data, births, deaths, and marriages. But the tidbits of personal reflection he recorded tell a deeper, richer story of our family and life in a small border community in northern Vermont over these decades of significant change. My MFA thesis is a collection of lyric essays exploring what gets passed down from generation to generation, and his diary entries operate as an authoritative outside voice in many of the pieces. I’ve also been surprised by how some of the apparently mundane data in his diaries—for instance, the weather—inform deeper threads of stories about people and place.

            Do you have any suggestions to help people become a better writer?

            I think I’d say tuning in to all five senses in varied life experiences. And lots of practice. Also—and having spent most of my career as an editor, I can’t stress this enough—taking time to let what you’ve written settle before going back to revise and trim every word that’s not serving a purpose. One of the best courses I took in my MFA program was on flash fiction. The discipline of having to write a story in 200, 100, or even 50 or fewer words helped me to see the bones of a story and taught me the power of deletion.

            How long have you been living in Kennett Square? What do you love most about Kennett Square? 

            My husband Andrew and I moved here from Dublin with our two children in 2008. I especially love being able to walk most places, the creative people, synergy, and diversity of our community, the beautiful landscape, and the proximity to Philadelphia and New York City. I only wish it were a little closer to Boston, where our daughter now lives—and Dublin, where our son is studying!

            I found Rebecca’s work in a west chester interior store and I loved it. I think we have something in common–our subjects are women.

            1.    How and when did you decide to be a painter? 

            I started painting about five years ago. I left my job in New York City as a magazine editor to stay home with my son and was in search of a new creative outlet after moving to the Philly suburbs. I’ve always loved art and interior design and thought why not? My sister was moving abroad and gave me some old paints she had lying around so I began to experiment. 

            2.    Who were the artists inspired you most? 

            There are so many amazing artists on Instagram that inspired me to start painting–women that are professionally trained, self-taught, painting with a kid under one arm. I’m currently saving up for a Claire Johnson collage or a Rebecca Russo portrait or a Gee Gee Collins anything. I’m obsessed with Milton Avery’s use of color and patiently waiting for a nearby museum to give him an exhibit. 

            3.    Do you work from life, photographs or from imagination?

            I work from photographs to find poses for my figures and then let color and imagination take it from there. 

            4.    Please tell us some of your considerations when using color in your work? what sort of paints do you put out on your palette?

            Color makes me happy! Acrylic and oil pastel are my go-to mediums and I find a lot of pleasure just mixing paints on my palette. I love the way color creates a mood. A mark of fuchsia or indigo or chartreuse can totally transform a painting. Finding the perfect color composition is one of the most rewarding aspects of painting for me. In many ways I find the process similar to writing. It’s all about piecing together a puzzle.

            5.    what are you working on now? 

            I’m working on a still life commission for a friend’s new office and gearing up to try some different substrates like wood and unbleached linen. 

            “Creating is an integral part of my life.  Working with clay, other natural materials, and metal connects with Earth.  Their transformation is alluring and fascinating to me – as it has been to humans through the ages.  Myths, animals and other forms of nature  influence my work.  Capturing and expressing the essence or spirit, not soley a realistic portrayal, is my goal.  I would be delighted if my functional work is enjoyed in everyday use and my non-functional work provides visual pleasure/provokes contemplation.”–Jill Beech

            “I first took a ceramics class around 1981 and immediately felt an affinity and bond with clay.  Since then, I have taken many classes, mostly in hand-building, and nearly all at Penland School of Crafts – a truly inspirational place with great artists and teachers.  As my passion and involvement increased, I built a large gas kiln to expand firing capabilities beyond electric.  Until 2011 when I retired, I was a veterinarian on the UPenn Veterinary School faculty so I juggled time between the studio and working at New Bolton Center, in the large animal hospital.  Since then, I have been able to devote much more time to working in my studio adjacent to my home.”

            “My functional and sculptural work is mainly made from porcelain or stoneware clay, and less frequently low fire earthenware clay.  Some of my hand built forms are perforated with hundreds of varying sized and shaped holes whilst still damp and malleable; they are then dried, fired to a low temperature ( approximately 1800 F) then sandblasted, and finally re-fired to a higher temperature, usually between 2100-2300F.  Glazes or stains are applied to some pieces.  Others have multiple layers of different coloured slips (clay suspension) applied and then rubbed through to reveal different colours, and some are left unadorned, revealing just the clay itself. Some are mounted on steel stands that I forged. I have sometimes used metal containing paint on the final fired piece to give forms the appearance of metal.  Encaustics have been used on some vessels to create layers on the surface, giving subtle colour changes and texture. Less frequently, on the low fired non-functional earthenware pieces, I paint multiple layers of acryllic paint. Horses, and to less extent other animals, influence both the forms as well as the images on the decorated surfaces of functional ware. Imagery from travel also has influenced forms.”

