Catskill Creative Art Gallery at 110 Sullivan Street, Wurtsboro NY.

Kathy and Karl LaLonde are two Hudson Valley artists who recently opened up Catskill Creative Art in Wurtsboro NY, along with their artist friend and business partner, Billie Robson. Kathy is a talented fiber artist and jewelry maker, and Karl is a painter and photographer of beautifully vibrant scenes. Recently, I’ve had the honor of displaying a selection of my drawings in the new Catskills Creative Art gallery in Wurtsboro, New York and I feel everyone needs to know about this place because there is such an array of wonderful artwork on display that all blends together uniquely and cohesively. I encourage you to make some plans to come check out the gallery and spend an afternoon in one of the sweetest art-filled villages in the area. Please enjoy reading about Kathy and Karl’s art and vision for Catskill Creatives, below.

Can you please tell us a little about your art, and yourself as an Artist? Who has been the biggest influence on your art?

Kathy LaLonde:

Art for me is a natural part of my life, like breathing, it can be both unconscious like the heart beating, we don't think about it. But then, there are times where we must be conscious of our heart and how it beats. So maybe art is my heart beat, art is a giver of life, like our heart.

The first artist I recognized was Peter Max about age 14, I was energized by his colors. I could feel his art through the intense primary colors, it's lively, entertaining and exciting. And, primary colors blend and expand the imagination; life is about expanding the imagination and getting out of the box of daily tasks.

I would say my art communicates that we have the ability to create whatever we want if we let our imagination run free. Every art project pushes the limits of the creative process, it helps us get out of our head and bring the unconscious part into a cohesive union with the conscious state.

Karl LaLonde:

Color has always been my thing. The more punch I give a piece of art, the more I like the painting or photo I am working with. I started painting and photographing in High School and never stopped. I was lucky to have the right people in my life who taught me so much about art and how to work in the field. I have had many opportunities to show my art starting even in high school. My art teachers there were a big influence on my love for art and need to create. Even my track coach taught me lot about photography.

I was with IBM for 23 years and spent that time as a TV and Art Director. I did lots of TV commercials and photography assignments with IBM, as well as ”How Too” videos. When IBM laid off 300 thousand people in 1990, I partnered with a friend and started an ad agency. There, I was Creative Director, as well as produced and directed many TV productions, making lots of revenue for their customers. I always painted as more of a hobby and sold several during my life as well as photography and commercial photography jobs.

Around 1992 , my wife Kathy and I owned a South Western art gallery in New Haven, CT. While that was going I bought a Hobby Shop in Danbury. I was showing in Connecticut as well as Beacon, New York.

Eight years ago we sold the hobby shop, retired and moved to Bullville, New York and almost immediately Kathy and I became owners of RiverWinds Gallery in Beacon, NY, along with friend and fellow artist, Mary Ann Glass. I continued to paint and sell my photography and paintings at RiverWinds gallery. The last two years there, I started developing a new style of painting. I call it “large pointillism on steroids”, (glitter). It is lots of dots that make-up very colorful pictures. Mostly I do tree paintings and after adding glitter, my sales really took off.

Kathy and I are living over near the Catskill Mountains in the small town of Bullville, NY. We live next to a big pond where we enjoy watching different birds and other wildlife go about their colorful lives. We love it here. I use my garage that faces the pond as my painting studio. It’s heated in the winter and I have the greatest atmosphere to create my paintings.

Can you let us know what led you all to opening Catskill Creative in Wurtsboro NY?

Kathy LaLonde:

Catskill Creative Art gallery came to be with the need and desire to share our creativity, it's great to hear the response from people when they come into the gallery. We have a very diverse group of artists showing work here that blend well together, I'd say because we all share in our need and desire to express ourselves more fully.

Karl and I are business partners with our artist friend, Billie Robson. We can be found on facebook at Catskill Creative Art and will advertise our events and town events regularly. We will be having pop up shows outdoors through the summer into the fall. There will be an art crawl sometime this summer as well.

Wurtsboro, NY, has lots to offer as a day trip. It’s a small and cute little village, walkable with very good restaurants, a coffee cafe and the Crystal Connection is next door to us for those minerals lovers! Additionally, there is the Wurtsboro historic hiking trail, the D&H canal, the Basha Kill marsh for bird watchers, and the Basha Kill vineyard & winery.

Any artist interested in Catskill Creative’s pop up show events this year can contact Kathy at: kathylalonde344@gmail.com

Many of Karl’s and Kathy’s artworks are on display the the Catskill Creatives gallery at 110 Sullivan Street in Wurtsboro NY. I highly recommend stopping by on a sunny day to enjoy the array of artwork for sale as well as the many shops on Sullivan Street. Please check out their facebook page to keep up to date with events, such as the Full Moon drum circle on July 3rd from 7-9pm.

Kathy and Karl LaLonde: Catskill Creative Art