About

I’m an artist, writer, designer and generally curious person. Living in Denton, Texas: north of Dallas/Ft Worth and south of the known universe before I moved here from the Seattle area in 2009. Taught university art, English and study/research methodology for a couple of decades before going freelance in 2008 to explore the wider world. Married to a choral conductor, my family and world expanded exponentially through him, his work and fellow musicians; music and its connexions perpetually maintain a powerful influence on my own art forms. While I *am* capable of serious thinking, my tendencies are always inclined toward more frivolous things. You’ll get used to it.

photo
Photo by Carrie Rice 2011

With the few exceptions noted, all text and images on this site are solely the work of Kathryn Sparks, little old me, and I greatly appreciate your enjoyment of them. Any wish to use, link to, or reproduce any part of them in any other place or format should be done only with my explicit permission–but please feel free to share this blog with anyone you think has a strong enough constitution to enjoy it too!

101 thoughts on “About”

  1. Pingback: Seven Links, Seven Post and Seven Blogs | photographyofnia

  2. Hi kathryningrid! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog yesterday. It’s always nice to meet someone new. I scrolled through several pages of your blog, and your art is impressive! I especially like your pencil (charcoal?) sketches.
    I live north east of Dallas, so we’re almost neighbors ;-)
    Oh, and my middle name is Ingrid!!

    Reply ↓

    • Ah, clearly we both come from parents of good taste! My middle name is after one of my aunts, so I suppose my grandparents get some of the credit too. :)

      Yes, my black and white works are mostly pencil/graphite drawings, with the occasional charcoal or other thrown in.

      Delighted to connect with a fellow creative north Texan!

      Reply ↓

      • That is so funny! My middle name is after one of my aunts…. well, technically my dad’s aunt. She’s also my godmother, and that’s why I was named after her.

      • I’m glad Mom and Dad stuck with Auntie Ingrid’s name and not *my* dad’s aunt’s: Ingeborg. Sweetest lady on earth, but I’m happy to have gotten a slightly more modern form of the name!! :D

  3. Hi kathryningrid!

    Thanks so much for visiting and for subscribing! After reading your bio, I would appreciate any feedback, at all! Thanks also for your kind words. I read your comment, then somehow, lost it and feel bad! Technology! I am going to follow you, too, and look forward to getting to know you! :)
    Lauren

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  4. Hi KAthryningrid!
    Thank you for visiting my blog! I am very flattered when someone takes time to look at my photos & appreciate them! I have been to Texas a lot of times because my parents & sister live there already, so it´s like my second home :-)
    Me & my husband are also musicians! So music has really a big influence in our everyday lives!
    Looking forward to seeing more of your beautiful art! Thank you again! Eden

    Reply ↓

    • Eden, thank you kindly for coming over here! I’ll enjoy watching your work, I can tell. Glad to know you’re musicians and familiar with TX too! Maybe you’ll be able to stop by in Denton on one of your jaunts in the great-state-of. Where’s your family located? I’m *just* beginning to get a tiny bit familiar with the lay of the land here (and very directionally challenged, if you happen to have seen any of my posts on dyslexia, heh-heh-heh).

      What kind of music do your favor?? :)

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  5. Hi Kathryn,

    Thanks so much for visiting my blog, making such a kind comment and subscribing! I’m equally appreciative that by connecting with mine I have ‘found’ yours and can already see that there is much to enjoy for eye and mind and spirit. I’ll be back very soon to investigate it properly when I can devote some quality time to doing so.

    Reply ↓

  6. What a lovely blog you have here! Once a little girl I was dreaming of becoming a designer or an artist, but I didn’t, for some reason. But hey ho, I can express my creativity through wordpress and meet so many lovely people :D Thanks for stopping by and I will definitely see you around! :D

    Reply ↓

    • Life takes us where it will, not always where we expect or dream; but indeed, your creativity is in full evidence on your blog, Kristina! Thank you for joining me here, too–I look forward to our many creative exchanges to come!

      Reply ↓

    • Hmmm, maybe there is just something inherently creative in us Ingrids! I learned that our friend at TheDailyClick (see above, here) shares the name too. :)

      I’m looking forward to seeing much more of your blog.

