Meet Katie Bloom

We recently connected with Katie Bloom and have shared our conversation below.

Katie, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I stay creative by surrounding myself with the music, movies, and artworks that inspire me most. It can be easy to get stuck in a rut or feel a pang of impostor syndrome—but reminding myself of what brings me creative joy helps me to recenter. I’ve also curated my Instagram feed to suggest project tutorials and ideas, so I can keep brainstorming even when I’m scrolling.

I’m also driven by the feeling that comes from positive interactions with my community. As an artist—who depicts uniquely personal situations, at that—I feel so fulfilled when others make meaningful connections with my work. Seeing it bring joy to someone else’s life reminds me why I love sharing my art, which further motivates me to keep producing.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Katie Bloom! You might know me as kbloomart, which is the handle I use for social media. I first gained a following from making realistic pencil drawings, but I’ve since expanded to include all forms of portraiture. I now create in whichever way I feel my vision is best represented—whether that’s in a drawing, painting, design, photograph, or video!

My art is greatly inspired by the human experience. I’m fascinated by life’s mix of relatability and nuance—how we all have the same thoughts and feelings, yet we each see our own perception of them. My hope is for each of my works to reflect a piece of my heart, while also sparking connections in my audience.

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?

In any aspect of artistry—whether it’s communicating with clients, delegating tasks to your team, or even addressing cashiers at an art store—it’s essential to be kind and respectful. Apart from the obvious reasons for being polite, it also sets the tone for the way others perceive you and your art. For me, keeping this in mind has shaped my career both personally and professionally. It’s helped me to establish a reputation of being kind and approachable—which makes for more happy customers, as well as stronger relationships within my community!

It’s also important to always remain open to learning. Regardless of your level of experience, there is always something new to discover. It can feel daunting or even embarrassing to ask for guidance, but no genuine person would judge you for wanting to build your skills. Rather, it tends to cultivate a feeling of respect! Some of my most treasured relationships have been my mentors and teachers. I’ve never turned down an opportunity to learn from others, and I’ve gained so much valuable experience as a result. Even if you think you’ve mastered what someone is teaching, you never know—they might use more efficient techniques, have resources they can connect you with (e.g. a framing company), or just be a potential friendly face to know in the industry!

Lastly, I’ve always made a point to stay true to myself. While social media trends can be a great way to engage with your audience, it’s important to remember what content *you* want to make. Don’t lose sight of why you love to create in the first place! I’ve found that a great compromise is to add your own twist to trending topics. That way, you can appeal to the masses while still maintaining your originality.

My advice to new creatives is to always stay kind, honest, open-minded, and authentically yourself. Be mindful of nonreciprocating peers and potential bots/scammers, but don’t forget to respond to positive comments. A kind word goes a long way… no amount of support is guaranteed, so let your audience know you appreciate them! The journey won’t always be easy, but you won’t go wrong if your intentions are good and you’re creating from the heart.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

I’m always looking to collaborate! I love putting myself out there and exchanging ideas with anyone who shares my passion for art. I’d even enjoy the chance to learn from someone in an entirely different field! If anyone reading this would like to collaborate, definitely feel free to reach out. My contact info is available on my Instagram page (@kbloomart)!

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Personal Photo: Megan Hinton

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