Katherine Robinson: Embracing Creativity in Retirement

When Katherine Robinson reached out via mail to share how let us know how she creatively used a Fodeez® Reusable Adhesive Frame to protect a beautiful drawing as it passed through the mail, we had to learn more

Here's the text from Katherine's original email:

I have seen your testimonials from customers using your frames for business and personal photos, but I’ve not seen one that shows the use of Fodeez Frames to protect documents for mailing. I’ve attached a photo of a pencil coloring of a hydrangea that will be mailed to my daughter. At her recent wedding, hydrangeas were her signature flower. She asked me to make a representation that she could frame. My first choice to protect the drawing was your frame inside of a cardboard sleeve and envelope. Your frame prevents the paper from moving around and getting smeared while traveling with the post office service.  Thank you for a great product with many uses including mailing.

Katherine Robinson

Of course, we thank Katherine for the kind words, but we also wanted to learn more about her creative hobby. So here's a little bit of info about Katherine:

Retirement often brings with it the freedom to explore new passions and hobbies, a chance to dive into activities that may have been sidelined during the hustle and bustle of working life. For Katherine Robinson, a 72-year-old veteran living in Florida, retirement has been a canvas of creativity, where she has explored the vibrant world of rubber stamping, card making, and intricate coloring.

A Journey of Artistic Exploration

Katherine’s artistic journey began with rubber stamping and greeting card making. The intricate designs and the joy of creating personalized cards quickly became a beloved hobby. However, Katherine’s thirst for creativity led her to seek out new techniques and styles to enhance her card designs. This quest brought her to the realms of line and greyscale art, opening up new avenues of artistic expression.

Adapting to New Challenges

When the pandemic hit, Katherine faced an unexpected challenge. Her husband, who needed to work from home, required space for his computers, forcing her to relocate her craft area. Determined to continue her artistic pursuits, Katherine turned to more portable projects. It was during this time that she discovered the world of adult coloring books. This serendipitous find marked the beginning of a new chapter in her creative journey.

Line art from kitandclowder.com colored by Katherine Robinson.

Discovering the World of Coloring

Katherine’s exploration of coloring led her to www.kitandclowder.com, an online business that offers coloring lessons using colored pencils and alcohol markers. Based in Queensland, Australia, this service provides bi-monthly lessons complete with step-by-step course booklets and video instructions. Katherine found the structured guidance and variety of techniques invaluable in honing her coloring skills. 

The Magic of Intricate Animals

Among her favorite resources are Tim Jeffs’ Intricate Animals coloring books. These books, available on Amazon, feature detailed greyscale illustrations of animals from around the world. Each book includes a lesson focused on a specific animal, teaching shading techniques and offering a creative outlet for coloring enthusiasts. Katherine enjoys not only the coloring process but also the opportunity to learn about diverse animal species.  "He has a number of books providing different types of animals you can color anyway you'd like or in the animal's natural shades," says Katherine. "The Internet  provides many sources for pictures of animals to guide you in your coloring projects."

Line art by Tim Jeff's Intricate Animals Collection, colored by Katherine Robinson

The Joy of Learning and Mindfulness

For Katherine, the benefits of her coloring hobby extend far beyond the final product. She delights in learning new skills and discovering animals she had never known existed. More importantly, the process of coloring provides her with periods of mindfulness, allowing her to escape from everyday stresses and focus solely on her art. The act of coloring brings a sense of calm and satisfaction. "The greatest benefit of learning to be a colorist is the periods of mindfulness it provides," she says.  "You can take your mind away from everyday life and just concentrate on your coloring process whether you have five minutes or five hours to dedicate to a piece."

Line art from kitandclowder.com and colored by Katherine Robinson.