NEW ENGLAND MAKES "MAKER SPOTLIGHT: EXPLORING THE ART OF KT LANE STUDIO"
Maker Spotlight: Exploring the Art of KT Lane Studio
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022
Most people don’t associate power tools with fine art, but for Katie Lane, the artist behind KT Lane Studio, it’s just part of the process. Working out of a bedroom in her Somerville apartment, Katie is a prolific painter, creating dozens of pieces each year. Morning or night, it’s common to find Katie power sanding or tearing away layers of material from her paintings. And she’s not fixing mistakes – she uses these techniques to reveal underlying layers of paint and materials, creating complex, visually striking pieces of art.
KT Lane Studio’s Work
Rich with layers, textures, and colors, Katie’s work is stunning. Her paintings feature dozens of layers of paint, paper, and other mediums that she adds and removes to create complex and three-dimensional patterns.
Your Own New Frontier, 2022, acrylic, graphite, paper collage on canvas, 30x40”
What’s left behind are pieces of art that explore relationships, both material and interpersonal. Her most recent collection, Rock Candy, features 16 beautiful paintings that explore ideas around adversity and hardship.
When describing the collection, Katie shares “Each painting begins with a base covering of recycled papers adhered to the surface and then sanded, painted on, and etched away. From there the layering continues with new marks, each more decisive and bold than the next. The process of building up and tearing down is similar to an excavation revealing the underlayers and honors the history of the piece.”
While primarily focused on fine art, KT Lane Studio also offers a range of unique products made from leftover painting supplies. Dedicated to reducing waste in her shop, Katie utilizes leftover canvas scraps and supplies to create other products like earrings, pouches, and bags.
Earrings by KT Lane Studio
Learning to be a painter
While she’s always been creative, Katie never considered herself a painter growing up. She only made the realization when she joined an art class on a whim her senior year of high school. In that class, her teacher quickly caught on to Katie’s talent and propensity for painting. The teacher, who Katie still considers a mentor today, urged her to ditch her plans of studying psychology and pursue painting instead.
The advice landed. Katie quickly abandoned her plans of studying psychology and enrolled in the New England School of Art and Design at Suffolk University. While earning her BFA, Katie continued building her portfolio and refining her craft.
It’s clear in talking to Katie that she views her art as a journey. She’s constantly looking to hone her craft and develop her style. From sculpture to hyper-realistic drawings, she’s never shied away from trying new techniques and disciplines. She loves to experiment and each of those experiments has shaped her distinctive abstract style today.
Katie Lane
Her Workspace
Throughout her career, Katie has worked in a wide range of studios but they always presented challenges. Most notably, having to adjust her schedule around other artists and studio availability. She prefers to work alone, whenever inspiration strikes.
As such, Katie loves that she now works out of her Somerville apartment. Only a quick walk down the hall, she’s able to spend time in the studio for hours, uninterrupted by others. It’s common for her to be up early in the morning or late at night painting. She works long hours but admits she wouldn’t want it any other way.
Advice to New Painters
When Katie first started painting, she hated sitting in front of a blank canvas. She jokes, “I’d get a white sheet of paper and think ‘this is the devil, I want nothing to do with this.’ And I took a skinny little pencil and think, what the hell am I supposed to do with this? It just wasn’t my flow.” So to combat that feeling, she’d just start randomly marking up the canvas and inspiration soon followed.
Katie sees that as a metaphor for people just starting out. At a recent event, an attendee shared that Katie’s work made them want to go create something. Her advice: “It’s just about starting, just go for it. Don’t have huge expectations. Do whatever you think will make you take the next step.”
What’s Next for the studio?
When asked about what’s next for KT Lane Studio, she shared her dreams about opening a bigger studio that could be home to other artists and creatives. But for now, her primarily focus is continuing to hone her craft and building her business. Creating art while trying to grow a business can be challenging, but she finds the work is extremely fulfilling.
Where Can I Find Products by KT Lane Studio?
If you’re in the Boston area, you can often find KT Lane Studio on Sundays at the Sowa Open Market. Her booth is always stocked with a wide variety of products including earrings, pouches, and paintings, so you’re sure to find something that fits your style and budget. If you want to see her larger pieces in person, Cambridge Common has her art on exhibit through October 17. And if you’re not in the Boston area, be sure to check out her website where you can shop and find more information about her work.
