Featured Artist Katherine Klimitas

Watercolor artist Katherine Klimitas presents a collection of warm and captivating animal portraits. Visit her website to see more of her portfolio.

 

 

I was born with a genetic bone disease that caused my bones to break easily and grow abnormally. My parents and I stopped counting my breaks at 500 when I was ten years old. I am 2’7” tall, and I use an electric wheelchair for mobility. I rely on other people to complete nearly all of my daily activities.

 

 

When I was young, I was smart, and I was bored. My mother was constantly trying to find activities to keep me occupied that I could actually do. My life changed when she gave me my first watercolor set at five years old. I learned very quickly that I liked to create art and that I was actually pretty good at it.

 

 

I always attended a mainstream school and although I was included as much as possible and never thought of myself as “disabled,” there were many instances where I couldn’t participate in the same activities my friends could.

 

 

Art became my outlet.

 

 

My parents, who were veterinarians, enrolled me in every art class and summer camp that they could find. I got to work in many types of media, including acrylic, oil, pastel, printmaking, sculpture and glass blowing, but watercolor always remained my favorite.

 

 

It ultimately became my primary medium, mostly because it was the one that allowed me to work independently in a small space without a lot of supplies or movement. Watercolor was one of the only mediums that allowed me to work on my own, and that became very important to me.

 

 

By the time I was a teenager, I was taking pet portrait commissions from my parents’ veterinary clients, and I already knew that art was going to somehow play a big part in my career choice.

 

 

I graduated from Loyola University New Orleans with a BA in graphic design, expanding my artistic skills to logo and website design, along with other marketing products for both corporate and private clients. Nearly two decades later, I still take pet portrait commissions, although my style has evolved since those early years of loose whimsey into one of detailed realism.

 

 

Today I run my business, KAK Art & Designs, from my home in New Orleans, Louisiana. While I do have graphic design clients, I spend the majority of my time painting wild and domestic animals. I believe that if done correctly, a piece of art can make the viewer see an animal’s spirit and personality.

 

 

I think art of all kinds should evoke emotion in the viewer, and above all else, I want my art to create joy in a world where there is so much angst and anger. I want my viewers to see my art and then see me and think, “if she can be successful, so can I.” I want my story and my art to motivate people to be the best version of themselves that they can be.

 

Artist Katherine Klimitas invites you to follow her on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

 

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