Meet Kathryn Crawford

We recently connected with Kathryn Crawford and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Kathryn with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I get my work ethic from my dad. He’s a self-employed designer, and growing up, I watched him stay incredibly dedicated – not just creatively, but in how he ran his business. He never cut corners, and he taught me that doing the job right matters just as much as doing it on time. He showed me that being your own boss means showing up every day, even when it’s hard, and doing the work with care and integrity. That stuck with me. Now, as a mural painter, I approach my projects the same way – with focus, consistency, and pride in what I’m creating.

Additionally what fuels my drive, is being deeply invested in what I do – when I care about the outcome, As a one-woman business, there’s no one else pushing me to meet deadlines or pursue opportunities. That self-accountability, paired with the excitement of bringing a vision to life, is what keeps me consistently showing up and giving my best.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m a mural artist and studio painter, and I specialize in creating site-specific artwork that brings color, meaning, and a sense of place to both public and private spaces. My work is often inspired by flowers, post modernism, art deco, interior design, renaissance art, and the background or history of a place. At the core of my work is a deep belief in the power of beauty, place, and intentionality. I want my art to feel alive in the environments it’s made for. I’m genuinely grateful for the opportunity to create art that might move the viewer, or art that can shift the atmosphere of a space, even if it’s just a moment of pause in someone’s daily routine.

My background in graphic design shapes how I approach composition, but my passion lies in painting – especially large-scale murals that foster community connection. My process often involves layering, movement, and balance to develop a refined digital design before I ever start using paint. It’s as much about problem-solving and engineering the design as it is about creatively bringing it to life. These behind-the-scenes steps lay the essential foundation, and once I begin painting, I’m able to shift gears – letting go of the analytical mindset and bringing the design to life.

One long time career goal that’s finally becoming a reality is a mural commission in Sicily this September. Being hired to paint abroad – especially in a place with so much personal and artistic significance is a huge milestone in my career. I also have a major project coming up in Washington, D.C. later this year, and I’m working on expanding some more of my paintings as prints.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that have made the biggest impact on my journey are perseverance, self-discipline, and my background in design.

Perseverance has been essential—especially in the challenges of design and execution, and in moments of doubt. There have been plenty of curveballs and obstacles, or days when I question if I could make it work. But continuing to show up, even when it’s hard or uncertain, has made all the difference. Every challenge has helped me build resilience and stay adaptable to unforeseen circumstances.

Self-discipline is what keeps everything moving. Being self-employed, no one’s telling you when to start or stop—you have to be your own manager, motivator, and structure. More often than not, I find myself working way more than I have working for someone else. It’s not always glamorous, but if it’s important enough to you, you show up time and time again.

Lastly, my background in design has also shaped the way I work in really meaningful ways. It gives me a strong foundation in composition, balance, and visual storytelling. Like most artists, I’ve learned how to communicate emotion, energy, and purpose through color, form, and symbolism. But I think it sets me apart from other painters, because it comes from a little bit of a different training, while still helping me create thoughtful, layered hand painted pieces.

For anyone early in their journey, I’d say:

Learn to embrace change and not take it personally – it’s part of working with clients and collaborating to create a vision you both love.

Build habits that support your craft, even when motivation fades.

Keep finding ways to stay inspired – don’t get complacent or settle. Art offers limitless opportunities to push your boundaries to continue to challenge yourself.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I think there’s a lot of power in going all in on your strengths – your style, your voice, your purpose, especially when those strengths are what light you up – but it’s equally important to keep pushing yourself beyond your own self-imposed limits, developing range to support those strengths and keep things moving on an upward trajectory.

For example, my strength has always been in the design process. That’s where I feel the most creative, energized, and authentic. But I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t also spent time building skills that I had to teach myself – like project management, client communication, budgeting, and navigating contracts. Those things definitely had a steeper learning curve, but learning how to handle them gave me more freedom to focus on the art itself, and more confidence to run my business with clarity and integrity.

My advice? Let your strengths be your anchor, but keep learning and don’t ignore the areas that will allow you to do that work more effectively or sustainably. Keep exploring the edges of your comfort zone. You don’t need to be great at everything, but you do need to build enough support around your strengths so they can thrive.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.KathrynCrawfordArt.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kathryncrawfordart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathryncrawfordart/

Image Credits

Main photo of me painting: @gayaman_photo
Rodrigo Gaya