Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Czarnecki.
Katie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I have been drawing for as long as I can remember. Some of my earliest memories include drawing tons of whales and dolphins. Everyone in my first-grade class wanted me to draw whales for them. Though I was born and grew up in Colorado, my interest in marine biology was a big source of inspiration for me even as a kid.
I have always been very lucky in the fact that both my parents and those around me support my creative endeavors. My mom was a graphic designer before she became a nurse, and has always been an especially big influence on and supporter of myself and my work. I took art classes all throughout school and participated in contests and art shows. I had a wonderful art teacher in high school, Tim Miller, who’s instruction and critiques helped me flourish and start thinking seriously about a career in the arts. In my last two years of high school, my artistic friends and Mr. Miller made my AP Drawing class a safe space where I could express myself and relax from the stress of the rest of my classes.
Since the age of twelve I’ve known I want to be an animator because of the mix of art and storytelling; two of my favorite things. After applying to several different art schools, I decided to attend the Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, CA where I am currently an animation major in my senior year.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Compared to many people, my artistic journey has been a relatively smooth one. I was lucky enough to know what I wanted to do from a fairly young age, which allowed me to focus on making art seriously and continue to improve over time. I’ve definitely had moments of self-doubt but they’ve never been enough to stop me from creating due to the fact that art is one of the only things I feel I’m truly good at and enjoy doing. I’ve had to deal with rejections from more competitive art schools and internships but ultimately I’m pretty lucky that my drive to draw and tell stories keeps me motivated.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Being genuine and sincere with my work is something I’m always striving for. I feel that it’s easy to tell when artists don’t put their soul into their work or aren’t interested in what they’re drawing, and I hope to avoid that as much as possible.
It’s sometimes tempting to draw something because it’s popular and will get you exposure, but when I’ve done that in the past it leaves me feeling like a fake. I have since decided that having a big online following isn’t something I’m super invested in and I’d rather feel happy about making art.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://katieczarnecki.wixsite.com/artwork
- Email: kczarnecki97@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieczar/
- Other: https://vimeo.com/user42814704
Image Credit:
Hannah Czarnecki
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