Today we’d like to introduce you to Kat Birmelin.
Kat, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I’ve loved drawing as far back as I can remember, and that’s probably because art tends to run in the family. My father and sisters all had their own areas of interest when it came to drawing, but I was the only one who not only stuck with it but pursued it as a career. I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to do after high school, no one in my family had gone to college, so I spent the summer after graduating working at the local mall. I suppose that’s really where I got the idea to seek formal training. I worked across from a game shop and spent a great deal of time in that store during slow periods or after work playing with the guys in the shop. It was there I was introduced to Magic the Gathering, falling head over heels for the art by Brom and RK Post. I applied to The American Academy of Art in Chicago that spring, and I commuted back and forth from Elgin until I graduated with my BFA in commercial illustration. I had become both a trained artist, and a pretty avid gamer.
My connections in the game community helped me to get my foot in the door in the game industry, a friend of mine introduced me to the first art director who would give me work. From there I started to put gaming on the back burner and focus more on career goals and connections, so I would attend conventions and approach other artists and art directors for critiques. It’s turned into having another family entirely and a very supportive community that I believe has had a huge impact on keeping me going, especially through hard times. Those ties have also become a lifeline for me, as I have been living overseas in Japan for the last few years and miss that sense of closeness with other artists and being able to do conventions or group shows.
We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I work in wet media, the majority being watercolors or gouache, which I seemed to gravitate towards far more easily than any other mediums I tried in college. My work is very technical rather than loose in regard to both my drawing and painting style. The process can get fairly involved, especially for client work. Usually there’s a lot of early note taking, some sketching, research into visual inspiration or brushing up on reading about subject matter. Then there’s a flurry of sketching, critique (via trusted art friends), revisions until I get my sketch just right, and then transfer to watercolor paper via light box. After that I prep for painting, sometimes I do color or value studies, sometimes I simply use a color key. The process varies a bit from piece to piece.
My favorite subjects are female figures, especially subjects from history, mythology, fantasy and science fiction. While I am still exploring my artistic voice and tastes, I feel like creating these types of subjects allows me to step into the shoes of whatever heroines I am working on. Like a grown-up version of paper dolls, I think I kind of internalize whatever emotions or thoughts I connect my subjects with, at least while I am working on them. I would say my overall goal is to offer glimpses of the feminine side of the fantasy genres.
As for inspiration, I turn to work by Rebecca Leveille Guay, Stephanie Law, and Terese Nielsen, all artists I have loved as far back as high school and college. I have also become enamored with some artists from Japan such as Miho HIrano, and Ikenaga Yasunari.
I was able to study under Rebecca and will be studying under Terese this coming falls via an online mentorship through smart school (founded and run by Rebecca).
Artists face many challenges, but what do you feel is the most pressing among them?
Where to start with this one? I’ve both experienced and seen a number of challenges for both aspiring artists, as well as professionals.
Financial struggle is a big one, as that effects a lot of other aspects of life. In connection to this is the thought one must seek a formal education of some kind, and constantly be on the grind working night and day without any breaks until you make it. College isn’t a promise. I know more alumni who aren’t working in their field than are, for many varied reasons. For those looking at formal training there are other options out there besides college. There are workshops like IMC (Illustration Master Class) and One Fantastic Weekend, collectives, online courses like Schoolism or Smart School, and sometimes even mentorships offered by professional artists.
Burn out is a real concern too. I was spread too thin in by the time I graduated college, but from time to time I still suffer from this. I am not alone, I know a great many other creatives who go through this too, and some handle it better than others. Sometimes you just need to step back and recharge, or rethink things. This is completely normal and healthy. It can happen for a number of reasons. For me it was not having a direction, not knowing what my tastes where, and chasing after positions I thought were good for me without thinking if it was really something I wanted to pursue. But it can also be from taking work that just doesn’t speak to you, or that doesn’t pay well while demanding a high level of polish.
To that last point there are a lot of places that are predatory on creatives, colleges included, that take more than they give, or that place all the risk on the artist. It’s why it’s so important to leave room for yourself to recharge, and to network with other creatives. The arts community can be a very sharing, and nurturing place where you can ask questions and get insights, and I think that not enough people realize this or take advantage of it. This is where slaving away can lead to burn out or a bitter work attitude. All-nighters shouldn’t be common place, and there is a difference between being a team player vs being overloaded with work. If that is the case, maybe it’s time to step back a little and get a 9-5 job to help supplement financial responsibilities in order to have a creative break and recharge. It doesn’t make you any less of an artist, or a professional.
Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can view my work at katgbirmelin.squarespace.com. Instagram via kittygrimelin45 and katgbirmelin.tumblr.com. I will also be traveling back to the United States this August for Gen Con Indy (August 2-5), and will be participating in the art show there.
Contact Info:
- Website: katgbirmelin.squarespace.com
- Email: katguevara@ymail.com
- Instagram: kittygrimelin45
- Other: katgbirmelin.tumblr.com
Image Credit:
Copyrighted Kat G Birmelin
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