Today we’d like to introduce you to Karen Stockwell.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Karen. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Originally, I was interested in creative writing. But in fourth grade, my teacher told my parents I had a good sense of color. My mother had a secret desire to be an artist herself, but hadn’t taken classes. Suddenly, I was signed up with a private teacher. Eventually, my mother joined me in class. I worked in pastels and oils. Even though the desire wasn’t originally there, I found that I had some ability and enjoyed drawing and painting. But I still wanted to be a writer. In college, I had an Art major and an English minor. When I graduated and joined the workforce, I kept taking art classes and did art fairs in the Chicago area (alongside my mother). I eventually settled into pen and ink drawing, and then pencil and colored pencil. In my mid-thirties, I hit a wall. Nothing interested me as a subject. I thought getting a Masters in Art History at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago would help, but it didn’t. Yet, my creativity needed to express itself and I began writing poetry and doing open mics. That led to studying guitar and voice at the Old Town School of Folk Music and writing songs. I was part of a duet called Moon Lodge with Shelley Miller and did music open mics at that time. After we went in separate directions, I began writing fiction. I’ve since self-published two novels and a collection of my poetry. I did bring back my visual art by illustrating all three books. These days, I’m working more as a fiber artist by dyeing scarves, marbling paper and fabric, and learning to sew and quilt at Lillstreet Art Center.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about your business – what should we know?
I think the highest form of artwork I do is my writing. One of my goals in life was to write a book. My first novel “Dreams of Darkness and Light” took 12 years from start to finish. Distance is necessary to gain a realistic perspective on one’s work. But there were times I didn’t touch the manuscript for a year or two. And I discovered that most writing is actually editing, lots of editing. With self-publishing becoming more acceptable, I decided to go that route. I’m proud of the result. It’s an unusual tale of a woman who gets caught up in a vision quest through her dreams. I used magical realism to create a mystical, spiritual story of transformation. Ultimately, it’s about how one individual can make a difference in the world, sometimes through their artwork. I was inspired by a visit to an indigenous village in Oaxaca, Mexico and by my church, Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, which has been involved in social justice issues for over 100 years. My second novel, “The Ballad of Sam and D. Lila” was inspired by my own experience as a singer/songwriter doing open mics. It’s more of a romantic comedy with a few nods to the biblical story of Samson and Delilah. There’s a transformation theme in it, also, but it’s mainly a fun read. “Everyday Mysteries” is a collection primarily of poetry I wrote for open mics, but it includes more recent work. My poetry is very accessible and often narrative. As a fiber artist, I mainly hand dye silk scarves, which are sold at art fairs, but also in my Etsy shop. I enjoy telling customers about the techniques and types of silk I use. And I occasionally see them again and love hearing about how they’ve enjoyed wearing them or giving them as gifts.
Finding a mentor and building a network are often cited in studies as a major factor impacting one’s success. Do you have any advice or lessons to share regarding finding a mentor or networking in general?
When I was young, I showed my drawings in many art fairs. These days I only show my scarves in a few because the entry fees are much higher now. For me, having a day job was essential. It took valuable time away from my art, but it paid for living expenses, as well as my art supplies and classes. A city like Chicago has galleries, but also restaurants and cafes where artwork can be exhibited. Libraries sometimes have art exhibits and offer authors a chance to read their work. Unfortunately, there are fewer bookstores now and they are not as open to self-published authors as they could be. Open mics are usually dedicated to writing or music and offer a chance to hone one’s skills and become part of a creative community. A city like Chicago offers other opportunities for people in the arts to join a community: writing groups and associations; renting studio space; taking classes at places like Lillstreet Art Center or the Old Town School of Folk Music.
Contact Info:
- Website: karenstockwell.net
- Phone: 773-319-0909
- Email: stockwellcottage@yahoo.com
- Instagram: karendstockwell
- Facebook: Karen Stockwell, Author, Artist, Journalist
- Twitter: @KishthePoet
- Other: etsy.com/shop/stockwellcottage
Image Credit:
Clinton Stockwell
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