Читать книгу Intarsia Woodworking for Beginners - Kathy Wise - Страница 7

Although Kathy Wise was a city girl for most of her childhood, she always had a strong love for animals. When she was a teenager, her family moved to a rural area in the thumb area of Michigan. She fell in love with country living almost instantly.

Kathy credits her mother, who is also an artist, for her interest in art. As a child, Kathy busily sculpted animals from soap and wood while her mother painted landscapes and people. High school and college art classes intensified her interest in art and sculpture. Adding sculpted clay animal figures to her pots during a ceramics class in college led to the creation of many other animal sculptures. Students were soon asking Kathy to create animals for them. Kathy graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Associates Degree in Commercial Art.

High Country Elk, 186 pieces, 18" x 25" (457mm x 635mm).

Kathy Wise shown with her lifesize intarsia project, Baby Giraffe—705 pieces, 6' x 26" (1829mm x 660mm).

Kathy began selling her one-of-a-kind animal sculptures at art fairs and shows. Soon she was supplying over 70 stores nationwide. In 1983, Gene Freedman (then president of Enesco Corporation) first saw Kathy’s work in a Seattle gift shop. This man, who launched Precious Moments, saw potential in Kathy’s art and contacted her to start the first of her many lines in the giftware industry. She has gone on to design animal figures and giftware for many other companies, including Simson, Westland, United Design, and Encore Group. Over the years, Kathy has designed and sculpted over one thousand different items in over forty lines that have been sold worldwide.

Kathy first began designing intarsia patterns for her father-in-law, Phil MacDonald. When his customers would ask for a special dog breed or custom intarsia of their pet, he would ask Kathy to create the pattern. She started to market the patterns and found intarsia artists loved her designs. She offers the greatest variety of dog breed intarsia patterns found anywhere. With Kathy’s knowledge and background in sculpting dogs, each pattern has a unique personality that is not found in any other intarsia patterns available in the marketplace.

In fall of 2004, Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts published Kathy’s first article, which featured her Boston terrier intarsia design and step-by-step instructions. Over 20 articles followed, including a bird wreath, calico cat, Arabian horse, maple leaf picture frame, turkey, and other assorted wildlife. Kathy’s art has been featured on several SSW&C covers. Her first book, Intarsia Woodworking Projects, features 21 projects ranging from beginner to advanced skill level. Kathy works on new patterns, articles, and beginner kits. She accepts special commissions for her intarsia work, including murals and large wall pieces. Her intarsia pieces are signed limited editions.

Go to Kathy Wise Designs for all of your intarsia pattern needs. Dog breeds, cats, horses, wildlife, landscapes, and more are available. For a free catalog of over 400 intarsia patterns, contact:

Kathy Wise Designs Inc.

PO Box 60

Yale, MI 48097

www.kathywise.com

kathywise@bignet.net

Fax: 810-387-9044

Tiger Trail, 1045 pieces, 42" x 30" (1067mm x 762mm)—1st place winner in the intarsia category at the highly acclaimed 2009 Design in Wood Show in Del Mar, California.

Labrador-ables, 288 pieces, 34" x 19" (864mm x 483mm).