We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Karriena. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Karriena below.

Karriena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I grew up in Hong Kong, a place where creativity wasn’t exactly encouraged. Academic excellence was the norm, and pursuing anything artistic often felt like stepping off the expected path. But even as a child, I was drawn to the creative subjects. There was this spark — an inner excitement that would light up every time I found myself lost in a creative project or idea.

In high school, that spark became something more. I organized and led the very first student-run fashion show at our school. It was completely my initiative — from concept to execution — and it was in that moment, standing behind the scenes, watching it all unfold, that I truly understood: creativity wasn’t just something I liked. It was something I loved.

That passion led me to Parsons School of Design in New York, where I pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design. My time at Parsons was transformative. I interned with some incredible designers and got a front-row seat to the world of fashion — both the art and the business of it.

After graduation, I returned to Hong Kong and began my career as a jewellery designer. That role lasted about six months before I transitioned to work with a local fashion designer for another nine. But soon after, I decided to join my family’s jewellery business, working closely with my mother. We travelled across Asia — to Singapore, Malaysia, Jakarta, Dubai — attending trade shows and meeting clients. I took on the marketing side of the business, diving into social media, building our website, running email campaigns, and learning how to nurture client relationships.

Despite the incredible experiences, I began to feel a void. Something inside me still felt unfulfilled. Searching for that missing piece, I became a part-time Zumba instructor, hoping the energy and movement would ignite that inner fire — but it wasn’t quite it.

Then, at the end of 2018, something unexpected happened. I started creating personalized drawing artworks as gifts and shared them on social media. To my surprise, people began reaching out — asking for commissions. One inquiry came from someone at a co-working space that had a gallery. They invited me to showcase my work. I had never even considered being an artist as a real path, but this was the opening I didn’t know I needed.

I built my first collection, accepted commissions through social media, and launched my very first exhibit — which sold out. That moment was a turning point. I spent the next year focused on commissions and building a creative rhythm.

In 2020, I moved to California. Starting over with no network was daunting. I still remember my first trip to the art store — spending a few hundred dollars on supplies, not knowing what would come of it. But as I began to paint, something shifted. Each brushstroke felt like a reflection — a way to process the winding road that had brought me here. Layer by layer, I created my first official collection, Moments.

From there, I built a website, signed up for local art shows, and found that all the experience from working with my mother had come full circle. I taught art jamming sessions, private art tutoring, and even worked at a high school — all while steadily growing my practice.

And now, after years of searching, pivoting, and creating, I’m finally here: living my dream career as a full-time artist.

Karriena, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’ve always been a creative person—even as a kid, I was constantly making things. But I never really saw being an artist as a viable profession. I loved art and the process of creating, but I didn’t think I was “good enough” to make it a full-time career. After college, it took years of experimenting—and making what I call ‘bad art’—before I created a set of drawings that I finally felt confident about. Once I found a style that felt like mine, it gave me the confidence to push myself further and explore new techniques.

Abstract painting had always fascinated me, but in the beginning, it was honestly overwhelming. I didn’t know where to start. So I just kept experimenting—trying different brush strokes, colors, and textures. Over time, that exploration led me to the style I work in today.

Now, I specialize in abstract mixed media artworks, using acrylic on canvas. I work with materials like pumice, paint thickener, modeling paste, sand, and rocks—and sometimes I finish a piece with metallic foiling to give it a final touch. Every piece I create is inspired by a moment in time, drawn from my own experiences. I use the emotions from those moments to guide the work.
After completing my first collection, the natural next step was to show it—and since I had experience doing jewelry shows with my mom, signing up for local art shows felt familiar and right. From there, I began building a client base and growing my audience. The more I painted, the more I began to understand what my work meant to me. Painting became a space for me to slow down, reflect, and process life—it brought me a real sense of calm.

My process involves building up layers, slowly, over time. It mirrors how we work as people—layered, complex, evolving. I love the idea that when we connect with someone or something, we’re peeling back those layers to discover what’s underneath. My paintings invite that kind of interaction: the more time you spend with them, the more you’ll see. There’s depth between the layers—both physically and emotionally. I want my clients to feel like they can unravel their thoughts while looking at one of my pieces. I hope my work offers a quiet moment for reflection—maybe while having a cup of coffee—something that’s just for them.

As my business has grown, I now offer multiple ways to connect with my work. I take on a limited number of commissions each year, I offer prints of select pieces, and I teach online art courses. It’s been such a fulfilling journey stepping into this version of myself and embracing life as an artist. It really feels like this is what I’m meant to be doing.

Running this business has brought me so much growth, both creatively and personally. I’m especially proud that I’ve found a style that truly resonates with me. I’ve always believed in the importance of slowing down to find clarity—and through my work, I hope to help others do the same. To take a breath, appreciate how far they’ve come, and be in awe of their own journey.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

When I first started out as an artist, I put so much pressure on myself to figure everything out before I even picked up a brush. I thought I needed a strong concept, a cohesive collection, and a defined style — but the truth is, when you’re starting out, you have no idea what your style is yet. You don’t really know what you like creating, how you like to work, or what your process even looks like.

That mindset became a huge creative block for me. I got so stuck trying to plan everything that I stopped creating altogether for a while.

Eventually, I decided to let go of all that and just start making. No overthinking, no big ideas — just putting paint on canvas and seeing where it went. That shift was huge for me. Because I did go to art school, I had a solid foundation to lean on when it came to things like composition and color, which helped when I needed to make decisions. But the real growth happened through the act of doing — and especially through self-evaluation. I would take the time to step back, look at what I’d made, and ask myself: What’s working? What’s not? What do I want to change next time?

I also gave myself permission to experiment. I’d go to the art store just to explore — picking up different textures, mediums, and materials I hadn’t used before, simply out of curiosity. That openness led me to my current style. I figured out which materials I really connected with and refined my process around them.

Looking back, I wish I hadn’t wasted so much time trying to come up with the perfect concept before creating. I wish I’d just started.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

There are so many different facets to running a business — and when you’re an artist, you’re not just managing a business, you’re also constantly trying to innovate and come up with new creative work. That’s a unique kind of pressure that non-creatives don’t always see or fully understand.

Creativity is emotional. You can’t just turn it on like a switch. You either have to be in a creative rhythm, or you have to find ways to cultivate that inspiration and focus — and that’s not always easy when you’re also juggling admin tasks, marketing, finances, and everything else that comes with being self-employed.
Unlike a traditional job, there’s no clear structure or obvious markers of progress. The creative process isn’t linear — it’s full of trial and error, ongoing practice, and constant self-evaluation. You’re always learning, refining, and trying to improve. At the same time, you have to stay open to criticism and keep coming up with new ideas to keep the business side moving forward.

Every piece you create is an extension of you. Putting it out into the world takes courage, and not everyone will receive it well. That emotional risk is something many non-creatives don’t realize is part of the job.

In the beginning, I found it really hard to balance the creative and business sides. But over time, I’ve learnt that being an artist means committing to a process with no final destination — just continuous growth, refinement, and the drive to become better at both the art and the work that supports it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.karrienaart.com
• Instagram: @karriena_art
• Facebook: Karriena Daryanani
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karriena-wadwani-daryanani-b636956b/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@karriena_art

Image Credits

Eliana Grellet