In the Studio with Artist Katrina Childs

Today, we’re going In the Studio with artist Katrina Childs. Katrina’s artwork is currently on display in the Chesapeake Arts Center’s Her Ideas, Her Stories: Women Artists Gallery exhibit.

Katrina uses her words as a painter would use his brush to lift paint and stroke it against a canvas. Slowly building layer by layer, until the final piece is crafted. Pulling from raw emotion her poetry resonate with many people. The metaphors she builds are relatable and though some are dark and some are light, Katrina phrases these feelings in a way that comforts her readers, validating their own similar emotions.

Here’s Katrina talking about her art, process and experience...

How would you describe your style of work?

My style of work is very emotional. I use poetry as a form of therapy since I have Borderline Personality Disorder. This means I feel things very deeply, in extremes, more than most people- so I use it as a way of coping with those extreme emotions, which is why I use storms and a ton of nature based metaphors in my work.

Tell me about your favorite medium.

Words of any type are my favorite medium. The way a good book can transport you into another world, how poems can bring you into the writer’s feelings- it’s truly magical.

What characteristic(s) about your personality shows through your art?

My strong emotions, and my hopeless romanticism. 

Where are you from and how does that affect your work?

I’m from Baltimore, but I don’t think it has much, if any,  affect on my work. I do reference some local areas in poems, but not very often.

How have your life experiences influenced your aesthetic style?

Definitely. The metaphors I use are based on how moments feel in comparison- I’ve had a lot of unique experiences in my life, but adding those metaphors can make them more relatable for people.

What's your biggest barrier to being a female artist? How do you address it?

Mine is probably wanting to be taken seriously, but being a romantic person/artist, I feel like sometimes people can write me off since it’s “normal” for females to be more emotional. I just double down and emphasize the way I feel, and try to normalize those strong emotions. 

Do you think there’s a double standard in the industry?

I haven’t personally encountered one, thankfully, since I’m a newer artist. But it doesn’t mean there isn’t one- especially since female artists are considered more emotional and drastic.

Do your works comment on contemporary social or political issues; if so, how?

Some of my poems are definitely socially/politically motivated. I have a poem I wrote when I was already in a bad mental place and there was senseless police brutality happening to POC, and no justice for those victims. 

What are your biggest motivations?  

Normalizing feeling, helping people feel like they’re valid no matter how strong and deep those “irrational” emotions are. 

How do you market yourself and your work?

I’m very casual with the way I present myself, but my relationship with myself and my readers is my most important way I market myself. I love getting messages from friends and strangers telling me that my work helped them, they related so much to it, and it made them feel less alone because they thought no one else felt things that way. 

When you are working through problems in your work, who do you talk to?

I have a few friends who helped me pick my pieces for this exhibit, Maddie and Brittany- they’re artists/poets and cheer me on when I write something new or help me with wording/formatting issues

What are you working on at the moment? 

I’m constantly writing, because I’m constantly feeling- but I’m looking to publish my current collection of 150+ poems and ramblings to publishers shortly after the exhibit ends!

Is there a specific environment or material that's integral to your work?

Not necessarily- anything that fluctuates inspires me, the start or end of a relationship, the love of a child, the frustrations of a friendship. Life in general- being a human is integral to my work.

What did you have to develop, try or learn to create your artwork?

I worked really hard on words, metaphors and creating unique ways of describing things in order to invoke emotion in my readers. 

How do you prepare to start a new piece? (do you have a ritual, do research, sketch it out, talk it out…)

I usually get one line stuck in my head- sometimes I have to pull over while driving in order to write it down and build off of it. I have so many random voice notes from me driving on the highway and being unable to stop, just so I don’t lose a thought/feeling.

Who would be your dream artist to collaborate with?

I have a few friends I’d love to incorporate into my work- Ricky Chenoweth (another local Baltimore artist) inspires me everyday and encouraged me to submit my works to this exhibit. My best friend, Alex Ferraro as well. I want both of them to create drawings based on my work to add into a published book!

What’s the best thing about being an artist?

The freedom after I finish a piece. I usually start with a jumble of emotions, and when I’m done writing and re-reading the piece, I feel a sense of catharsis. It’s so freeing- I always compare it to a warm summer breeze flowing through me!

For more information on Katrina and her work, check her out on instagram.

Hal Gomer Gallery Hours: 

Monday-Thursday 10:00am-6:00pm

Saturday 10am-1pm ( starting on January 15, 2022)

*Visitors are required to call ahead to reserve a time to view the exhibit. Please call CAC’s main office at 410-636-6597 during our business hours Monday - Thursday, 10:00 am-6:00pm to reserve a date and time. Visitors will be checked in upon arrival and masks are required to enter the gallery and CAC building.