May Instagram Fave - Hülya Özdemir

When I find an Instagram page where I can’t stop scrolling I feel I need to share! One painting after the other made me stop and smile.

Hülya Özdemir is a Turkish artist from Istanbul who creates incredibly colorful and full of pattern watercolor paintings. The whimsical and beautiful women she portrays have vivid personalities that are full of life. I love her mix of contrasting textures within each piece. The individuality of their expressions, color and various flora and fauna that surround them, gives them vibrant life.

You can see more here.

I am super inspired! Gotta go get my paints out.

Vibrant watercolor by Turkish designer Hulya Ozdemir.

© Hülya Özdemir

© Hülya Özdemir

All images in this post are © Hülya Özdemir

© Hülya Özdemir

© Hülya Özdemir

© Hülya Özdemir

© Hülya Özdemir

Vibrant watercolor

© Hülya Özdemir

© Hülya Özdemir

Happy Spring!

Well, Covid brought on a big drought of creativity for me, hence my absence from blogging! I had a few bright sparks here and there and things are finally feeling a little more open and friendly again.

One thing I had so much fun discovering, is how much I enjoy painting on walls and being outside! I was always a bit nervous about the thought of doing a large scale mural with no “undo” button. Can’t hit command+z if there’s a goof! But having encouraging friends was the impetus I needed to go for it.

When my good friend, and wonderful artist Rebecca (check her insta feed @art_attorney) asked me to help her paint a mural on her backyard fence, I couldn’t wait. I started the process by comping up a few ideas (below) for her to choose from. She chose option F and we talked about colors she wanted to use (some that matched her garden flowers) and over the course of a week and a half I painted a few hours a day.

And staying on a roll I painted another on the side of my friend’s studio in Joshua Tree. So fun! It was hot and crazy windy but fun painting in the desert as the sun set. Excited to see what comes next!

Joshua Tree, CA

Instagram Live Interview - Monday 10/21 at 5PM PST!!

Hi Friends,

Just wanted to let you know about a really fun Instagram LIVE event this coming Monday Oct 21. If you are an art lover, join in at 5:00 pm for an interview with yours truly, hosted by Leigh Lucas, founder of Frida (@frida_art_show).

Frida is a “one woman auction house” that showcases various artists in their environments and allows viewers to purchase art from them right on the spot! So tune in for this LIVE event. It’s gonna be a blast.

Details for joining will be posted on @frida_art_show and @katja_designs so be sure to follow us both!

There will be a free giveaway to one lucky viewer! (It might be a scarf! :)

Hope to see you there!

-Katja

Blue Print Show in SF October 1-3, 2019

BP+SFO+List+3.jpg

I’ll be exhibiting at the Blueprint Show in SF this year and I’m getting super excited for next week’s show. How could I not participate!? It’s right in my backyard!

This is the first time I’ll be sharing my designs at a print show, so I’m not 100% sure of what to expect, but I imagine I’m going to meet some really great people, and hope they like what I have to offer!

The show is primarily for industry people—buyers and agents and the like—but the public may also attend for a fee of $60.00. It runs for 3 days during the week Oct 1-3.

Gallery 308
Landmark Building A, 2 Marina Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94123

10/1 & 10/2 9:30 - 6:00

10/3 9:30- 3:00

Maybe I’ll see you there!

—Katja

p.s. If you have ever wanted to showcase your work, and you missed the deadline for this one, do not despair…there is another SF show coming up in May 2020. Just submit an application!

Sophie Parker of WIFE - Botanical Artist

Sometimes you come across an artist who takes your breath away. Discovering Sophie Parker/WIFE’s work did that to me. Here’s a little about her design philosophy as stated on her website:

WIFE is a botanical studio based in Brooklyn specializing in plant based artworks and custom arrangements. Artist and Creative Director, Sophie Parker, looks at the botanical world as a sculptural medium. Drawing from her background as a painter and visual artist, Parker merges the handmade with the organic. Her work aims to challenge classical notions of floral arranging by reimagining traditional forms and offering new modes of thinking about what is “natural.

Begin holding breath now.

All images © Sophie Parker

Source: http://www.wifenyc.com/

Textile Artist - Inger Johanne Rasmussen

I came across the artwork of the Norwegian textile artist Inger Johanne Rasmussen and was very taken with it. I love how she combines various forms of textile manipulation from dying her own fabric, cutting and piecing shapes together in a quilt-like fashion, and then embroidering scenes on top.

Check out her website here and see a video on her process and work here . Enjoy!

