Outside the Lines

Karen Chapnick

As an undergraduate at UCLA, I took mainly painting and drawing classes. During my last year, I saw a wonderfully exuberant fibre exhibition which inspired me to take my first fibre class.

Starting in graduate school and continuing for several years after moving to Vancouver in 1976, I created large wall pieces of hand-dyed and braided sisal. In 1985 I reintroduced painting into my work – braiding together strips of painted fabric. Although still abstract, the pieces started to have allusions to landscape.

Self Portrait: Art in Mind
acrylic and collage on paper

In 1988, the MS that I’d had for 15 years forced me to stop working in fibre. I became much weaker and could no longer make such big pieces that were so labour intensive. I started painting exclusively – on paper using acrylic paints. Also, the weakness in my right hand forced me to paint with my left hand. During that year, I started to use a wheelchair.

My first major series of paintings on paper was inspired by a dream in which I found myself lost in a dangerous cave and unable to find my way out. This led me to create 15 paintings/collages based on labyrinths. I am now making more abstract paintings.

So, my physical limitations restarted my life as a painter. I am quite happy now being a painter again.

Dominic Fetherston