A story of resilience and beauty
A New Orleans watercolor artist, Katherine Klimitas, discovered her passion for painting at an early age. Despite facing challenges that few could imagine, she has transformed her childhood hobby into a thriving career as both an artist and graphic designer.
artist has passion for animals in watercolor
Klimitas specializes in painting animals, particularly those native to Louisiana. “Louisiana has some really beautiful animals and some really beautiful wildlife, especially birds,” Klimitas said. “Every animal has a personality, and I like to bring that out in my artwork.” For Klimitas, the eyes are the most crucial detail in her work. Whether she’s capturing a furry pet or a colorful bird, she believes that eyes reveal the personality of her subjects. “You see somebody in their eyes,” she explained. “You can tell a lot about a person by their eyes.”
overcoming physical challenges
Her process is as unique as her art. Due to her condition, osteogenesis imperfecta—or brittle bone disease—Klimitas paints lying on her side atop a table. “I do almost everything lying down as much as I can,” she said. “It’s easier on my back. It’s easier on my neck.” Born with a genetic bone disease, Klimitas is two and a half feet tall and had experienced more than 500 bone fractures by age 10. Even routine activities can lead to fractures, as she noted: “I had a cough, and when I cough, it happens often.”
artist and watercolor
Despite these obstacles, Klimitas’s determination shines through. As a child, her mother introduced her to watercolor painting to keep her engaged while her peers played sports. “She got me this watercolor set when I was about five, and I loved it,” Klimitas said. That early introduction blossomed into years of art lessons and eventually a degree in graphic design. Now she owns her own art and design business.
don’t stare!
Klimitas also confronts societal challenges with wit. “If you’re gonna stare at me, I’m gonna stare back at you,” she said. “And I’m really good at staring contests, and I win them.” She prefers conversation and doesn’t mind explaining her disability. She said, “Everybody’s got something, so you have to figure out how to deal with it.”
sharing beauty through her brush
Through her delicate brushstrokes, Klimitas captures the beauty she sees in animals and shares it with the world. “When you share your talent, that’s what makes the world better,” she said. Her art, shaped by both her physical challenges and her keen eye for detail, reminds us of the importance of finding beauty in the world around us. Check out more art of Katherine Klimitas on her website, KAK Art & Designs.
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