This month we sat down with Meredith Kephart, the founder and visionary behind Venable Moore, a Los Angeles-based design studio that specializes in one-of-a-kind pieces ranging from textiles and soft furnishings to fine china and paper goods. Meredith’s knack for creating distinct, joyful patterns can be felt through all she produces and has us daydreaming about throwing a Venable Moore dinner party – from porcelain plates to table linens and Shibori placemats, the details are unmatched.
In our conversation, we learned about Meredith’s blended and modern approach to design, which fuses artisanal craft and state-of-the-art technology. Venable Moore honors tradition but is not afraid to innovate either – something we can certainly respect. Of course, we couldn’t help but dive into the tool side of things to better understand her process and what makes her projects sing.
Kathryn Sanders & Leana Becker: What tool changed the way you practice your craft?
Meredith Kephart: Photoshop is the central tool that animates Venable Moore. All of the work and products that the company features are repeating patterns of my original artwork, which are often paintings on silk. Whether it’s a Shibori piece I’ve dyed or something I’ve hand drawn, Photoshop allows me to reimagine and rework what already exists. Once the artwork has been digitized, I’m able to build on my background as a director of textiles and graphics to get the patterns to where they need to be.
KS & LB: What are three tools you can’t live without?
MK: I can’t live without my Wacom tablet. It’s a seamless bridge between the handmade origins of my work and the digital processing required to transform artistic designs into product. Fine work such as retouching or drawing is a breeze – the control and finesse I’m able to harness unlocks a lot of avenues creatively and technically.
An analog tool I can’t live without: spiral notebooks. I keep sketches, ideas, measurements, and the nuts and bolts of running the company in my notebooks. Wherever the endpoint may be, from a hand-painted design on porcelain to an order from a supplier to the kernel of a creative idea that turns into a pattern, it starts in the notebook.
Building on the idea of image capture, my Canon DSLR has been invaluable. It’s a practical, effective way of digitizing my art, especially the larger pieces. As an entrepreneur, I’ve also utilized it to frame up products and environments for the Venable Moore website and social channels, which is vitally important.
KS & LB: If you could recommend one tool to other artists/designers, what would it be?
MK: A system for effortlessly listening to music. I listen to music all day long, whether I am in the studio or working at home. Music is such an incredible way to process feelings, change your mood, gain inspiration, or blow off steam. Good tunes keep me going and bring me so much happiness along the way.
KS & LB: What’s your dream tool that hasn’t been invented yet?
MK: A portable, large-format scanner for capturing large artwork at scale. I would love a framed system where I could a) lay a large artwork on the ground, b) have a phone and light scoot over the whole thing, and c) capture it in hi-res and to scale.
KS & LB: Do you have any tools you can’t leave home (or studio) without?
MK: I love my phone. It gives me the ability to quickly snap reference photos of things that catch my eye – shadows, color combos, plants and flowers (nature is always a huge influence on my work). And of course, if my handy notebook isn’t around, I can always download thoughts digitally.
KS & LB: What tool in your toolkit gives you and your practice an edge?
MK: There is no edge if there is no energy. The foundational first step to maintaining my artistic practice, running my business, and having a balanced personal life – for me – is a good night of sleep. That’s why my sound machine is the ultimate weapon. As an extremely light sleeper (married to a partner that is an extremely loud one) I would not be able to operate at 110% without it.
What stands out to us about Meredith’s answers is something we have been trying to capture by pulling back the curtain, so to speak. We all know that there are many technical tools of the trade but sometimes it is those intangible things – like music and sleep – that fuel the creative process. They are necessary elements that help balance the work of the mind and the hand and it’s important that we take note. Who’s to say what tools inspire you? Now, excuse us while we go and order some spiral-bound notebooks.
Read more of The Toolkit here.
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