Happy New Year-Bonne Année -Felice Buon Anno
Warm greetings to you,
In the new year, I hope you will find the JOY of FREEDOM when riding a bike. This is a feeling I love to share with you. Take yourself back to childhood, close your eyes, and picture what it was like to be carefree. Whether on a bike riding solo, riding with your best buds, or just having plain old fun playing tag with the neighborhood kids, try to find that moment occasionally in the coming year to add some JOY into life's routine.
Many good wishes in 2025.
Kate
Riding a bike is not just a physical activity; it's a liberating experience that fills you with a sense of freedom and invigoration. Cycling's vitality creates a unique connection with fellow riders, especially when we ride shoulder to shoulder. The energy that converges in these moments is invigorating, reaching its peak in the seamless continuity of a pace line or the heightened excitement of a sprint.
When we delve into the history of bicycle design, we encounter a timeless expression of engineering beauty. The fundamental geometry of its frame, which was conceived a century ago, still stands as a testament to its functionality. Refining materials and components has only added to its elegance over time. The triangles, circles, and gracefully curved lines of a bicycle frame are a sight to behold, a true marvel of engineering beauty.
Cycling unrolls as a vibrant palette, extending beyond the bike frame to encompass various materials from handlebar tape to clothing to accessories. I use color to express the dynamic energy and relationships between the bicycles. Furthermore, I can manipulate spatial dynamics within the composition by reducing them to their core geometric shapes, such as triangles and circles. This manipulation creates a visual dialogue, a conversation between the elements of the drawing that mirrors the dynamic and expressive nature of cycling.
Regardless of the duration, cycling has a transformative effect, much like the process of drawing. It's not just a physical endeavor. It's a journey that eliminates worries and fills you with joy and freedom. Ultimately, I aim to share this joyous, colorful sport of cycling through my drawings, inviting others to experience this dynamic and expressive journey.
In case you missed the series in 2024: The Stories Behind the Story
"As a creative individual, I often wonder how others may see a piece of art and wish I could see it through their eyes. In their perception of it, what might they see, and how would they respond?"
Should we have to explain why we like an artwork? Or is it enough to say that we like it?
As an artist…I wonder if it is enough to express that we like something or whether we need to explain and give a reason as to why we like it. In the instance of my drawing PURPLE, the answer is a combination of the two. It is my favorite drawing from the series despite not having a personal story to go along with it. And, I love this drawing due to the composition's movement, color relationships, and the abstract contrast between the letter shapes.
However, this is my way of responding to a work of art - I have a background in the arts and have years of experience looking at and analyzing art to define why I like it. I often wonder how others may see an artwork and wish I could see it through their eyes. How do they respond, and what do they see? Does something in that artwork strike an emotional chord by recalling a memory, reminding them of someone, a place, or an event? Does it make them happy? Does it make them sad? Or, is the answer so simple as to say... I like it.