In an interview with Bored Panda, Karlotta shared more about her background.
“I moved to the US in 2019 to get my MFA at the SVA in New York.
I loved drawing since I can remember, so as a young grown-up, I tried to find a profession where I could build on that. I think what draws me to art is the process itself. I just really enjoy sitting somewhere drawing. Among people or alone, I am happiest when I draw. And I feel lucky that I built a life where I can do that so much.”
Karlotta continued: “I didn’t know illustration existed for the longest time. I tried being a costume designer in a theater, then a tattoo artist, and then briefly studied graphic design. That same university offered illustration courses and those were the only thing I was interested in, so I switched majors. I am lucky that my parents never questioned any of that.”
The artist also shared more about how she comes up with ideas for her illustrations.
“I like to spend a lot of time thinking about composition and color. I often ask myself: ‘Can I make an image more interesting by adding something in the foreground or background?’ I’m most excited about my work when I can discover something new and surprise myself, so that's what I strive for. Often I can discover something new because clients bring in ideas, references, and goals for themselves, and working with these new elements expands my horizon every time. I also noticed that my work is best when I do it with a lot of attention and kindness. Sometimes that is only possible when I take breaks, so those are an important part of my practice too.”
When asked about what the artist hopes for audiences to take away from her artwork, she responded: “When I love a drawing it makes me want to draw too, so I hope people feel inspired to pick up a pen and piece of paper and start drawing when they see my work.”
