We sat down with Katie Romeo to ask about her life as an artist, her creative journey, and what she finds most rewarding about creating art. Katie's latest collection of original paintings arrives Thursday, August 1! Shop Golden Days exclusively at The Studio Collective!
What is the most rewarding thing for you about painting?
Sometimes life can be hard. I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety in the past, and still do sometimes now. I’ve found that when I am painting and creating something out of nothing, I’m really able to get lost in the process. It stops my mind from thinking about all of the millions of other things going on in my own personal life as well as the world in general and the only place I am is in this painting. It’s exhilarating starting and not knowing where I’ll end up, aside from the colors I’ve chosen to use. On top of that, creating something that’s never existed in the world before is so special and unique to me, and the fact that it may bring joy to other people as well is just the icing on the cake.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned on your creative journey?
Stop worrying about what others think and get rid of the imposter syndrome. When you’re vulnerable enough to put something as personal as your original artwork out into the world, you have to know that people may have opinions about it and you may not like some of those opinions. Stop caring what other people think. If you’re not painting for yourself and being true to yourself with your art, then what’s the point? Let them talk. And know that you are worthy to be on this stage with everyone else. Your people will find you.
Favorite quote creativity?
“I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way - things I had no words for.” - Georgia O’Keefe
Tell us about how art impacts your life:
I feel like art is magical because it’s an expression of what’s going on inside someone else’s mind/imagination. Sometimes I look at painting and am in awe at how someone dreamed it up out of nowhere. It makes me appreciate the gifts that so many people in the world were given and how amazing it is that they’re willing to share those with us, and it makes the world a more beautiful and interesting place.
