We are excited to announce the addition of seven colorful and patterned images by Bainbridge Island-based artist Kathe Fraga to our BED (Budget Editions) line of open edition digital prints. The newly released images from Kathe Fraga’s French Wallpaper Series are inspired by hand-painted motifs found on the timeworn walls of grand old Parisian mansions.  Fraga also draws inspiration from patterns found on vintage kimonos, hand-blocked wall panels and hand-worked embroidery.  Each painting resembles an aged decorative panel adorned with birds, flowers, vines and leaves in the Chinoiserie style. Using layers of time, age and color, the artist’s modern interpretation of this style yields magical, dreamy, softly faded, and colorful narratives.

Fraga,83904 "Cherry Blossoms" and Fraga,83908 "Garden Dance"

Fraga’s original paintings are painted in acrylic on canvas and finished in lacquer, creating a layering effect with colors that convey a charming Old World aesthetic.  Her primary color palette includes upbeat and romantic blues, greens, pinks, and yellows.  Cheerful birds, beautiful blossoms, and lovely colorful and patterned backgrounds in her images are suitable for private and public settings and variety of design styles and décor aesthetics. 

Fraga,83736 "Dream Garden"

From living rooms and bedrooms, to hotel guestrooms and hospital lobbies, Fraga’s images set a joyous welcoming tone for a rushing passerby, and for those who stop and look, who wait and wonder, there is a lot to be seen beneath the surface.

“I paint to create a mood from a distance,” shared the artist.  “When I paint, it’s with broad strokes of color and with the tiniest detail.  When you walk in a lobby or see one of my paintings over a mantel in a private home, from a distance you notice color and mood: red, blue, birds, shapes. And then, when you come closer to the work, you might notice a shadow of another flower hidden beneath a layer of hue, a little bee hovering over a big bloom, a small "xo" carved into the paint. I believe that's what keeps a painting interesting...you pass by it multiple times and enjoy the color, you linger and there's always something else new.”

Fraga,83903 "Remembering 2" and Fraga,83902 "Remembering 1"

Fraga’s paintings have been recently acquired by the Swedish Hospital in Ballard and Issaquah, WA, as well as Island Hospital in Anacortes, WA.  Her work has been featured in a number of design magazines and blogs, including Maison Francaise (Istanbul Edition), Casas & Mas (Mexico), Ocean Home, Seattle magazine, the Pantone Color Institute director Lee Eiseman's Eiseman Color Blog, and Nest by Tamara, one of HGTV’s favorite interior design blogs.

Fraga,83907 "Chez Nous"

Grand Image is Fraga’s first art publisher and it feels like the perfect fit.  “It's a honor and a delight to share my art with wider audiences and have my work be available to the design and hospitality trade as fine art digital prints,” said the artist. “The top-of-the-line gallery quality prints Grand Image produces – from color matching to clarity of the image - are on par with original work. I’m very excited about this new endeavor!”

View the Kathe Fraga BED collection on Grand Image website.