JJ Keras Collection

Happy to share that my designs can be seen on the JJ Keras line of Kompass drink and dishware. This was a really fun collaboration!

These bowls and tumblers are different from anything else you find in stores. They have an awesome MiLiOZ measuring feature so you can get just the right serving every time—whether for a specific recipe, or for portion control. They are made in the USA, BPA free and made with FDA approved Tritan material.

They are currently available on sites including amazon.com, zulily.com or direct from Kompass drinkware and many more outlets to come.

You can also watch a video here that shows just how versatile they are.

New Items in my Etsy Shop! →

Hey ya’ll! Check out some of my new products (and a few old favorites). Available now in my Etsy shop! And my fabrics are still available via Canvas Etc.

Inspired By - Vikings

I have Viking in me (according to my 23 and Me results). But that’s not the only reason I’ve been fascinated lately. It must be from my current obsession with the show Vikings and the trip I made to Iceland a few summers ago. I’ve always found Nordic cultures, along with their folk heritages and design so special. It probably goes back to my youth growing up in Northern Europe, i.e. Germany and Finland. (I’m also completely obsessed with “Scandi-Noir” crime dramas, but that’s a whole other discussion. Hit me up if you want a list of the best).

The images I collected for inspiration give me a feeling of beautiful craftsmanship, cold and ice, and dark days; and and that’s what my inspiration board is. A collection of images which excite and inspire me to feel a certain way, and in turn influence my designs.

What is your latest obsession or inspiration for your designs?

Katja Blog

APRIL INSTAGRAM FAVE - CHLOE HILL

If you want some quirky and colorful style in your feed. Check out Chloe Hill my latest favorite fashionista to watch.

Trend Forecaster Mirella Bruno →

Mirella has been my favorite trend forecaster to follow for many years now. Whenever I need a glimpse into what is going on and what is coming up in the trend world, I look to her incredible compositions. I could really scroll through them for hours and hours. She has the most incredible eye and her work is lush and vibrant, always telling a bold story. Here are a few examples—enjoy this feast for the eyes! See more of her wide scope of work here.

Artist Spotlight: Rafaela Mascaro

I found a bold print of the the Brazilian artist Rafaela Mascaro on Pinterest and had to investigate to see more. And oh boy, is there more! You know I’m drawn to bold and colorful art especially if it includes patterns and that is exactly what these are times 10. Click link above to see more from this versatile artist and click on images to purchase prints.

Currently Coveting

Here’s a little bit of my own inspiration for the week. I was really struck by this particular piece of art by Sally West. It has stayed in my mind for a few days now and I wanted to share. I think I’m most struck by how spare, yet bold the strokes are. It’s just a bunch of little blobs and smears of color on a canvas, yet you feel the brightness of a blue sky beach day immediately.

It makes me want to practice using fewer strokes for greater impact; a good creative challenge for the week!

Trending: Big Cats

I’m really into big cats and big cat patterns like dots and spots and stripes. I’m seeing them in art, on runways, everywhere! And I love it. Here are a few favorites from my Big Cats Pinterest board. Click through the images to see more from these artists.

Source: https://pin.it/snknsp7azzr2qp

My Fabric is Real!

© 2018 Katja Ollendorff Fabric.png

If you get my quarterly newsletter this may not be new news to you. But for everyone else, I have an exciting announcement: I have fabric! This has been a long-time dream of mine to be able to offer my designs on fabric and it is finally here! There are currently 50+ designs, in multiple colorways and 20 different types of fabric to choose from. More designs are added regularly so be sure to come back often.

I am partnering with a sister company of Canwil Textiles called Canvas ETC. They are a U.S-based, minority woman-owned company, that has served as a wholesaler to many businesses since 2002 and now is offering retail services catering to makers and crafters.

They are based in Auburn, GA with their facility for printing in India, where they adhere to high environmental standards in reducing waste and lowering carbon footprint. They also offer cut and sew services which are realized in Blue Ridge, GA so they can help you complete your individual projects, all made in the U.S.

If you have questions about anything you see on the site, just let me, or Canvas ETC, know and we’ll do our best to accommodate your request; and if you love a design that you don’t see on their site, just let me know and I’ll do my best to make that available for you.

Thanks for your support and I look forward to seeing what you do with these new fabrics!

Latest News

Wow it's been a minute since I last posted anything. I think that's because I've been happily busy with work that keeps me completely interested and fulfilled. Probably the first time in my life I can say that with 100% honesty!

Working at Old Navy has been such a wonderful experience. I just had my first designs show up in store and that was super exciting to see. I've learned so much working alongside an amazing group of über talented people.