Since this blog started, we've been showing you some of our favorite new Kanvas collections, but we haven't really talked about who is behind the Kanvas name.
Meet Maria.
Maria Kalinowski is the creative force behind Kanvas, Benartex's new division featuring novelty prints and more. And what a force she is! Head into your local quilt shop, and chances are, you'll be able to identify Kanvas prints simply by their fresh, graphic look. From popsicles to beer bottles, and the New York skyline to retro diner prints, you'll find designs that make you smile, ready to be used in your next project. Maria designs fabric lines herself and also works with a select team of artists to create everything Kanvas. She recently spoke about her work and her design process.
Tell us
about your background.
Art is not
what I do but who I am, I have been painting and drawing since I was a child
and come from a long line of dress designers and graphic designers in my
family. I never had any question about what I was going to do in my life, it
came completely naturally.
My background is formal training in the fine arts. During
high school I painted primarily in watercolors, landscapes, barns and was very
well known for my florals. During one of my art exhibitions in Connecticut a
professor had mentioned that my paintings looked like fabric designs. This is
where the idea came to me that maybe I should pursue a career in textile
design. I was one of the youngest members of the Ridgefield guild of Artist’s
where I participated in many juried art shows, sold and had one-man exhibitions
throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut. I then graduated from Rhode Island
School of Design in Providence Rhode Island, with a BFA degree in textile
design.
Upon graduating I took my first job on 7th
Avenue designing women’s fashion as a board artist, and the rest is history.
What do you
like best about designing fabric?
I chose
fabric design primarily because it is a mix between the fine arts and design.
There are no limits to what you can use fabric for these days, and it always
surprises me to see how the quilters and manufacturers create products or
quilts with my fabrics. Quilting and sewing is a whole other talent in itself.
I am awed and amazed at what the quilters create from so many tiny pieces of
fabric.
How would
you describe your style?
I would say
my style is eclectic with an edge. I have a love for designing beautiful
elegant more traditional lines, such as my blue horizon peacock as well as my
bold, edgy novelties that evoke humor and a definite point of view.
What do you
do in your free time?
My free
time is limited as I commute to New York from Connecticut and have a
12-year-old son David. He keeps my weekends pretty busy and is the joy of
my life. I do love theatre, movies and concerts. But mostly I spend my time
entertaining family and friends in my home in Westport.
Where do
you get your inspiration from?
My mind
never rests. I get inspiration from everywhere and am always looking for the
next new concepts. I draw from life such as my hero dogs print came from the 10th
anniversary of 9/11 that just passed. So TV, world events, movies and magazines
are what inspire me. It is endless and can be a bit exhausting because there is
no way to turn it off. It is who I am.
Do you name
the fabric collections yourself?
We have so
much fun naming the fabric collections. Sometimes the names come before I have
even conceived the designs and sometimes the groups help give us the names.
This is my studio's favorite part.
What else can you tell us about yourself?
I have been
told I have a flare for the dramatic that makes me a great storyteller with a
comedic edge. People who are not in my close circle don’t see that side of
me. Most people think because of my flare for fashion that I live in NYC,
but actually I live in a country farmhouse near the beach in Connecticut.
I think the solitude after the hustle and bustle of my busy weeks is what
rejuvenates me.
Check out Maria's studio...where all the creativity happens!
