Featured Artist: Katie Crumpton

by Jen Durant, September 5, 2016

"You’re going to have good drawing days, and rough drawing days regardless of your skill level. You’re constantly improving, even if it doesn’t feel like it. During those times when you feel bad about your art that means you’re learning."

Katie Crumpton is a San Francisco based artist, and one of Redbubble’s Artists in Residence. Her work takes you on an imaginative ride to a whimsical world full of adorable creatures.

Please describe your work in 7 words or less:

Whimsical, adorable, and imaginative.

What is your weapon of choice?

My macbook, along with my Intuos Pro tablet. As far as traditional mediums go I enjoy watercolor, copic markers, and micron pens.

How did you come to be an artist?

I’ve always wanted to be an artist, never anything else. I’ve been drawing since I could hold a pencil and never stopped.

If you could gain any artistic skill overnight, what would it be?

The skill to be able to draw human anatomy correctly. Figure drawing class was definitely a challenge for me. I have gotten better but I still struggle with it. Even though I mostly draw from imagination, it helps to have strong technical drawing skills

"It’s nice to be able to focus on my own work and style rather than have specific assignments like I did when I was at university. I feel like because of that I’m getting closer to finding my artistic voice."

"Yellow Cake" Throw Pillow

If you weren’t making art, what do you think you would you be doing now?

I would probably be lying on the floor having an existential crisis and wondering what I want to do with my life. Haha. But in all seriousness, this is a scary question. I can’t imagine myself doing anything else!

What artwork are you excited to work on next?

That’s a tough one! My brain is usually all over the place and sometimes an idea randomly comes to mind and I wing it. Although I am currently working on another children’s book piece. I do want to focus on making more patterns though.

What’s been the best thing about the Redbubble residency for you?

The residency has been absolutely amazing! Everyone at the office has been sweet and welcoming. The artist workspace was put together nicely and it’s a cozy place to work. Even though it’s still early in the program I do feel like I’m growing as an artist. It’s nice to be able to focus on my own work and style rather than have specific assignments like I did when I was at university. I feel like because of that I’m getting closer to finding my artistic voice. I’m also learning a lot about social media and how to promotive myself as an artist which is extremely important for a professional illustrator to know.

And finally, what advice would you give to artists starting out to stay fresh and inspired?

Don’t stop drawing, keep going. You’re going to improve, that is guaranteed, as long as you don’t stop. You are putting mileage on your pencil every mark you make. You’re going to have good drawing days, and rough drawing days regardless of your skill level. You’re constantly improving, even if it doesn’t feel like it. During those times when you feel bad about your art that means you’re learning. Those moments when you start to become aware of flaws in your work just means you jumped to the next level. It means you have reached a point of clarity where you have found out what you need to do to become better. You’re going to have a breakthrough, hang in there and keep drawing. There’s always going to be a high point after a low one. Learn as much as you can, and never give up!