A LITTLE BIT ABOUT KATARINA'S STORY
For as long as she can remember, Katarina Givens has loved creating. What began with drawing as a child gradually grew into a lifelong passion for exploring art in all its different forms.
As a solo Deaf independent mixed-media artist, Katarina enjoys working across a variety of mediums—from traditional, hands-on artwork to digital drawing on her iPad. She doesn’t limit herself to one subject, material, or style. Instead, she allows her creativity to change and grow alongside her interests, experiences, and inspiration.
Much of Katarina’s work is inspired by the things she loves, her hobbies, and the simple moments and stories found in everyday life. She enjoys taking something that catches her eye or sparks an idea and transforming it into a piece that reflects the way she sees it.
Her creative process is personal and unhurried. Katarina likes to thoughtfully plan each piece while giving herself the freedom to change direction as her vision develops. For her, that ever-changing “vision” is part of what makes creating art exciting—it gives her the opportunity to experiment, discover new subjects, and continue developing a style that feels uniquely her own.
At the heart of it all is the same love for creating that started when she was young: taking an idea from her imagination and bringing it to life.
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Traditional art gives me the freedom to experiment with different materials, textures, and techniques. I enjoy working with quality surfaces such as Arches cold-press watercolor paper and canvas, along with a variety of paints, pencils, brushes, and other materials. I love seeing an idea develop from a blank surface into something completely my own.
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Digital art has become another way for me to bring my ideas to life. I create primarily on my iPad using Procreate, and I use a paper-like screen protector to give drawing a more natural, textured feel. I love the flexibility digital art gives me to sketch, experiment with colors, and develop an idea wherever inspiration happens to find me.
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Wood art combines my love of creating with working hands-on. I use an electric wood-burning tool to create designs directly onto the surface, allowing the natural grain, texture, and character of each piece of wood to become part of the artwork. Because no two pieces of wood are exactly alike, every finished creation has its own unique character.