      Skål!
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  8. Hi Kathryn, I just wanted to stop a moment and say “thank you” for taking the time to read my posts and leaving such thoughtful, understanding comments. You really have a gift of reading people’s written thoughts and seeing the intentions behind them. You’re a gifted woman! Thank you again, any may you and yours have a lovely Christmas ahead of you!

    Reply ↓

  9. Hi Kathryn, I know you know me. Please feel free to delete this comment after reading, it really is a side issue (really to the side). I read Richard’s blog about classical music and baseball by following his comment from your blog. For some reason, his site or my browser won’t show the super secret ninja code letters to enable commenting. Please let him know it was a great post, and I don’t think the problem lies with the music or artists as much as the audience. Do the attend as fans looking forward to a performance or as critics comparing the performance to another. To often in todays society there are more critics than fans.

    Reply ↓

    • Hi, Ted! I’ve asked Richard to have a look and tell me how to go about the commenting process on his blog. I haven’t even figured out if I can subscribe via email to his, so I think maybe I’ll sit him down to look at whether we can Tweak his Widgets (wow, that sounds racy, doesn’t it!) to simplify it all. I’ll keep you posted! Meanwhile, I forwarded your note to him directly too. Thanks for looking him up!
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

    • Thank you so very much, Eve! I love your writing and so especially enjoyed getting to learn a little more about you as you ‘filled us in’ following your receipt of the VBA. I see we have a lot of similar reading and art tastes, so obviously you are extremely discerning!! ;) Thanks for being a great support. :)

      Reply ↓

  12. Hi. Thank you for your message and your kind words about our blog. For some unknown reason WP does not allow us to reply to your message directly, so we are posting a note of my appreciation here. We are enjoying your blog immensely. Good cheer!

    Reply ↓

    • Yes, I’m still working out many of the intriguing quirks of the online world and WP’s occasional surprises too! But I am sincerely delighted that PFS mavens would take note of my stuff and like it, so thank you extra for making the effort!

      Reply ↓

    • Hi to you, too, Nors! Sorry it’s been so long since I’ve been around to visit your blog–it’s on my fun-to-do list ahead, for sure. Thanks for thinking of me, and may you and your family have beautiful holidays too!!

      Reply ↓

  14. Dear Kathryn, First of all, sorry, I can’t catch your posts on time… But it is so nice to come back and to read and to watch them all, like a book… You are such a beautiful artist, I love your art… Creative, philosophic, poetic, artistic… Your art makes me excited too and being inspirational for me too… Angels and Muses be with you always. Happy New Year and Merry Christmas. Thank you, with my love, nia

    Reply ↓

    • You dear sweet lady, Nia. You are far too kind! I am so grateful for your friendship and support. You help me to be better at this just by your gracious attentions and by being ‘out there’ thinking of me from time to time. Many blessings to you, too, at Christmas and the New Year and always!

      Reply ↓

  15. I absolutely love your posts, Kathryn. Your support on my blog is also very much appreciated. The subtle imagery, the philosophy, and the inspiration from your blog takes my breath away.
    I wish you a the very merriest of Christmases. :)
    I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award (http://bluesander.wordpress.com/2011/12/25/the-versatile-blogger-award/), so do pass that along if you haven’t been nominated already.
    Happy holidays,
    ‘Nessa.

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you for your kindness, ‘Nessa dear. I shall do my best to live up to your words. Eventually, anyway! :)

      In the meantime, my very best Christmas wishes to you as well. May next Christmas find us both ever deeper in the possible pleasures and growth that clearly come from our blogging adventures!

      Reply ↓

    • Hi, Eye,

      I meant to Follow long ago but couldn’t find the email-follow tab earlier. Not so bright, I guess. I’m so enjoying your point of view and the great items and subjects you find to share, and only wish I could have another visit or ten to wonderful Toronto to see the world through your eyes in your very own city. Eventually, perhaps. . . fond memories for now. And I appreciate your keeping me company in the Land of Blog and will look forward as well to a grand New Year!

