#NYCShopSmall — Interview with visual artist Katlyn Wolff.
#NYCShopSmall is about giving those small businesses a voice, in a different and special way.
Staten Island native Katlyn Wolff is an up and coming visual artist. She’s dabbled in many different styles of art but ultimately found her calling with painting. Channeling her inner Bob Ross, Katlyn has developed a passion putting a brush to canvas. Some of her other inspirations include Van Gogh, Anthony Hurd, and Zack Dunn. Read more about how she discovered her calling…
Giveaway details below!
Katlyn is being featured, along with some other local artists, in an upcoming gallery on June 23, 2018 at Hub 17 NYC in Staten Island. Find more about the event here!
#NYCShopSmall: Tell me a little about what you do, how you got started, and why you love to do it every day.
Katlyn Wolff: Well I dabble in a little bit of everything but i’m mainly a painter. I drew a lot in grade school and wanted to go to an arts high-school.
For most of my college life I was doing a lot of digital work, graphic design or drawing on a Wacom tablet. I also focused way more on photography.
“I was able to take a figure drawing class and painting class before I left school and that reawakened my desire to make physical art.”
After college I bounced around different prop making jobs. About a year and a half ago I started working for a paint and Sip franchise, which is when I really discovered my passion for painting.
For whatever reason, it feels more free to me than drawing. Which I always wanted and would end up completely stressed out trying to draw anything.
“With painting I kind of let go and let the brush go where it wants.”
#NYCSS: Wow, that’s great. I understand the drawing thing, sometimes the brain and hand clash.
Do you paint specific subjects or just anything that comes to mind?
Katlyn: Anything that comes to mind really. I do a lot of abstract work. When I am doing anything representational, it’s usually landscapes or human forms.
#NYCSS: Do you think your background in graphic design helps at all with your painting? Does it play any role?
Katlyn: Possibly, I’m definitely more aware of color relationships and compositional balance because of it. I actually designed the flier for my gallery in June, but that’s about as far into my art as it goes now. I wasn’t specifically sampling different styles.
“I was just never happy with what I was doing, so I kept moving on to other things.”
In high-school it was mainly drawing and photography. College I started graphic design and some web, booklet, prop and set design, and special effects makeup. But nothing has ever stuck like painting.
#NYCSS: At least you have the experience with all of those different types of design.
“It’s important to try a variety of things until you find that one that you’re completely in love with.”
When did you decide to start selling your art? Do you sell the original pieces or create duplicates?
Katlyn: This past year I started to realize I couldn’t possibly keep all of my paintings. I have a really tiny space and at this point more than half of it is filled with canvases and art supplies. So I figured I should at least make some money off of it.
#NYCSS: That makes sense!
Do you ever have gallery events for just yourself or do you sell whenever you can? Do you sell online as well?
Katlyn: I’m doing my first gallery this June with two friends. I’ve sold pieces recently at an art fair and every so often I get commissioned for something specific. I’m attempting to get a website up so I can really sell work. I also sell prints of some of my favorite paintings.
#NYCSS: That was going to be my next question lol. I think prints are the easiest to sell online. I would assume canvas is a lot more delicate to ship.
Is there a favorite color you like to work with; brushes, tools, etc.?
Katlyn: I do tend to use some of the same colors in my paintings. A lot of phthalo blue, red, and green. I’m just a regular brush kind of girl. Haven’t really explored using palette knives or anything just yet.
#NYCSS: Is there a certain brand you tend to stick with when it comes to brushes?
Katlyn: Not really, I usually go with what’s on sale lol
#NYCSS: That’s reasonable lol.
Is there a certain size canvas you like to work with? Are there any sizes you’d like to experiment with?
Katlyn: I usually work with 16x20, it’s the most accessible. I bought a few 26x30’s but I’d really love to work on a 5x5.
#NYCSS: Do the different sizes influence the subjects you decide to paint or you adjust as you go?
Katlyn: I don’t really consider much beforehand, I just sort of go.
#NYCSS: Very cool!
How long does it usually take you to create a piece, start to finish?