            “Over the last few years, in addition to working with clay, I have worked with copper fold-forming,( using commercial patinas on the finished forms, and making wall panels, leaves for mobiles,  and wearable wrist cuffs), clay monoprinting,( influenced by  the late Mitch Lyons, who had a studio in London Grove) , hand made paper, recycled cardboard,  paper sculpture, and also  wire sculptures.   I particularly like Kozo for  making paper, and sometimes use encaustics on  surfaces.  My studio is near Ercildoun and is open by appointment and at my yearly open studio days.”

            Meet Jan, the founder of AHHAH–arts holding hand and hearts.

            1. Can you tell us a little bit  about yourself ?

            My life has been a winding road full of many wonderful twists and turns that have all lead me to AHHAH.
            I grew up in Nashville and was going to major in psychology but was invited to act in a summer theatre program my senior year and was hooked and changed my major to theatre.  I was a professional actress in NYC for 18 years, even was in a a horror film, Mad  Man where I get axed in the chest and my head shot off (that always grabs the attention of youth in detention when I share that tidbit).  
            I have a BA degree in Theatre and a Master’s in Education, my thesis was “Does and Arts Infused Curriculum enhance the academic success of children labeled “at risk”?”
            I have two children, Ian who is 35 and a lawyer in Norristown, and Caitlin who is  31, an artist, dancer and the most amazing mother of my 2 year old grandson in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
            We moved to Unionville 25 years ago.  I started a ‘Science Alive’ program at Unionville Elementary school when it was a K-3 school when my daughter was in 1st grade and then was hired to bring the program to Chadds Ford Elementary.  After getting my Master in Education, I moved on up to Patton Middle School and  taught English, Science, Life Management Skills and assisted the after school drama program.
            My husband had worked at the World Trade Center in NYC.  I had always said when my children were grown and I was a grandmother I would go back to acting.  After 9/11 I realized that if you have a dream, you can’t put it on a shelf and say “one day” but pursue it now.  I finished that school year and once again pursued acting this time in Philadelphia.  
            My first day not teaching, I was cast in a show “Snow is Falling” with Philadelphia Young Playwrights. During the rehearsals, when they found out that I had been a teacher, I was asked to be a teaching artist teaching playwriting with children in inner city schools in Philadelphia.  A truly AHHAH moment.  I was a teaching artist for both PYP and the Philadelphia Theatre Company for 8 years.  

            I also lead the drama program with the Philadelphia Senior Center across the street from Suzanne Roberts Theatre and was a member of CAAN- Creative Arts and Aging Network.  I was part of the planning committee for a town hall meeting at World Live Cafe in 2002 of the importance of professional arts programming with seniors that was a nationwide movement to get funding for professional senior arts programming. The theme of the town hall meeting was think globally but act locally. 

            2. When and why did you start AHHAH? 

            I started an intergenerational program called Hands Across the Ages which combined senior citizens at the Kennett Senior Center and teenagers at the Garage to share their stories and break down the walls between the generations.  The teens came to the senior center after school for workshops where we used theatre techniques to build connections.  The next year the seniors went to the high school as part of an after school program.
            I brought this program to Philadelphia Theatre Company as part of their “Philly Reality” program.  I worked with the Philadelphia Senior Center and the World Communications Charter School which was across the street.   Fall of 2012 they picked the issue of bullying in school and that we need more arts education not more guards with guns.  The piece they wrote together was, “I AM LIVING”.  December 12 was the Sandy Hook killing.  I AM LIVING was performed to a packed audience at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre.  At the talk back after the performance, young and old shared having been either bullied or being a bully, not realizing the impact of words to hurt a person and became advocates to stop bullying.
            Three weeks later I found out that  three of the inner city schools where I was teaching were closing and three weeks after than I found out that funding for the arts of the other inner city schools was being cut.  I said to the director of education at PTC that if the government does not believe that children in poverty deserve an arts education and are just going to funnel them into the prison system, then we need to bring our programs to the children in the juvenile justice system.
            The education director said they didn’t go there and I said, ” I guess I have to open my own organization that does.”  I quit my job.
            I get up early in the morning 4 am  to meditate ( that’s when my husband starts snoring and I felt it was better to get up and meditate instead of tossing and turning with a pillow over my ears or his head!) and journal.  The day after I quit I journaled and asked  “Ok what do I do now, and as if channelled my hand wrote, AHHAH.  I wrote what does AHHAH stand for and I wrote Arts Holding Hands and Hearts.  I closed my journal and said to myself, “I guess that’s my new organization.”  

