Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katherine Klimitas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Katherine thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

Because I have a genetic bone disease called Osteogenesis Imperfecta and use an electric wheelchair for mobility, I do most things a little bit differently than the “normal” human. For example, it is much easier for me physically to paint while lying on my side. When I lay down, I can support my arm with my body and paint for longer periods of time. It is also easier on my back and neck. The problem with this is that the world looks much different sitting up than lying down, and it took me lots of time and practice to learn how to compensate for my angle.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began painting when my mother gave me my first watercolor set at 5 years old. Because I was not able to participate in a lot of the activities my friends did, I was bored, and I was driving my mother nuts. She was constantly looking for activities that would occupy me and keep me busy. I was totally hooked after that first watercolor set and was soon begging for more art supplies. My parents realized how much I liked art and that I was actually pretty good at it, and they began enrolling me in art in school, private classes, and as many art-related summer camps as possible. By the time I was a teenager, I was able to dabble in almost every medium, at least a little bit. But I continued to go back to watercolor as my favorite.

I sold my first painting when I was ten, and by the time I was a teenager I was painting pet portraits regularly for my parents’ clients (they were veterinarians). I realized that art was not only fun, but that I could actually make a living doing it. It was something good that set me apart from my friends, so that was pretty cool too.

Although I have a degree in graphic design and do have several regular design clients, my passion is creating watercolor works that focuses on animals. Growing up with two parents who were/are veterinarians, I learned a healthy respect for animals of all kinds and they’ve always been a huge part of my life. I’ve never not had a pet…or three or four. When I paint, my goal is always to capture that animal’s soul, to make the viewer feel like they are looking directly into that animal’s eyes. I want them to appreciate animals for who they are, just like I do.

My design degree has allowed me to take my paintings and turn them into commercial art. I offer many of my paintings on various homeware products like mugs, pillows, ornaments and more. Not only is this another way for me to make money, but it also allows me to share my work with more people at a lower price point. I like the idea of “useable art,” and that’s basically what these products are.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I went to college thinking that I would major in fine art… but then I realized just how much art I would have to produce to make a living, and I knew that that wouldn’t be physically possible for me. In my sophomore year, I changed my major from fine art to graphic design, which worked out because they both had the same prerequisites. Graphic design still allows me to be creative, but it also is a bit more business oriented. I can do most of that work on the computer, so physically it is easier. Plus, catering to businesses for marketing services tends to be a bit more lucrative than selling original art. My design degree has also given me the knowledge to layout and publish two books as well as create a variety of products that feature my art.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

The first painting I ever sold was called “All Dogs Go to Heaven” and it was 4’x4’…HUGE. Bigger than me. My art teacher had me crawling all over the canvas to create it. It ended up hanging in a fancy gallery in Downtown New Orleans as part of a fundraiser for the SPCA or some other animal rescue. All of the items in the show were made by kids, and adults came in, bid on them, and raised a lot of money for the charity.

Well, my Dad, who was a very frugal man, went in, bid $100, got outbid, refused to bid more and lost it! Now, he had the money. That was not the problem. He just didn’t want to spend more than that on a ten-year-old’s painting. Even if it was his own daughter’s.

So, in the end, we do not have the first painting I ever sold. But luckily I do know the person who bought it, and she has given me pictures!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kakartnola.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/kakartnola
• Facebook: Facebook.com/kakartnola
• Other: Etsy: Etsy.com/shop/kakart

Image Credits
Stephanie Yves Photography – headshots