It takes time to establish yourself; there will be days where you feel like you can do anything and others when you might just want to give up. But my advice to others starting out would be, get out there and do it! If you have a creative idea, put it down on paper and make it happen
Kathrin is a German born artist who was then raised in Australia. She is a brilliant force of creativity and storytelling.
How long have you been making art and what inspired you to get started?
Growing up, I was always drawing, painting, sculpting or creating something! I come from an artistic family so I grew up around creative minds. My dad is amazing at wood carving and stone masonry and both my parents have always been very supportive of my creative side. I went on to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts and Education.
Your art conveys a ‘fun and lighthearted’ type of feeling. Is this what you hope to capture when you are working on new designs?
Yes, definitely! I love designing for kids, who are naturally drawn to happy, bright and engaging designs. I am a trained visual art high school teacher so I am very passionate about teaching art to children and the importance of using both their left and right side of the brain to develop critical thinking skills, problem solving, language, and vocabulary skills. For children as young as toddlers exploring the world around them through play and art such as Zippi’s puzzles and prints, shows them that learning is fun, builds their communication, social and emotional skills and fine motor skills. I also like to add humor to my designs which makes them very popular with adults too, for example ‘The Formula’ is one of my top sellers. Other designs have a deeper meaning to them; such as ‘The Glass is Refillable’ so whilst the children are drawn to the colours and characters, adults appreciate the underlying meaning.
What is your favourite medium of choice and why?
I always start every design with a quick pencil sketch, and then I refine the drawing and add details to it until I am happy with the result. I then scan my drawing into Photoshop, simplify the original pencil lines, add colour and lastly I add texture. I think I use traditional pencil on and paper because it has always been my preference and now I feel so comfortable with it!
Where does the majority of your inspiration come from?
I get a lot of inspiration from vintage, wooden toys which have simple shapes and structures. I like simplifying shapes in my designs and giving my work clear outlines and bold colours.
What other artists have inspired you?
I admire the designs by Jane Foster; they are fun, quirky and bold.
Which pieces are most dear to you, and why?
One of my favorites is Home Sweet Home. I spent part of my childhood growing up in a small village in northern Germany and I wanted to recreate my memories of the small, friendly neighborhood where the people regularly came together to share a meal or lend a hand during harvest season.
Are you currently working on anything new? If so, can you tell us a little about the design and what we can expect?
I have just signed a new contract with a luggage company so I am working on some designs which are travel inspired. It’s very exciting and it is making me want to go exploring the world again!
What have you learnt whilst establishing yourself as an online artist, and further, can you offer any advice to others starting out?
I have learnt that it takes time to establish yourself; there will be days where you feel like you can do anything and others when you might just want to give up. But my advice to others starting out would be, get out there and do it! If you have a creative idea, put it down on paper and make it happen. Don’t be discouraged if things don’t go as fast as you might hope, it takes time to build a reputation and style and you will find your niche in the market that will support your brand.
Where do you see yourself as an artist in the future?
I would love to delve deeper into children’s designs and work together with companies to create a collection for bed linen, dinnerware and clothing. I am also interested in using my teaching skills and work within art therapy for children or adults.
How do you promote your art and what part has social media played in your self-promotion?
Social media plays a very important role in promoting art, you need to get the word out there! I have just started using Instagram about 4 months ago and I am really enjoying it. I also love the level of interaction on twitter; I use both on a daily basis.