Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Madsen Berg.
Hi Katrina, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Life is sweeter in candy color! My oil paintings are a celebration of those sweet moments in between the hard and unsavory…a refuge from the unwanted parts of life that so often visit us all. Thick strokes of paint & color with stained glass shine — are windows to the deepest treasured memories in our hearts. Life is rarely easy and jolly…but savoring the sweet moments gives us the strength we need to find peace, growth, and fulfillment along our journey.
Formally trained as a landscape architect, my work beckons the “outside-in” by depicting the natural world: flora & fauna in her yard, neighboring fields, and from her travels. My husband, daughter & 4 sons live in a quirky but modern concrete home in Midway, Utah. You can hear more about my story, process, latest in the studio and artist journey on my podcast: the CANDYcolored studio on my website (katrinaberg.com), or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like many creatives, I felt pushed towards college degrees that were more practical. I started 4 different majors at Brigham Young University: Construction Management, Interior Design, French Teaching, and finally received an Early Childhood Education degree. Then I went on to Architecture school at UNLV and switched again, receiving a degree in Landscape Architecture. Working as a City Planner and also in the Landscape Design world was great until I had our oldest. Life and work were more complicated with little ones. I’d begun painting in Las Vegas, and found so much joy creating while my oldest 3 were napping or had gone to bed. I knew that was all I wanted to do. My mother suggested I go back to school so I could learn to be an artist. But we weren’t near any Universities/Art Programs and had 3 children under the age of 3. I decided I would paint my way through it. My process and style came over time – it was not as efficient teaching myself, but I chose to be committed to my passion.
Marketing and shows were also complicated. Our small valley had one local plein air show a year but that was really it. So, I started an online gallery with a handful of local artists. These were blogging days (pre-Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, etc.) – I posted a painting each weekday on our website/blog and emailed our contacts once a week. It was slow going, of course.
Finally, Instagram hit the scene and I had new struggles – I was finally aware of shows about an hour from our home and started to apply and participate. We learned to juggle all of our individual passions and support one another within our family of 7, but there were many things I gave up along the way. Now that we have 3 high schoolers and twin 8-year-olds, doing regular shows an hour or more away has become too difficult, so I have given up the majority of these events. The latest struggle has been my studio space. When I first started doing large pieces, we moved my studio into our Living Room. I’ve now grown out of that space as I prepare for a Solo Show of Large Pieces (nothing smaller than 48×48 that will debut at Alpine Art in Salt Lake Spring ’23) and our family needs the space back, LOL. I’m sure that as long as I progress down this beautiful journey, there will continue to be more struggles, but I am happy to face each as they come.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My contemporary candy-colored oil paintings are created using thick strokes with my brush & palette knife. Unlike most artists, my artwork begs to be touched and I welcome it. The thick yummy paint can make the experience so much more personal. With 5 kiddos, each piece has been carefully varnished & made as durable as possible. I paint only on wood…I achieve the most shine and color intensity that way. I only use Winsor & Newton Artisan Oils. These oil paints are different than most because instead of mixing the paint and cleaning it up with turpentine or other mediums, I am able to clean my brushes with soap and water. There is also less smell and toxins, which were the original draw since our family is very sensitive to chemicals. I have found that it’s much easier to paint abroad or while traveling because my material list is so small.
The thick paint, stained-glass shine, contemporary design, candy-colored hues, and curvy shapes are what help me stand out and are probably what I’m most known for. Also, the subjects I paint most are large-scale botanicals with birds and other creatures hidden within the piece, landscapes from my travels, spiritual topics, and any other still life/creatures that intrigue me.
I guess the thing I’m most proud of is that I’m no longer a “starving artist” LOL – and to all the creatives, artists, and entrepreneurs out there: yes, it is possible!!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Where to begin?!! LOL. Commit to your work and give up whatever is not imperative so that you can accomplish your goals as a creative. Sometimes that means saying “no” to more things than you’d like. It also means asking for help. For me, it meant teaching my kids to do their laundry when they were 5, how to cook for themselves and our family, how to support one another, and realize that we all need to take turns at events & activities. I quickly realized I needed to make priorities a priority and to be as organized as possible – efficient with my time on the business side and creative time. Make friends with other artists, find a local chapter, create your own, or start an online group/mastermind. Learn from business entrepreneurs and marketers. Listen to podcasts! (My CANDYcolored studio podcast has marketing & business tips for artists & entrepreneurs, peeks into my journey as a mother, entrepreneur & artist, realness & red pills about life, learning, and our human journey.) What I wish I’d known before starting out? Don’t give up – it’s totally and completely worth every stubble, trip, success & failure – it’s going to be the most beautiful journey filled with joy, friendship, light, and love.
Pricing:
- originals oils start at $200 (4×4)
- 48×96 = $22,064
- prints start at $35
- clutch purses start at $35
- tea towels = $15 ea.
Contact Info:
- Website: katrinaberg.com
- Instagram: @katrina.berg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katrinabergfineart
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO4SECfwXDYrDLfz0v9V3Hg
- Other: https://katrinaberg.com/pages/email-list
