ON DISPLAY

On Display | arts & culture

EXPERIMENTAL EMBROIDERY

Story Dawn Nolan | Photography Shannon Shank

Using warm, natural materials like cotton, linen, wood and ceramics, Christine Natalie White creates hand-embroidered textile pieces that are “dimensional, modern, botanical.”

“It’s a delicate art, and I love that delicateness,” White said.

The stay-at-home mom of three (Sophia, 8; Olivia, 6; Jude, 3) started her business, Christine Natalie Art, during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. White released her first collection of embroidery hoops, which was made up of eight pieces, in July. Her second collection was released in September and featured 15 pieces.

“It started as a creative outlet for me, which I really needed at the time,” she said.

White was motivated to try her hand at embroidery art after following a Russian textile artist (@irenelovestextiles) on Instagram.

“I just thought, ‘I want to do that,’” White said. She told her husband, and then one day, when she was with her kids, she decided to make a trip to the craft store.

“I picked up some linen, hoops and thread, and I just started doing it,” White said.

White’s new art business was a bit of a switch from what she’d been doing in her previous career. Prior to moving to

arts & culture | On Display

On Display | arts & culture

Huntington, where her husband Brandon (a surgical technician and her biggest supporter) is from, eight years ago, White was pursuing a doctorate in neuroscience. She is a graduate of University of Michigan and worked at the famed Kinsey Institute in Indiana as a research assistant.

“I find how people think and the brain interesting,” she said. “I’m the type of person that dives deeply into a topic, and that was something I enjoyed for a long time.”

Science might have been her path for a while, but White has always been an artist — sketching, painting, sewing, etc. — at heart.

“I’ve been sewing since I was a small child; my mom taught me,” White said. “I always liked that medium and the softness — the yarn thread has different texture but there is this soft and warm feel to it. I’ve also sketched and painted for many years, and it’s something I want to start incorporating into my work. I have multimedia ideas that I’m excited about.”

During her middle school years, White’s family lived in Switzerland. The time abroad had a profound experience on her.

“I had an amazing art education,” she said. “These were the best art teachers. They had students explore different mediums, and we had opportunities to travel. We went to Paris and visited the Monet museum — one of my favorite no longer living artists — and it was incredible. We had a big project where we had to create a special art book that compiled sketches and things from our travels.”

White has converted one of the rooms in her home into a space where she can “experiment” with her embroidery and other art.

arts & culture | On Display

“I use a lot of different materials and techniques and have spent a lot of time experimenting,” she said. “I have a basket full of ‘experiments’ — I try not to call them failures because it’s all part of the learning process even if they didn’t work out.”

Each of White’s pieces are individual works.

“Generally when I’m making things my process is very freeform, and I just design them as I go,” she said. “I like for that piece that I’m working on to be the only one. I might make something in a similar motif, but it isn’t ever going to be exactly the same.

Her creations range in size. The smallest one she’s done has been about 2 inches, and the largest was 23. Most, however, are between 6-10 inches. The time it takes to complete a piece can also vary, but White thinks it’s usually around 50-60 hours.

“A lot of time is spent thinking about where I want to go with it, ” White said. “Actual work time can range from weeks to months, because I have other things going on with my kids and family.”

As evident in her work, flowers and nature are White’s biggest source of inspiration.

“I would definitely say the outdoors is my greatest influence,” White said. “We’re a super outdoorsy family. We love hiking and foraging and just spending time outside.”

She also has a deep love for the ocean.

On Display | arts & culture

“I have a piece I’m working on that’s inspired by green coral and echoes the shape of sand dunes. I just love the area where the ocean and land meet.”

White uses a lot of neutral tones in her pieces, but isn’t against using pops of color.

“I love that coziness and calmness of having neutrals in my own home, and when we’re stuck inside all the time, especially as it gets colder, I just kind of crave that comfort. But it’s also energizing to have some bright color.”

White has a few small pieces for sale at The Red Caboose, though most are listed on her website — christinenatalieart.com. Prices range from $39-379. Many are sold out, but a few are still available for purchase.

So, after releasing two collections in a matter of months, what does she plan on doing next?

“I’m going to be finishing some commissions, and there are some big ideas I want to explore,” White said. I’ve already started working on some reforms. I want to continue making things but not put the pressure on myself to meet a deadline.”

See more of White’s work on Instagram @christinenatalieart. a

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