To Be Announced
Blake Kathryn is an American artist who studied painting in school and quickly moved onto digital art after that. She has been creating in 2D since 2011 and in 3D for a little over a year. Blake is known for her brightly lit, shiny pastel environments with a touch of surrealism that are so photorealistic you almost have to do a double take. Heavily influenced by growing up in the ’90s as well as every place she’s ever frequented, Blake’s work
takes on an appealing life of its own. While there are many artists seemingly doing very similar things as Blake, her work reigns superior as she eases more and more into her own personal aesthetic. She was kind enough to answer a few of my questions.
What’s your background?
I studied graphic design during my collegiate years, with a side of oil painting. My first passions were much more focused in editorial, typographic and branding design. Quite quickly into my professional years I developed a love for illustration and iconography, with minimal geometric styling, which slowly paved the path for my practice today.
When was the first time you made a piece of art? What was it?
My painting courses were the first dose of creating for the sake of it. I loved blending oils to create rich palettes, capturing light and seeing how to abstract my subject matter naturally. The first piece I was proud of, however, was a laser cut clock sculpture I built out with commentary on the hands of 9-to-5 culture and the illusive race to reach the American Dream.
What does freedom mean to you?
What does futuristic mean to you? Freedom: the state of being in your own bliss with the power to keep pursuing that happiness. Futuristic: imagining tomorrow’s utopia while considering the passing of time, technology and design.
What do you like most about being an artist?
Being able to visualize concretely something personal to me that others resonate
with on an emotional level.
What is the underlying message behind the art you make?
As David Lynch enjoys saying, the work is the message. Some of my work nears a visual diary entry while others are excerpts from dreams or observations. I welcome the interpretation and enjoy keeping the true origin to myself.
What does your workday look like?
Can you talk a bit about you process? I’m most effective at handling communication and business matters first thing in the morning. Once complete I’ll split my day between client and personal work. Alternating between projects affords me the ability of circling back to works in progress with fresh eyes, and improving upon them.
My process follows a steady structure regardless if it’s for personal or professional projects. I begin a piece with jotted notes and quick thumbnail sketches. After having a general idea of what I’m looking to create I’ll look to inspiration from various sources to refine my concept. Once I feel good with the overall direction I dive in digitally to actualize the piece with some heavy, dimensional pixel lifting.
How did you cultivate your style within your work?
I’ve always had a preference for creating compositions with bright studio lighting and utilizing materials that have a classical appeal with a touch of surreal. I’ll blame my ’90s upbringing, but I’m heavily drawn to vibrant palettes (Lisa Frank, Saturday cartoons, etc.) and try to blend a Y2K futuristic vision with classic retro-future concept work.
How has your work changed over the years?
Before moving into the 3D medium, I was specializing in icon design. Much of my early work reflects that minimal upbringing through composition and clear focal points. Today my work has become much more complex, quite literally, in both those areas. I’ve also leaned further into working with foliage, environments and natural elements more, which I’ll credit to climate change stresses.
What inspires you the most?
Each place I’ve visited or lived in has bettered my work—offering new perspectives, fresh local art and varying architectural sights. I went to Ike no Taiga’s retrospective at the Kyoto National Museum in 2018 and pocketed a quote he lived by: to be a great artist one must read 10,000 books or travel 10,000 leagues. I opt for the latter.
Contact at
@blakekathryn