Katlyn: It depends on the piece. I have some that I started and finished in the same day. I have some that I started a year ago, that still aren’t finished.
I don’t really count hours, unfortunately, so I am never sure how many hours of work go into most pieces. I tend to put things down and get back to them when I’m ready.
#NYCSS: I understand lol.
Are there any artists that inspire you and your work?
Katlyn: A bunch of the masters, of course, Van Gogh is one of my favorites. As for newer artists, I really love Anthony Hurd’s work, very abstract landscape trippy kind of stuff that I vibe with. Zack Dunn is another crazy painter who blows my mind. I used to make a lot more macabre creepy art that was closer to his style.
“But, I find I get most of my inspiration from real life. In fact, the two artists I’m doing the gallery with have probably influenced me the most.”
#NYCSS: That must be very cool working with some of the same artists that inspired you.
So I know you mentioned previously selling a few pieces. Do you paint just to create and happen to make some money in the process or are you looking to generate a full-time income?
Katlyn: A little bit of both.
“I started painting just to create, but since I am an artist for work as well, I’ve kind of figured out the style of art that sells.”
For the fair I recently attended, I painted a bunch of pieces with the intent to sell.
In fact, I didn’t actually sell any of the pieces I made to just paint, those I’m saving for the gallery.
“But, it would be amazing to be able to live off of my art.”
#NYCSS: Especially because you love doing it! It’s a bonus to make a living that way, you seem well on your way.
Since you’re working your way towards creating and selling, is there a business side that you had to learn along the way?
Katlyn: I actually realized that I had to apply for a business license to legally sell any artwork in NY State because you have to pay taxes on art sales. If I make any online sales that are shipped out of state, I have to pay shipping taxes as well as adjust the amount of tax collected from the buyer, based on where they live. Sooo that’s a lot of fun…
“Another thing I realized is how hard networking is and getting yourself out there. Instagram is a great tool for it when you figure out how to increase followers and engage with them. It’s also the easiest in that aspect.”
Eventually I’ll make a Facebook page, I started a Twitter account that I don’t really use yet. My website is a little more of a priority since I don’t really want to use an online marketplace, like Etsy.
#NYCSS: Wow, that’s great to know, especially for aspiring artists looking to eventually sell their work as well.
“Instagram is definitely great because it’s very visual. Twitter is more of a “happening now” platform. You have to be very active on Twitter in order to see real numbers and engagement. I like to go into the “trending” topics every now and then, and interact there. People see it and engage with me.”
Is there a subject or genre of painting you’d like to explore but haven’t yet?
Katlyn: A lot of my non-representational work is inspired by metaphysics. My representational pieces, usually with human form, is mostly inspired by my experience with depression. So as far as exploring genres, I am slightly locked in, to a degree.
“I’m also not super creative; I actually have a hard time coming up with ideas.”
I think after this gallery, I’m going to do more realistic landscapes. Maybe go outside and paint on location or take photographs for reference.
#NYCSS: Have you thought about starting a YouTube channel to teach or show techniques for other beginner artists or people intimidated by the painting world?
Katlyn: It’s actually been suggested to me a few times. I know that Twitch is also becoming somewhat of a haven for creatives. But I struggle trying to get decent live streams going on here, so I’m not sure about filming and editing something regularly.
#NYCSS: Do you watch, read, or listen to certain things to learn more or ? Has a particular book, class, or video helped you learn more?
Katlyn: I haven’t really done any of my own research into painting other than a college course in oils, even though it was more of an open studio and not so much instruction.
“But, Bob Ross is really the master. I’ve picked up on so many techniques zoning out to him.”
#NYCSS: You’re going to laugh but I used to put his show on to go to sleep. Not that he’s boring, but because his voice is so calming. He was amazing and makes everything look so easy, even when he makes mistakes.
Katlyn: His happy little accidents lol..
#NYCSS: He’s very soothing!
What advice would you give someone thinking about starting to paint or even if they have a bit of experience but want to pursue it further?
Katlyn: I’d say, just go for it. I didn’t really have any training, only maybe a few dozen hours of painting experience and got a job as a painting instructor.
