The Faithful Hound
Waterboro, Maine
Kirsten Flakne is an illustrator and craftsman based in Waterboro, Maine. She holds a BFA in Crafts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
“I am always trying to capture tiny moments in the garden. Parting the tall grass and getting a glimpse at what goes on beneath. Insects scurrying about their business. Maybe a snake or a toad having an afternoon nap. I like to imagine a fox galloping through the forest, stirring up the fall leaves while the birds sing their autumnal hymns. It is in these hidden places where I gain inspiration for my work. With all Maine has to offer it’s easy to overlook the small things that make this such a special place to live. So I try to bring them into the home, hoping people will gain an appreciation for native wildflowers like beardtongue and goldenrod. I hope to inspire an appreciation for Maine’s biodiversity and use imagery that tells a story.
I begin with a hand drawing which I scan and fine tune on the computer before I burn it to a silkscreen and print onto each item. I then assemble items like the tree skirts, pillows and napkins and do the sewing. My towels are manufactured in the USA and my canvas and linen are GOT certified organic. I use all waterbased ink and practice low impact printing and cleaning methods to recycle the waste water my studio creates.”