      Reply ↓

  17. Pingback: Versatile. Blogger. Award. (Reprise) « Peach Farm Studio

    • Many, many thanks to you! I am preparing a more appropriate and complete response and will post it soon. In the meantime, I wish you a wonderful 2012 in every way, not least of all as you blog along!!

      Reply ↓

    • Lauren, you are so generous! I thank you for the VBA, and more than that, for all that you share of yourself on your own blog. Happy 2012 to you as well!
      Kathryn
      PS–If I’d been born a boy, I was to be Thomas Lauren (middle name after my uncle), so I’ve always loved your name for both girls *and* boys. :)

      Reply ↓

  21. Hi Kathryn,
    Just stopping by to let you know I have selected you to receive the Versatile Blogger Award, I know you have received it already so no pressure to do so again but wanted you to see why I picked you so check this link out :-)

    Versatile Blogger Award http://wp.me/p1Vba2-ks

    Have a nice weekend :-)

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you so very much, Geraldine, I am honored and humbled by your kind sharing of this award! Especially by someone whose own work inspires and impresses me as yours does. :) You got my weekend right up into that “nice” category and beyond! :)

      Reply ↓

  24. Kathryn, it seems I have been missing out on so much! You are an incredible writer and phenomenal artist! Looking forward to reading more!
    Have a happy day and thank you again for stopping by my little spot in the blogosphere. :-) Mandy

    Reply ↓

    • Hi, Mandy, I’m so pleased we’ve managed to find each other ‘out here’! Enjoy your blog immensely and look forward to lots more. I’m glad you’re enjoying this place too!
      Cheers,
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

    • I can see I’ll have some archeology to practice, having only now found your blog, since it’s got so much fun and thought-provoking stuff even in the few posts I’ve gotten to see thus far. :) I’m delighted we’ve connected now and look for many great things to come!
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  26. I stumbled across your blog from a comment you made on http://into-mind.com/2012/01/08/positive-psychology-the-3-sources-of-happiness/#comment-501 and thought based on your interest in art you might be curious to contribute to a crowedsourced project about happiness. Its aim is to create a synthesized understanding of what kinds of spaces make us happy through user submitted images and descriptions. Looking forward to a contribution from you!

    all the best!

    Reply ↓

    • Sorry I’m so slow to respond to this! I’d set it aside while I went off looking at your project and got so wrapped up I completely forgot myself. Which I suppose is a very good commentary on your project indeed! :)

      I will have to think about what would be a fitting submission from me, but am certainly honored you thought of asking.

      Best to you!
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  27. Pingback: Thank. You. YOU! « Peach Farm Studio

  28. Hello Kathryn,

    I’m from Canada and love your work. I was wondering if there is any way to get your permission to use a photo for a Album cover of a project I’m doing.

    Hope to hear from you soon…

    Ed

    Reply ↓

    • Hello, Ed!

      Thanks for coming by. I’m glad you are interested in my work. What photo do you have in mind? And I’d love to hear more about the album project, of course!

      Cheers,
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  29. Well I loved the holloween photo of yours (black and white kind of). Thought it would make a great cover art. With your permission I’d love to use it and send you a finished copy of our cd when its done. It’s an Alternative/pop sound. Just finished recording actually. :)

    Cheers.

    Ed (In Canada)

    Reply ↓

    • Hi, Ed!
      So sorry I didn’t get back to you for so long. I’ve been replacing parts (and adding RAM) on my computer and lost a few things along the way, not least of all time!! But yes, I think you could use any of the three monochrome images from my 31 October 2011 post under the “terms” you described above, making sure that you also credit the image to Kathryn I. W. Sparks 2011 – http://kiwsparks.wordpress.com
      If it’s still of interest to you, let me know and I’ll look forward to receiving my “payment” CD when it’s ready!
      Cheers,
      Kathryn
      PS–where in Canada are you?

      Reply ↓

  32. Hi kathryn.. Just drop by here to say …… Your amazing. I love all your daily post, poems, topics and everything. And learn so much from it. Glad i meet you here…. Thanks and keep it up!!!

