Curious by nature and always willing to experiment, she took a basket class in the early 1990's. This class introduced her to the gathering and the use of many natural materials. She discovered she loved their colors, varieties, and textures. Since then she has continued to weave baskets and teach basketry. In 2009, she attended a series of workshops on weaving baskets and working with gourds. She found that gourds were the perfect medium to in which to express herself. “I love the earthy and natural appeal of gourds and often leave much of the beautiful gourd surface showing in my work. Gourd Art also allows me to continue working with the wonderful fibers and weaving materials I use in my baskets. They allow me to add interesting textures to my work. My style continues to evolve as I learn and experiment with new techniques and materials. Kathy Badrak, gourd with leather trim
Kathy is a member of the Lompoc Valley Art Association, California Gourd Society and the American Gourd Society. Her work has been sold through art galleries, commission work and shows in California. She has won numerous awards in juried shows and has been the featured artist for the Cypress Gallery. Kathy Badrak is a Co-owner of Lavenpine consulting , named after two favorite plants, Lavender and Pinyon Pine. Through Lavenpine, Kathy and her partner teach classes in Basketry, Gourd Art, Ethnobotany, and Nature Awareness to further their goals of connecting people to their environments through education and art.
Kathy Badrak
Kathy Badrak, Dembe
Kathy Badrak, Ocean