Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Collins.
Hi Katie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am primarily an oil painter who likes to dabble in Acrylics from time to time. I am from Nottingham in England and moved to the states when I was 25 and now reside in Winter Springs.
Growing up I would be seen carrying a rather large coloring book everywhere I would go, and this became a tool used by my parents to help discipline me.
My grandmother was an artist and would often have me sit for her at the age of 5, although she had to draw quite quickly, I believe.
My father was an Architect and displayed beautiful technical drawings around our house and in later years both he and my mum took up painting and produced a rather high standard of work.
After college, I traveled while working onboard the cruise Liners. This is where I met my husband to whom I have now been married for 23 years and have 2 children together.
I love all kinds of art and creating, and painted on and off while my kids were little. About 4 or 5 years ago I got serious and signed up in the fellowship program at Crealde School of Art and took almost every class the program had to offer. I became the fellowship manager and after a couple of years went on to be a studio artist. This is when I decided to turn my art into a business and I now regularly participate in local shows and exhibits and carry out commissions for people in the community.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I have always tried to be as present as possible. When my children were little and when things were particularly challenging, I remember thinking, be present, sit and play with them, go and swim in the pool, today’s the day, don’t let it slip away.
Life is never smooth all the time for anybody, I try to avoid comparing my life with anyone else’s and remember the ebb and flow of life is just how it goes and to wait patiently for the flow, it’s coming. Struggles are all part of any path, I think in the art world the balance of creativity, time management along with sales and marketing can be particularly challenging. With planning, focus, and patience it is all possible.
I have also learned we are all capable of so much more than we may believe. Waiting to do what you love is just a waste of time. Do it now, just one step at a time, “go as far as you can go and when you get there you can go further” is a favorite saying of mine. Think Bigger and better because you don’t have to have more money, more time, more knowledge you just need to have more gumption.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I like to paint many subjects, some favorites being portraits, children, and beach-related art.
My process usually begins with a drawing when doing portrait work, and for other subjects, I may do a study first or just paint straight on the canvas.
I always leave time for reflection so I can go back in a day or two and tweak my work. This allows me to see with fresh eyes and produce better pieces.
I love to try to capture the personality of my subjects and really aim to get the likeness down as close as possible when painting portrait work. That’s the part that really makes it challenging and exciting when you see the person really looking back at you and you feel their spirit. It always brings me a lot of satisfaction when onlookers compliment me on the accuracy of my work and the pleasure it brings.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is you don’t have to know everything to begin. Just start and move forward and surprisingly things just start showing up at the right time. The right person to help you with those difficult parts of your website, the place to show your work, the sales, just when you are thinking you’ve been forgotten about. It’s a matter of continuing on and never giving up. Anyone can do anything if they want it enough.
Painting and drawing brings me a lot of peace, focus and is a form of meditation for me.
Donating to the worthy charities listed on my website gives my life more meaning and really helped put my life in perspective when I decided to donate 10 % of all proceeds. I want to be able to look back and know that I made a difference in someone’s life when they needed it. Art can heal in so many ways and this is a way that I can do my small part to help others.
Contact Info:
- Email: katiecollinspaintings@gmail.com
- Website: Katiecollinspaintings.com
- Instagram: Katiecollinspaintings
- Facebook: Katiecollinspaintings