            3. Can you share some stories from AHHAH programs?

            I teach 6 am yoga at Yoga Secrets in Kennett. That morning after teaching I asked, Can anyone get me into the prisons legally.
            There was a new person in class who said she was a parole officer and said I need to talk to Carrie Avery and Joe Frankenstein at the Chester County Youth Center.  I said,”Is this a horror film joke, Carrie and Frankenstein! It wasn’t.  I met with Carrie and Joe and a week later I started a weekly trauma sensitive yoga class.  Three months later we started a creative writing program.  That was in 2013.
            The first writing program was with girls in the shelter for homeless and abused girls at CCYC. There were 4 girls, all from Coatesville.  The first girl who shared was Sarena, who wrote, “I am the daughter of a teenage mother who was the daughter of a teenage mother who was the daughter of a teenage mother with no father in sight.”  The next girl who shared wrote about being raped at 12 by her uncle while her mother was in the room and the baby crying that stopped him from taking her again but she forgave him because she knew that she would be in prison in her heart if she didn’t forgive.  I knew then that AHHAH had to make Coatesville our base to see how we could stop the youth from Coatesville entering the juvenile justice system.
            Our first grant was a 21st Century Learning Center grant and we facilitated trauma sensitive yoga and after school playwriting classes with students at Scott Middle School in 2014.  We then found out that children in kindergarten were being suspended in Coatesville.  We knew if we were going to be more than a bandaide we needed to reach families with children 0-5.  We started a Family Story Time Yoga program for children 2-5 with a caregiver at the Coatesville Library.
            One of the mothers in our first class, mother was a teacher in Early Start a program with Head Start.  She introduced us to the director of Coatesville Head Start and we facilitated Storytime Yoga for free to 5 Head Start classes in Coatesville.  2019 AHHAH brings our Storytime Yoga program to over 400 children in Chester County.
             In my research of why so many children in poverty enter the juvenile justice system I found statistics that children in poverty are exposed to 30 MILLION words less by the time they are five than children in a middle class or more affluent household.
            2015 was the City of Coatesville’s 100 anniversary.  I spearheaded a “PULL” (Pop Up Lending Library) Campaign to get 100 both indoor and outdoor PULL Stations throughout Coatesville.
            2018 the Longwood Rotary gave AHHAH $1500 for materials to build 10 PULL Stations in Kennett Square. The Kennett Square community embraced the PULL Campaign.  AHHAH partnered with the Kennett Library and the Kennett Culture and Arts group in identifying locations, artists, and collection of books.

            Please check AHHAH website for more information:www.artsholdinghandsandhearts.com

            How long have you been painting? 
             
            Coming from a family of creators and performers, I grew up with a love for all things creative. In high school, I was more drawn to music and performance but still dabbled in painting. Visual/fine art was something that I had always loved and when it came time to decide on a career path, the visual side took the lead. I went to Delaware College of Art and Design for my associates in Fine Arts and West Chester University to finish my bachelors. After that I was employed as a photography assistant for an auction house in Downingtown, I now currently work there as one of their lead photographers. Although I loved all of the creative formats that I had been allowed to experience, I felt like there was something else that I could use as an outlet, so I decided to play around with the idea of watercolor.  But it wasn’t until I worked at Philter that I started painting as a freelance artist. The owner, Chris Thompson, allowed me to hang my work in the shop, which received an awesomely positive response and things continued grew from there. 
            How did you become interested in watercolor? 
             
