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

Hi Katie Rapisardo, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.

Leaping into being a full-time artist before I was ready this winter. But here’s the thing – are we ever really ready? No, but leap anyway. I wanted to have all my ducks lined up in the proverbial row ie the perfect website that I could manage myself on the back end, a number of series ready to launch, new branding photography, an email newsletter up and running etc. all before I told myself I could dive into this gig fulltime. But a series of events caused me to jump in sooner than anticipated and I’m glad I did. Has it been a resounding success with all the fame and glory? No. It has been a steady slow crawl of small victories and setbacks. Definitely more marathon than sprint but in looking at the longevity of an artist owning their own small business, I will fare better in the long run learning at a manageable pace while taking risks and continuing to put myself out there. All the failures and the lessons that come with it can be the little pieces that become the building blocks of long-term success.

Katie Rapisardo, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m KTRAPS (a beloved nickname) or Katie Rapisardo Griffith. I’m a self-taught mixed media artist based out of Charlotte, NC. I have considered myself a creative since I first picked up a crayon from that beautiful big box of Crayola crayons with the built-in sharpener. Trust me, the built-in sharpener was key! Somehow my creative self and I got separated in adulthood until Covid brought us back together when I began to paint abstracts to calm my anxious mind. I worked primarily in acrylics and still do but slowly added in other media over the years.

After posting my first piece on Instagram people started to reach out asking about purchasing work and commissions and KTRAPS Originals was born from that. I did this mostly on the side for a number of years while working as a nurse and teacher until this past winter. What sets my style apart is the bright bold colors and patterns that emerge from the canvas by translating nature, everyday life and the emotions that come with it onto the canvas. In January I officially launched my e-commerce website www.ktrapsoriginals.com and offer large works on canvas, small works on paper and various homewares including tea towels, notecards, seasonal ornaments and more. I work with a handful of exclusive retailers that carry some of my inventory as well as work with collectors directly to curate commissioned works for their homes.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Now speaking of hard things, just as a I leapt to endeavor to work as a full-time artist this winter, I continued to struggle with some health issues that demanded my time and attention on a larger scale. This resulted in a very quiet and slow winter/spring work wise. And that is ok and thankfully I am ok. The lesson here is that slowing down is critical so that we can find stillness, focus and redirect our energy where needed. I am learning to let go and trusting that life will evolve on its own timeline and sometimes the best thing I can do as not only an individual, but as an artist, is to sit in the quiet, feel and take inspiration for when it is time to take action again. I’ve come to realize that this past winter was an opportunity for me to let go and be incredibly grateful for the lessons learned and struggles overcome. There is magic in the grit and resiliency.

Anytime I find myself at the easel it is my goal to somehow bring my personal life experiences to the outside world to help shine a light of courage, hope and love. I want the viewer to feel like they are wrapped in a warm hug even in the darkness. Now that’s not to say that all of my works always feel lighthearted, but rather to remind the world that there is hope in all things. We all navigate heartache, loss, and grief differently but sometimes we need to be reminded how strong we are even in spite of these hard things.

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

This may be a bit controversial, especially in the hustle to gain a social media following and get access to the best shows/galleries/events (all of which can be crucial to your success as an artist and many of which I myself and still working towards) but always remember your “why.” It takes you back to a very grounding space that can remind you of why you started this craziness in the beginning. For me, I always come back to the thought that I create art as a means to express myself externally on canvas. To release hopes, feelings, emotions and dreams to the tangible world. And sometimes in all the hustle and bustle we lose sight of that. We over commit and overextend ourselves to the point of exhaustion. Owning your own business means being ALL the things but we have to remember our why and if that still aligns with the hustle then by all means keep going!!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ktrapsoriginals.com
• Instagram: @ktrapisardo