    Reply ↓

    • Nors, you are very generous! I thank you. Your own kindness and creativity come through in your posts as well, and I enjoy them immensely. So it’s great to have such warm mutual support! All the best to you too, my friend. :)

      Reply ↓

  33. Hi Kathryn,
    Thanks so much for letting me use your photo. I will definitley credit you in the cd notes and of course send you one! I’m up in Belleville, Ontario Canada. That’s two hours East from Toronto. If all goes well I should have CD’s by mid febuary. Do you have a mailing address you can send me? My direct email is btbed@hotmail.com so you don’t have to post it. LOL.

    Thanks so much again,

    Ed Conley :)

    Reply ↓

  35. I just found this number for a Denton area Organic Gardening group… I haven’t tested the number though.
    Denton 940 382-8551
    You might want to check it out.
    Bishop

    Reply ↓

    • Oh, my goodness, how funny you should have popped by today with this kindness. If you don’t mind terribly, I will add your name to the day’s post straightaway! I am honored that you thought of me, as I admire *your* writing-and-visual versatility so greatly myself!!!

      Reply ↓

  37. Hi Kathryn! Thank you for stopping by my blog today. I’m glad you received the Candle Lighter Award. I enjoy your blog and creativity, too. I live in AZ. I have cousins in Seattle–and have visited that fair city a few times. I bet you liked your time there. Now you are in Texas–I have been through part of Texas on our move from OH to AZ. I’ve lived many places. My dad’s ancestors came from Norway (and Mom’s Ireland). Si it turns out we have some things in common in addition to the fact that we love to be upbeat, creative, and positive–and are named Kathryn. :-)

    Reply ↓

    • Gracious, it seems that our paths cross in an enormous lacy net! How very apropos. I’m so delighted we’ve met now and look forward to getting to know you and your work much better!
      Best,
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  39. Pingback: I didn’t have a pair of red shoes! The award post. | thekitchensgarden

  40. Hi Kathryn. I found you because I was tagged for/by Mrs Sparkly and then Googled Mrs S. Your post came up and I was excited at the name of your blog – kiwisparks. I thought I had found another blogger in NZ. Nothwithstanding the minor disappointment, I am glad I found you and shall be back again soon. :P

    Reply ↓

    • Welcome, Judith! I’ve noticed a couple of my blogging friends put my name on their blogrolls and notes as kiwisparks, but it’s really kiwsparks (Kathryn Ingrid Wold Sparks, my whole name, to be precise), so I apologize for the false advertising! I’d *love* to at least be able to *visit* NZ, but for now it’s still on my wish list. As it is, I’m delighted you came here, accidentally or otherwise, and will certainly want to pay a visit to *your* blog now too!
      Cheers,
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  43. Hiya, Kathryn, thanks for popping into my blog, just been looking at yours, really good one it is too…i,ve got some reading to do to catch up so will be popping in and out a bit :-)

    Reply ↓

    • I’m so far behind (how’s *that* for inspiring!) that I can’t remember if I responded properly to you at your blog for this gracious gift. So I’ll check in on that shortly–in the meantime, I *am* very grateful for your constancy and kindness, dear Lauren, as much as for your writing and your gentle spirit.
      xoxo!
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  45. Thanks for following my blog!
    You have such an exciting mix of words and art; photos, drawings, painting and poetry; as well as musings.

    Reply ↓

  47. Hello, fellow Dallas-area blogger (I’m in Mesquite)! You’ve won so many awards. It must feel wonderful! I just “found” your blog and am already following it. Thanks!

    Reply ↓

    • Thank you, Climber! I’ve not yet really visited Mesquite (being relatively new to DFW) but have passed through a couple of times and said I need to check out the town a bit! So much to see and do in NTX, and so ridiculously little time. :) So pleased to ‘meet’ you here, and I’m looking forward to seeing much more of your blog as well. All best to you!
      Kathryn

      Reply ↓

  49. Hi Kathryn. In an effort to improve my art, I am trying to put together a small group of people who would be willing to critique some of my images. I have followed your blog for some time now, and I respect your work and creative vision. If you would be willing to assist me in this way, please send me an e-mail to ted@gazellefinancial.com and I will let you know the specifics of what I have in mind. Thank you so much for considering this. Sincerely, Ted.

    Reply ↓

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