Kate Torrence - Graphic Design

Have you ever looked at a painting and didn’t know exactly what it was but you could get a sense of energy action or violence from the deep reds and the sharp black bangles? Maybe you’ve seen a painting by Henri Matisse that gave you a sense of optimism with his use of yellow and a touch of blue green and the emphasizing the happy and positive.   I feel like color has a language that everyone understands without consciously realizing it.  I’ve never been a writer but I adore communicating through art.  I find the way color, value and lines communicate inspiring and fun.  

I am a hobby artist.  I grew up in a family of artists my mother my grandfather and my great grandmother were all artists. I learned to love painting from my grandfather.   He loved to paint plein air which was easy to get me interested in because I love being outdoors.  I honestly never took my art very seriously because I am also practical and working on computers in the business sector seemed the practical method of making a living.  It wasn’t until I began working for the State Department and had a chance to put together newsletters, power points and employee manuals that I realized there was this field of graphic design I could pursue that used all the elements of art.  Painting taught me how to use shape, color, and space to find harmony, contrast or emphasis so making eye catching graphics was an easy jump.

Graphic design grabs my attention everywhere I go.  I can’t look at a sign, mail flyer or business without seeing what that design is communicating and maybe how I could have done it better or just how amazing the design was.  I truly enjoy finding ways to make a design to communicate. It can be strength from bold lines, deep blues and structured typography or playfulness from a contrast of teal, pink and orange with a whimsical font.   Everything I design is a culmination of the goal, my experience and inspiration.  Finding the perfect design inspiration is like finding a treasure.  It never stops thrilling me.