What Does an Artist Look Like?

Thanks to the entertainment industry, which in the last 100 years has shaped societal perspective on reality, many people think of someone in a paint-spattered smock and beret, grasping a palette, and acting in a less than rational manner.

“Oh don’t mind him, he’s an artist, you know,” somebody sniffs.

But artists, like art itself, are unique and individual, and textile artist Catherine Little, of White Bird, ID, who creates home décor gift and wall hangings depicting wildlife and country scenes, looks and acts like a likable, normal person who will not wind up as the villain in a weekly crime show.

From her backcountry home, Little hikes the trails with a camera, capturing images of birds and animals which she transfers to a drawing. From there, she creates original patterns for her fabric art, embellishing the final image with paint and machine embroidery.

“All of my designs are originals; I make my own patterns, and I have done landscapes, birds, flowers, waterfowl, mammals, fish, and even dragons,” Little says. Originally trained in painting, Little jumped into quilting 20-plus years ago when her oldest daughter asked for a king-sized quilt as a wedding present. From there (Little’s first major quilt), the artist honed her skills making memory quilts for children who had lost a parent at the World Trade Center or Pentagon during 9/11.

She now focuses on baby quilts, table runners, hot pads, place mats, tea cozies, lap quilts, wall hangings, and memory quilts. A selection of Little’s work is presently on display at Wenaha Gallery through May 18.

Wenaha Gallery, located at 219 East Main Street, Dayton, is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.