Catherine Cheek

Catherine "Kater" Cheek is a writer and artist.

Author's posts

Metamorphisis Book

I did this book right after the celadon book, so I wanted something that didn’t have any cloth except for the muslin base.  I had some handmade paper, and I used decorative paper-shaping scissors to cut the Victorian frame edge.  The scissors cut very poorly, and were difficult to use. I layered the gold and …

Continue reading

Fox Laughs

This was another mistake that turned out well.  I started with a piece of canvas to which I applied gesso. I wanted a dark color, so I poured black acrylic on it and brushed it around, only to find that the black became grey. No good.  While the paint was still thick and wet, I …

Continue reading

Celadon Book

I wanted to do a different cover for this one, one that was almost entirely cloth.  The trouble I always have is how to adhere it.  Gluing it tends to eliminate the soft texture, whereas sewing it means loose edges and threads.  I comprimised and used fusible seam tape left over from the curtains I …

Continue reading

Nopal Tile

Nopales (Prickly pear cactus) and Agaves are among my favorite botanical subjects.  Oaks and blackberry brambles are the others, but those are harder to find. The design was made freehand with slip trailed from a jacquard bottle, like the others.  After the fact, I found that it’s much easier to get the look I wanted simply by using …

Continue reading

Colored Swallow Book

I made this cover by collaging different colored papers,t hen layering over it with painted paper towel, all adhered together with acrylic medium.  After I had a bright background, I printed on it with block printing ink and my favorite swallow linoblock that I’ve been using for just about everything.  It doesn’t have end papers, …

Continue reading