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Artist Spotlight: Catherine Freshley

Apr 21, 2022

Artist Spotlight: Catherine Freshley

April 21, 2022 / Pro

We are delighted to again be working with talented Artist and customer Catherine Freshley! She has a knack for depicting the peace and tranquility of skyscapes and landscapes, adding calm and quiet to any space – whether an office, place of business, or right at home. And she doesn’t stop at prints and paintings; when it comes to framing, Catherine knows the right frame can make all the difference.

“When collectors ask whether they should frame my paintings, I won’t hesitate to say my paintings look better framed and I always recommend pictureframes.com. I think of my paintings like a beautiful woman: She doesn’t need make-up at all, but the frame takes it up a notch, dressing up the art and making it look really finished and polished. The frames I have purchased from pictureframes.com have all been gorgeous; they make such a nice presentation for the art. The frames are exceptional quality at a fantastic price.” -CF

And while we are attached to our own Carolina foothills, we concede that getting acquainted with Ms. Freshley’s art has made us yearn for a peek at the Oklahoma skyline with our own two eyes! Her ability to capture not only the idyllic look, but nostalgic feel of the wide-open pastures in her home state constantly delight. I loved the opportunity to chat with her about her love of landscapes, and how they inspire her beautiful pieces.

Portrait of Artist Catherine Freshley

Roominate (R): What inspired you to become an artist? How did you get started?

Catherine Freshley (CF): ): I have always been making art. It has always been my favorite hobby, whether drawing when I was a child or painting now. I can’t not create art, so I decided to figure out how to make money doing it.

(R): Walk us through your process when you're creating a piece - Where do you start? What inspires a piece? Etc.

CF: I am most inspired by the natural beauty of our everyday landscapes. I live in Oklahoma right now, surrounded by miles and miles of prairie. It, and the sky above it, is beautiful to me. While something like the Grand Canyon or Glacier National Park might be more breathtaking, I prefer to paint things that are more ordinary – to celebrate the beauty of our “normal” scenes that is often overlooked. Most often, I take a photo while I am out and about and come back to my studio to paint from the photo on my computer. I am also inspired by colors and textures I see everywhere in art and non-art pieces. Those inspirations might not show up in obvious ways in my work, but they motivate me to create something beautiful.

Artist Catherine Freshley Painting on Canvas

(R): How has your style changed over time?

CF: I am always trying to paint more simply but it is very hard for me. I want to capture the feeling of a place, not every blade of grass.

(R): What should people know about your work that they might not be able to tell by looking at it?

CF: I am very interested in the idea of capturing or documenting, almost in a historical way. I don’t think of myself so much as creating art, but of capturing or representing something that has already been created.

(R): What's your favorite piece that you've created so far?

CF: My favorite piece is often my most recent one, or a very recent one because my painting and the types of landscapes I want to paint are evolving. Right now, it might be a piece called “Drummond Sunset 2.” I’ve actually taken it out of my website shop because I am tempted to keep it, which I never do. I mentioned earlier that I want to paint more simply. If you squint, this painting would just be horizontal stripes. I like the combination of the deep red with the more pastel colors of the grass and the clouds.

Canvas Art Framed on Wall in Room Environment
Freshley’s piece "Drummond Sunset 2" in our CFL9 White Canvas Floater Frame

(R): What are some of your other "hidden" talents?

CF: I also work as a brand and digital advertising strategist and I’ve been told I’m good at that, but that’s not very hidden. I am also good at baking and I like to think I’m good at dancing.

(R): What is your studio/workspace like? What are your favorite places to work/ create?

CF: I love my studio except for the fact that it could be bigger. At one point, it probably used to be a screened in porch. It has a lot of windows, so I feel like I am outside even when I’m inside. It has French doors into our living room, so I can be as much or as little a part of the house as I want. The walls feature nice, terracotta tiles and a mix of brick and wood that are painted green. It is typically much more of a mess than I want it to be, but it has room for a good “judging chair” where I can rest for a bit and study works in progress. For really big paintings, I have had to move my operations to an office I rent in a building downtown because it has bigger walls.

Catherine Freshley's Studio Workspace
Freshley’s lovely, bright studio space

(R): What is your biggest achievement as a creative? What are you proudest of?

CF: I had two big corporate commissions in 2017 that were huge wins for me. First, the Oklahoma City Thunder commissioned me to paint a huge, three-piece painting for Chesapeake Energy Arena. Then, I was commissioned to do six paintings for the waiting room at a new cancer center. That wasn’t as high profile, but it was my biggest project to date. More important, I felt a tremendous sense of responsibility; I hope that my paintings can bring some peace and calm to the patients and their loved ones in the waiting room.

(R): If you could describe your work in 3 words, what would they be?

CF: Peaceful, approachable, contemporary

Painting of the Alps Framed in Canvas Floater Picture Frame
A painting Freshley completed of a gorgeous spot in the Bavarian Alps, featured here in our canvas floater picture frames.

(R): If you wanted your audience to know one thing about you/your work, what would it be?

CF: My work captures the beauty that is around us every, single day. It is so cliché, but I am a huge believer in stopping and smelling the roses.

(R): What advice do you have for emerging artists?

CF: I am definitely still an emerging artist! The success I have found so far has been due to putting the hours in in the studio, treating my art like a business (helps to have seven years’ experience at an ad agency!) and working to develop good relationships.

(R): How long have you been working with us at pictureframes.com?

CF: I started working with pictureframes.com over six years ago. They were recommended to me by word of mouth, and couldn’t be more thrilled! My husband and I built one floater frame before that and while I was pleased with the finished product, building it was a headache and not how either of us want to spend our time. Buying from pictureframes.com is so much faster and I feel more confident in the product I am selling to my clients. I would much rather spend more time painting than more time building frames!

(R): How do you go about selecting a frame for your pieces?

CF: I have only used floater frames in silver and gold leaf and white. I think floater frames best show off my style of paintings. They accomplish a clean and modern look. I have been selling unframed canvases for years, but man, this takes it to a new level.

Nature Painting Framed in Plein Air Frame

(R): If you could tell your audience anything about working with us, what would it be?

CF: I’ve already told my customers that your product is great and you are easy to work with. I tell them framing the paintings is so easy that if they choose to frame my painting at a later date, I would be happy to do it for them or they can even do it themselves.

Love Catherine’s colorful horizon’s and want to see more? Visit her website or follow her on Instagram and let her know we sent you!

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