“I learned most of what I know by trial and error.”
Start with something easy like a beach-scape or sunset.
#NYCSS: What’s the process as a painting instructor in that type of setting? I’ve been to a few of those types of places and I’ve always been curious how the instructors learned to break down the steps the way they do.
Katlyn: We have instructions that we’re meant to follow but most of the time we do it our own way. We just look at the painting and figure out what order makes the most sense.
#NYCSS: Would you say that job really pushed you to paint on your own?
Katlyn: Yes definitely!
#NYCSS: What’s the best and worst purchase/investment you’ve made for creating or selling pieces? What did you learn from it?
Katlyn: I invested in a Cannon printer so I could make my own prints instead of having them done somewhere else. It paid for itself pretty quickly.
#NYCSS: Interesting!
What made you decide to do that instead of outsource?
Katlyn: I’m very big into DIY! I also figured it would save me money in the long run. I could print on demand and ship the same day instead of ordering prints in bulk and having to store them or having to run out every time and delaying the shipment.
#NYCSS: That’s very true and smart!
Is there a bad investment you’ve made?
Katlyn: Nothing I can really think of. The worst thing I tend to do is buy a lot of stuff when Michaels is having a sale lol. I probably spend way too much money, but in the long run it turns some sort of a profit.
#NYCSS: Michaels is amazing, I can spend hours in that place.
What technology innovation would you say has had the most impact on your life?
Katlyn: Technology and I aren’t really friends, so I don’t really know how to answer lol
#NYCSS: I understand, most people aren’t friends with technology lol
If you could pick up a new skill instantly, what would it be and why?
Katlyn: If I could pick up any new skill, it would probably be knowing how to do electrical work. Right back to that DIY side of me.
#NYCSS: If you were a new addition to the crayon box, what color would you be and why?
Katlyn: I would definitely be a pastelly minty seafoam color.
#NYCSS: Why that color?
Katlyn: Im drawn to that color. I’ll buy things just because they are that color lol.
#NYCSS: Interesting!
What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever done?
Katlyn: That’s a hard one to answer lol. I was a bit of a wild child in high school. My friends and I did a lot of crazy shit!
#NYCSS: Which four individuals, alive or dead, would you like to eat dinner with the most?
Katlyn: Van Gogh, Neil Degrasse Tyson, Kesha, and probably my best friend! He’d have questions for them that I wouldn’t even think of.
#NYCSS: Very cool! Kesha?
Katlyn: She’s the best!
#NYCSS: Would you rather be 10 minutes late or 20 minutes early?
Katlyn: I’m always 10 minutes late.
#NYCSS: I understand the struggle lol.
Would you rather know the history of every object you touched or be able to talk to animals?
Katlyn: Talk to animals.
#NYCSS: Really? I would have thought you were going to say the history of objects. Touching a Van Gogh painting or an old paint brush. That would be pretty cool.
Would you rather have a flying carpet or a car that can drive underwater?
Katlyn: Car that can drive underwater.
#NYCSS: Would you rather wake up in the middle of an unknown desert or wake up in a row boat on an unknown body of water?
Katlyn: Probably a desert.
#NYCSS: Would you rather travel the world for a year, all expenses paid or have $50,000 to spend on whatever you want?
Katlyn: Travel!
#NYCSS: Very cool!
You can follow Katlyn on Instagram here! Don’t forget to RSVP to her upcoming gallery at Hub 17 NYC on June 23rd in Staten Island — here!
Giveaway Details!
Katlyn and I have teamed up to bring all of you art enthusiasts and collectors, another giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a printed version, of their choice, from one of Katlyn’s pieces. We will upload the giveaway post with the 5 choices you get to choose from, if you win.
2 easy steps:
- Step 1: Like the giveaway photo.
- Step 2: Follow Katlyn and #NYCShopSmall on Instagram.
Those 2 steps will get you one entry.
*Bonus entry if you tag a fellow art lover in the comments of the post*
Giveaway ends June 26th! Winner will be announced June 27th.