            The funny thing is, I have always been more drawn to oil paints and heavier mediums. In school, I had a very heavy hand and loved high contrast and texture, so oils and charcoal were always my go-to. The love for watercolor came as quite a surprise. I fell in love with the way each layer influenced the next, allowing you to see a history beneath them. Its such a delicate medium, and I was always told how scary it was to use, so it was pretty intimidating when the time came to try it. I wanted to experiment one day, and after I painted my first goldfish, I fell in love with the medium. I’ve never been one to create clean and crisp work, which is something that is usually associated with watercolor. Through playing with it, I had realized that it was much more fun to make a mess. Watercolors are known to be hard to control, and with this knowledge, I’ve learned to let go of my own expectations through the process and allow it to have an active role in creating the piece as well. Why try to control something that can be so beautiful in it’s own right? That’s where the splashes and drips come in. 🙂 Though over the last 3 years, I have worked in a bigger format, moving to larger canvas pieces. This required a heavier paint to stick to the canvas, so a lot of my more recent pieces are done with acrylic in a watercolor style -which opens up a whole other world of playing and experimentation. But I must say that every time I go back to watercolor, my heart is re-stolen. It is a truly beautiful art form.
            What attracts you the most–when looking for potential subject matter? 
            Painting is truly an outlet for me. So it really depends on my mood and whats happening in life, as cliche as it may sound, those things really do influence what kinds of works come to fruition. Sometimes when I’m not feeling anything in particular but have the need to create, colorful abstract pieces with come to mind. Most of the time my works consist of animals. I’ve always been an animal person, if I didn’t choose this career path, then it certainly would been one involved with fur friends. So I’d say that they influence my work quite a bit. I love the idea of the spirit animal. I feel like everyone has one that they connect with, so shedding light on that is always a fun adventure. I’m especially drawn to woodland creatures- foxes, wolves, and hawks are some of my favorite subjects. They’re pretty independent creatures, though obviously wolves can be big “pack” animals, I feel like there’s a quiet “loner” side that is easy to relate to as well. Color also plays a huge role in my process. I’m a huge fan of color, and I love playing with it in spots that you may not usually find it- like if something is supposed to appear black or in shadow, in nature if you really look at something that appears black, it actually consists of so many other colors. I think that’s half of the fun when creating these pieces, finding things that you wouldn’t usual see at first glance, but somehow makes it all work. It allows the viewer to really observe, search for, and discover something, creating their own connection to the piece, which is really my goal.
            Who were the watercolor artists who inspired you most? 
             
            Though I haven’t seen many watercolors by him, Cy Twombly is a huge one….I even nerded out to the point of naming my cat after him. At first I never really understood his work, but that’s what made me fall in love with it. He seemed to be purely about color and placement. Things don’t have to make sense in his pieces but they certainly convey something. Lora Zombie’s works really helped to inspire me in taking on watercolor. Her pieces are super fun and edgy, usually consisting of pop culture subjects. And she’s never afraid to make a mess when it comes to watercolor. There is also a ton of talent in my personal tribe and local community that is super inspirational. I’m extremely lucky and thankful to have so many talented friends who influence and inspire my work as well. Its great to be able to bounce ideas back and forth, get feedback and to really be able to be completely supported and vulnerable with these fellow humans. That kind of connection is important.
            What are you working on now? 
            I’m currently gearing up for the Holiday freelance season, it’s always a super fun and creative time. There are a few pieces that I have in mind that will need to be put on canvas soon (and possibly t-shirts!), so be on the look out for those! There are also some pretty exciting things that are being balanced with the freelance painting as well – my family recently started the On the Roll Inc, Food Truck, which has kept us all very busy and excited! I am thankful to be apart of that endeavor. I am also currently planning out the holiday display at Philter Coffee. Its always a fun process and its nice to take a shot at 3D work between paintings. So I’m super excited to see what we’ll come up with next!

            Meet Caroline, artist, art writer, event maker.

            How do you introduce yourself?
            Caroline Roosevelt. 


            How did you find yourself in the art world and decide to stay?
            My passion has always orbited around art. As I child, I started drawing and was encouraged to do so by my mother (who is an artist!) I excelled at art in high school, entering and placing in competitions, and studied studio art and art history at Connecticut College. After graduating, I moved to Philadelphia and attended Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where I continued to suss out what I’m trying to do with my art. As an adult, I continue to pursue artistic endeavors while also engaging the community. I write an art column for Chadds Ford Live and Chester County Press called Mixed Media, and have been enjoying that since November. I still create my own work, and sell my cards at worKS, as well as participate in community art events. I recently established a Pop Up Arts committee dedicated to uplifting the arts in the Kennett area through Pop Up Events. It seems that, no matter where I go, art follows me and I’m realizing that’s not a coincidence. 

            What are you working on right now? How did the project come to you?

            Right now I’m working on a few paintings for the Evening of The Arts. I’m looking to expand into some more fauvist styles of painting. I have also just learned how to frame my own work, so I’m practicing that as well. 

            We also have a Pop UP Art event in Kennett Square on June 1st so, stay tuned for more info!

             
            Why did you decide to move to Kennett square?
            I am originally from the area. After living in dense metropolitan areas for 10 years, I was ready to slow down a little bit and recalibrate, and that landed me back in Kennett which has been a really fantastic thing for me. I work for the Kennett Township, and participate in community events in the borough as well. I love this community!
            What do you like most about Kennett Square?
            I love how Kennett has grown into itself in the past ten years. It’s changed from a sleepy agricultural town, to a lively community full of artists and entrepreneurs with big ideas. There will always be a part of the community that will long for the past, and challenge ingenuity, but overall, I see Kennett as receptive to change while still respecting its roots, and that’s one of the most attractive things about this town.