Katrina Koltes
"The more I painted the more I improved and discovered my voice and style"
Fairies, mermaids and other entities in a blue world
Katrina envolve us in her magic world, full of creatures, celestial bodies and shine. As if suddenly we were in another dimension and everything known turns mystical… Talk to her is like speak with a fairy, sometimes with crown included, because the artist not only make paintings, she also makes jewerly with the same ethereal touch with wich she paints.
At what point did you realize you wanted to be a painter?
Ever since I was little I’ve always been an artist. I come from a very artistic family. My mom was an artist, as are most of my brothers and sisters – whether it be painting, acting, or singing, etc. Unfortunately, when I was a young teenager I suffered from a trauma that made me abandon my creativity for many years. It was only once I was in my thirties did I rekindle my passion for painting, and start pursuing my dream of being an artist.
How did you get to the style you have now?
It took me many years and many mediums to finally find my process and what works for me. I practiced and mastered many mediums: watercolor, pastels, mixed media, oil – until I found the right balance of combining them to get the effect I wanted. But most of all, what helped me find my style was painting every single day – even if that meant staying up at nights – as I realized the more I painted the more I improved and discovered my voice and style.
What do you want to convey with your paintings?
I want to convey magic, power, and strength with my paintings. Art has healed me, and continues to do so. I strongly believe in the power of art, and how it can have a visual impact on our life. Art can move us to tears, can make us feel powerful, can make us smile, and it can give us the inspiration we need to keep going and reaching for our dreams.
“I want to convey magic, power and strength with my paintings. Art has healed me, and continues to do so”
Would you say that blue is the most representative color of your creations?
Blue has always been my favorite color because it gives me a sense of peace and that magical, ethereal feeling. I love to use the power of color in my art. For example, if I want to empower and ignite passion and inspiration I will use warm tones, pinks and reds. If I want to create a more ethereal and spiritual feeling I will use more soothing tones like blues, teals, and purples.
Where do you get your inspiration from to create that magical aura that characterizes your paintings?
I have always felt like I have one foot in this world, and one in another. Ever since I was little I could see, sense, and feel other beings and realms that we can’t see with our human eyes. When I was child, and then later in my teens I saw and experienced many painful things that made me want to escape these harsh realities for a little while. I learned that through meditating, dreaming, and letting my mind wander, I could visit these wonderful places, where there is no suffering and anything is possible. In this past year with my mother’s fight with cancer, and as I was close to her bedside during her passing, I felt a very strong connection with the spirit world and was given some glimpses of the other side.
“Sometimes art can reveal that magic we have a hard time seeing otherwise”
What do you like to paint the most?
I mostly paint women because they are a reflection of myself, what I have been through, my healing journey, and my inner strength. Through my art I want to inspire other women to feel empowered and discover their own inner magic, as I have.
I also love to paint mystical and magical creatures as I have always felt deeply connected to the otherworldly realms.
How is your creation process?
I usually start with a vision in mind, but like to stay very open to how it evolves. When I am in that creative space everything around me falls away and it’s just a conversation between me and the canvas, and what my heart and soul wants to say. I often start my first layers with lots of fluid paint, big brush strokes, and expressive spray paint. Then as it evolves I start to pull out the forms, and add more and more detail till it all comes together in a beautiful symphony.
Do you prefer to paint during the day or at night?
I used to have to paint during the night when I was just starting out with my art business, as I worked full time in the airport during the day, and had small kids. The only time I could paint was in the middle of the night – which meant I often didn’t get to sleep very much. Now that I am a full time artist I prefer to paint in the mornings when my energy is the highest, and with lots of natural daylight. I am an air sign so my home studio is the brightest room in our apartment , with lots of natural light, crystals, plants, and good vibes.
What is the most curious thing that you have been told about any of your paintings?
I’ve often been told by my collectors that I have painted a specific scene in their dream, or vision. I love when this happens as I often feel I am painting for a specific person, and it just flows onto the canvas. I’ve also done many soul portraits for people where I tune into their energy, and aura. I paint their soul, how I see them: their gifts, their dreams, their strengths. Sometimes art can reveal that magic we have a hard time seeing otherwise.
If you could be a magical creature, what would you be?
Since I was a child I have always had very vivid dreams of flying or swimming and breathing underwater, almost like they are real memories from other lifetimes. So I would probably be a sylph fairy or a mermaid.
How you describe your mysticism?
My mysticism is a part of me, it’s who I am. I have always felt myself to be part of something bigger, something we cannot see, but sense and know deep down. I know I am meant to share my visions of the unseen realms and paint them for the world.
The magic of Katrina ́s works isn ́t only in being able to see her inner world, but in that if you keep your senses open and give yourself the opportunity, you may end up believeing in mermaids and winged creatures or, recognizing your animal spirit in one of the artist ́s canvases.
Entrevista concedida a AGAPHE el 16 de Marzo del 2023