Profile of an Artist: Kate Neckel

Photo by Glen Friedman and doodles by Kate Neckel.

Breezy Mama met Kate as a result of her sending an email telling us the site rocked. After checking out her work, it turns out the feeling was mutual. A mother of two who also happens to be a an artist living in NYC, what’s there not to like? It doesn’t hurt that her work is super cute as well. And, between you and me, she also does stuff for kids’ rooms. An excuse to redecorate? You betcha.

Where do you look for inspiration?
I’m inspired by tulips, patterns, dreams, skateboards (especially broken ones), surfing, rituals, music (lately I’ve been listening to The Virgins, Ben Kweller, Evan Dando and lots of reggae), little yellow birds, beauty (doe eyes, lips, hair hanging in faces) words/phrases (I miss you like it’s tomorrow), French new wave films…my kids and husband, Tom.

Kate's desk. . .

Which mediums do you work in? Which do you prefer? I’m a big fan of Micron Pigma pens, watercolors, acrylic paints and Prismacolor markers but I’ve been known to use everything from beet juice to balsa wood (to carve arrows)!

You do a combination of work: drawing, photography, video and sculpture; which is your favorite and why? Drawing…especially at this point in my life. I love that I can doodle a bit while sipping my coffee and then pick it up again while my daughter is napping…and then add a splash of color at night when I’m relaxing on the couch…it’s ideal. I also take a lot of pictures when I’m strolling around the city with the kids. I’m always on the lookout for good eye candy or images that might work well on my blog.

City Life by Kate Neckel

Is there a particular artist whose works have inspired you?
Here is a little list of some of the work that has made my stomach flip (in the best possible way) . . .
Pipilotti Rist: “Ever is Over All” (I never thought about a flower the same way after watching this piece. She shatters a car window with her tulip.)
Jim Jarmusch: “Dead Man” (Johnny Depp in the canoe . . . arrows . . . eyes . . .)
Godard: “Breathless” (Lips, lips, lips.)
Eric Rohmer: “The Bakery Girl of Monceau” (This piece has a lot of beautiful close ups.)
Paul Klee: “Actor’s Mask” (This painting has incredible energy.)
French textiles and wallpaper from the Empire Period (1810-1820)
Mark Gonzales skateboarding in the Abteiberg Museum

Of your own work, do you have a favorite piece?
No. I’m just stoked if I can find the time to sit down…put on some tunes…pop open a pen and see what happens! The process of creating is what I love the most…whatever happens in the end isn’t really such a big deal.

About Kate Neckel
Kate paints, draws, chops up skateboards, takes pictures and shoots the occasional video…or two. Her work has been shown in solo and group exhibitions on the East Coast as well as a museum show about skateboarding entitled, “From The Ground Up: Art of the Skateboard Culture”. Kate has created work for clients such as Zac Posen, Universal/Velor Records, Henri Bendel and most recently Samantha Hahn’s book, “Love”….but most of the time she just doodles while drinking coconut water or snaps pics while strolling around with her kids. She curated the 2003 exhibition, “Scratch” with her husband at the Chelsea Art Museum in NYC. Kate has two MFA’s, the first from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore (painting/mixed media) and and the second (so she could finally make her way to the big apple and avoid the real world for a few more years….) from the School of Visual Arts (digital art/video) in NYC. She lives, breathes, walks and talks in NYC with her young looking husband and their two children.  Kate is available for commission work: kate@kateneckel.com or for more info and to see more of her work please visit kateneckel.com

Want to be in the know?  Make sure to subscribe to Breezy Mama — it’s free! Click here!

Related posts:

1. Profile of an Artist: Julie Goldstein The first time I saw Julie’s work was in my...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.