.png)
Local artists bring their visions to life for public art project
As part of the “Stars of Dripping Springs” public art project, the City of Dripping Springs unveiled a new set of stars at a ceremony on Oct. 8. The stars are designed to celebrate the Hill Country nature and heritage that make Dripping Springs shine. The star artists - Melissa Richardson, Joe Christenson, Kyndall Womack, Cathy Richardson, Jessie Woodhead, Erin Hounsel, Jessi Bostad, Tiffany Sierras, Jenny Swannack and Rozmary Seastrom will be profiled in our newspaper over the coming weeks.
Cathy Richardson What is your background as an artist?
My company’s name is Cathy B. Design, and I’ve been in business as a graphic designer and graphic illustrator for over 30 years now. I first started out working in corporate for the Walt Disney company, then branched out into my own thing. For the last ten years or so I’ve just really been interested in and very supportive of local art, small business, stuff like that. I’ve really enjoyed working with small businesses here in Central Texas.
Can you tell us about your star?
The star is going to be located at City Hall. The city asked me to do a star that would coordinate with the mural inside that I painted. We wanted to create a welcoming star for people to see, and come in and be welcomed at City Hall. I have been working with the City of Dripping Springs for a couple of years now doing different logos. That started with the Founders Day logo. Last year I redid their Christmas on Mercer Santa and their Hometown Holidays campaign.
How does your personal style or vision come through in your design?
I think definitely through happy bright colors. I really try to promote positivity in my artwork. And the concept was showcasing all the different aspects that the city and the community bring together. There are names of the different parks around town, the music element, the Wedding Capital of Texas, the breweries, the western iconic feel.
What kind of benefit do you think this public art project has for the community?
Learning more about culture and art, which I think is super important for a community. It’s just so nice to see art and vibrant color. The unveiling of the stars the other night was so much fun. I had more joy seeing other people’s art, because each artist has their own take. Everybody’s star was original, which was so refreshing and fun to see.
Was there any particular challenge in creating such a large 3-D piece?
Oh my gosh, yes. I am traditionally a graphic illustrator, so I do everything on a little screen. I can change colors, I can do anything I want, right? Once it goes big it’s a very, very different dynamic, not only with drawing and planning it out but painting it. It’s really inspired me now to create some of my own artwork in large scale painting, rather than just being on the computer. It’s just so refreshing to do something with my hands, instead of just with my mouse.
Any final thoughts on the project?
I’m just so grateful for this whole experience and to the city and the Art League. They are a gem to the city and to the art community for sure. They’ve reached so many different groups. They’re reaching young people, which thrills me because that’s the growth of the city. And seniors, who need to be heard and seen, and then people like me in the middle, the empty nesters trying to figure things out in midlife. It’s really been exciting, and I just love that the local businesses have gotten involved.
Jennifer Swannack What is your background as an artist?
I have been an interior designer for 20 something years. In 2020 I decided to leave my job - I still do contract work - but I really wanted to work on my craft and be an artist. Thankfully, I found the Art League and that has been incredible. I mainly do acrylic painting. I like to paint light and how it interacts with objects.
Tell me about the design of your star.
My star is called Willie’s First Picnic. Growing up, my family always had records, and we have all of Willie Nelson’s records and stuff. I love him so much. I wondered if there was a connection to Dripping Springs. Sure enough, when I searched, I learned that his very first Fourth of July picnic was in Dripping Springs. Then I found an image of the ticket stub, and so that is on part of the star. I painted the star to look like worn leather. The guitar strap wraps around, so it looks like it’s laying on the star. On the front of the star I did the lyrics to Whiskey River, because that’s usually how he opens up his concerts. I also chose songs that he would’ve sung at that concert. Then he usually closed his concerts with Stay All Night, Stay a Little Longer, and so that’s on the back of the star.
How do you think this type of public art project benefits the community?
Oh, I mean, I love it. I think as artists we get excited for the opportunities that come about when the city engages us. And then it is just a neat way to accentuate a city center or town center. The community can learn from it, because all the artists come up with different subject matter, whether it’s something about wildflowers or water conservation.
What do you think was the biggest challenge of doing something that scale?
Knowing when to stop. I started nearing the end and there was one thing that I wasn’t exactly sure how to paint, so I slowed down. I was afraid to mess it up. And then when I was done, I kind of looked at it, like, should I do anything more?
Was there any particular challenge that you found with working with the star shape?
Not this time, I had a plan. One of the artists that did a star last year had given me the advice of using carbon paper to transfer some of your design on to the star. That was a game changer. I found a cool font that looks like good handwriting. I printed it out and then carefully did it in sections. I would print out the lyrics and then trace over them with the carbon paper in between, then just paint on top of that.
How do you hope that people respond to your star?
With nostalgia and happiness, and I would love for Willie to one day see it and take a picture with it or something. He is such a treasure and so I hope that the star represents him well.
Rozmary Seastrom Tell me a little bit about your art background.
I’ve never had any formal training except for up to high school, taking basic art classes. But I like figuring things out as I go. So I’ve done sculptures and weaving, and I researched and figured it out. Nowadays you can look up anything. It’s amazing.
Can you describe more of your path to being an artist?
I got into the service industry when I was 16 years old, and I bartended for many years. I lived in Las Vegas. I lived in San Diego. Then in my 20s, I decided I’ve got to go back to school. I went that route and when I graduated, I was like, you know what? I could do all the things I love. And then I met my husband. He’s Navy, or he was at the time. Once we got married, everything changed because we were moving around so much. I wasn’t really able to settle in and build any direct business. Plus, we had a young kid I was raising. But art was the one thing I stuck with. It was always the one thing that was on my backburner, because you can take it anywhere you go. We were living in Italy, we’ve been in Hawaii, we’ve been all over. There were a lot of ups and downs, especially with the military and living overseas. So art was the one thing I always went back to to help ground me and to remind me of who I am and what I can do for the world.
What inspired the art for your star?
I really wanted to play homage to the small businesses that have grown here, the distilleries, breweries and wineries. This community is bustling with them. It’s a huge part of what this community is. So I wanted to do something that kind of cheers this and brings us all together. On the other side of the star, I wanted to commemorate the dark sky community.
What’s something else you’re working on?
I’m involved with Patriots Hall. I volunteer there and run the art program. We do water color and oil painting and stained glass. Every month we do something different, which is fun.
Obviously you feel strongly about creating art.
Art is all about creating emotions in people. That and stories, those two things to me are kind of what art’s all about. Also, art, for me, is history. After traveling all over and looking at art in different museums, art shows our history. They say history’s written by the person who won, you know, by the person who conquered. But if you really want to know history, artwork does not lie.
What interested you about the star project?
I just love being challenged. My answer is always, let’s make it happen. I don’t know how yet, but we’ll figure it out.
