Art and fashion are intrinsically linked. The meshing together of both mediums is rather intuitive, as the two not only celebrate visual beauty, but are also deeply rooted in self-expressionism. But for some, the connection between the two goes further than that. Case in point: Katie Rodgers’ paintings.
An homage to both fashion and nature, Rodgers’ art proves that culture and nature are the two sides of the same coin. In fact, when it comes to the artist’s inspiration, she draws both from nature (and more specifically flowers) and runway shows. This doesn’t come as a surprise when you take into account her creative background.
Growing up in Georgia, Rodgers admits to being a country girl through and through, and recalls spending time as a child exploring the family’s garden, where she would also form her own imaginative worlds. Art was also an important factor at the time, and Rodgers recalls getting her first professional set of watercolors before the age of seven.
After drawing and painting the majority of her young life, she evolved her hobby by studying Industrial Design in college. While she initially worked as an apparel designer, it wasn’t long before her watercolor paintings caught the attention of high-end designers such as Cartier, Valentino, and Swarovski.
These days, Rodgers is based between New York City and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and is often commissioned by designers to illustrate their designs to give them a more natural, flowing look. “It’s a challenge I enjoy to create something that speaks my style and vision, but also speaks for the brand’s vision,” she admitted in an interview with Impakter, where she shared her unique experience as a fashion illustrator. “There’s a fine line between too little creative direction and too much. It can be tricky!” she noted.
“My work has evolved over the years, but the figures within my work are often a bit abstract,” she she further shared. “I try to keep them as simple as possible. I believe there’s something interesting where my viewer can look at my work and fill in the details in their own way.”
