Meet the Maker: Katie Craig Art (And a Giveaway!)
Welcome to another installment of Meet the Maker! This is a semi-regular series here on the blog where I introduce you to - you guessed it - a maker I love. I’m a huge fan of supporting independent artists and small businesses when I can, and so when I find a great one, I like to tell the world about it!
I’m excited for you to meet Katie Craig today. She’s an artist I’ve loved and followed for years now, and I have two of her works in my own home - a print and a paper original! We originally connected over one of her prints that I loved, and then I found out shortly thereafter that her cousin is a friend of mine from Philadelphia. It’s always a small world, isn’t it?
She is incredibly talented and as you’ll hear about in my interview below, her prints are currently carried at both Minted and Target. You can also find her pieces through her website. She primarily paints abstracts - from flowy, dappled pieces to ones with more structure…I love them all. I think you will too!
Now here’s something extra fun for you today: Katie recently approached me about partnering together to offer a GIVEAWAY of a 12”x12” custom framed piece and of course I said yes! You can find all the details for how to enter at the end of the interview. I can’t wait for one of y’all to work with Katie to create a gorgeous piece just for your home.
“Summer Socks”* at Minted
Tell me a little bit of your story. Where are you based? What’s your personal/professional background?
I’m based in Dallas, Texas, although I was born and raised in California! I moved to Dallas after college where I met my husband, who is originally from England. I worked with an awesome architecture firm in admin and marketing for 6 years before I made the switch to full-time artist and mom, which coincided with the birth of my first child! Now I maintain a home studio and squeeze in all the work when I can! We added a second babe last December and that has thrown a little more fun into our lives.
Set of two prints at Target
Tell me about Katie Craig Art, the business - how did you get started with painting, and what made you want to pursue it as a career?
I’ve always been creative, and I know that sounds like a copout of an answer, but I’ve never NOT been interested in art, painting, crafting, making, etc. Throughout high school and college I pursued art - kind of not entirely knowing if actually making it a career would be possible. Slowly and with some great guidance from other art friends, licensing partners and collectors, I’m happy to say, I’m an artist!
I wanted to pursue it because I honestly just love creating and painting. There is such a rush involved finding a new technique or color combination; it’s like the most fun exploration ever.
How would you describe your style? Has it evolved over the years?
My style has definitely evolved from a more traditional flowy, dotty abstract to my currently linear work. I know to most people the two styles look very different, but the creation of both styles feels very similar to me. Thinking about composition, color arrangement, and the repetitions of dot/lines is a process that is very therapeutic.
What does your design process look like from idea conception to production?
Sometimes I work from a digital mock up I create (mainly for commission work) but most of the time I start with a color palette I have in mind and piece the art together one stripe, line, and layer at a time. Watching a piece evolve when you know it’s going to be good BEFORE you finish it is very addicting. There is a tipping point in a piece where it either gets good or fizzles, and it’s a fun challenge!
What are some of your current favorite pieces?
My new wood panels are some of my favorites. Here links to a few:
You’ve recently had some prints for sale at Target! That’s so exciting - how did that collaboration come about?
My Target partnerships have come about through two separate channels. The floral set (below) is with Minted – they have a great partnership with Target that includes greeting cards and Art, and my pieces were lucky enough to be chosen! The more recent wood panel set is through a different art licensing company on the east coast. Both of these sets have been available online only, so my next goal is to get some work IN-STORE!
Dotty Floral Prints at Target
When you imagined your career path, did you ever think it would involve becoming a small business owner and creative entrepreneur? What are your favorite parts about having your own business and what’s most challenging?
I think deep down, yes. I knew there wasn’t anything else for me. I’ve always kind-of dreamed of being an artist, partly for the flexibility of raising a family and freedom to create my own career.
The most challenging part hands down is the bookkeeping - I’m hoping to hire that out in a year or two!
If you were to dream big, where do you see Katie Craig Art in five years?
Oh man, I would LOVE to own a gallery, but I think that is further off than 5 years. In five years I’d love to have my own dedicated (and better organized) studio space a bit separated from my house - maybe an external garage or studio in the backyard. I still want to be close, but I’d love to not be next to the children’s bedrooms!
Where can everybody find your work and follow along with you?
Website: https://www.katiecraigart.com/
@katiecraigart on Instagram
Locally in Dallas at Scout Design Studio and on display at The Slate
What a fun interview! Thanks, Katie, for giving us a peek behind the scenes and for letting us get to know you a little bit!
Now, here are the details for the giveaway! To win a custom, 12x12 piece from Katie, follow the guidelines below:
Enter between Tuesday, 11/10/2020 and 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, 11/17/2020.
Secure your entry by following @katiecraig art AND @mixandmatchdesigncompany on Instagram. That’s it!
For bonus entries, you can:
(1) Leave a comment on this post sharing what you love about Katie’s art
(2) Tag a friend on my Giveaway Instagram post (each tag counts as one entry!)
(3) Share the Giveaway post on Instagram to your Stories (be sure to tag both of us so we can count the entry!)
The winner will be randomly selected and contacted on Wednesday, 11/18/2020. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
Good luck!
Holding Space II on Minted
*This post contains affiliate links, which means Mix & Match Design Company earns a small commission from your purchase at no cost to you.