Illustrator Spotlight: Karen Wolcott
Location: Omaha, NE
Born: Cleveland, Ohio
Education: BFA Visual Communications, Ohio State University
Employment: Self
Website: http://www.wolcottcreative.com/
Karen Wolcott is a highly skilled illustrator and designer. Her work is beautiful and refreshing, showcasing her patience and attention to detail. Take the opportunity to visit her website for yourself and enjoy the Spotlight of Karen Wolcott!
Biography: Karen has been drawing happy people from the moment she picked up her first crayon. Although, she holds a BFA in studio photography and journalism, her biggest love has always been drawing. She worked as a graphic designer, art director and photo editor in Cleveland and Los Angeles before becoming a full-time illustrator in 2001. Karen’s diverse client list includes: American Girl, Bath and Body Works, Cover Girl, Fisher-Price, Hanes, Mattel, PepsiCo, Random House and Scholastic. When she’s not creating vector illustrations on a mac, she likes to throw big pieces of craft paper on the wall and make a mess with pastels and charcoal. Currently, she lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband and son.
How did you realize you wanted to be an illustrator?
When I worked as an art director and graphic designer, I received all the illustration source books like Showcase and The Workbook. I loved looking at them. It was so inspiring. It made me realize how much I missed drawing. I was tired of working in an office and attending “Monday Morning Meetings”. Sometimes you have to reach your breaking point before you make the change you need or want to make.
How would you describe your style or approach to illustration?
I think my style is lighthearted. Most of my work is for children and tweens. I sketch in pencil then scan and redraw it in Adobe Illustrator. Beginning sketches are the longest part of the process for me. When illustrating for clients, I’m trying to work within their guidelines while still putting my own twist on it. Sometimes it takes a lot of sketching before I get in a zone. But once I do, life is good.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
When I first began illustrating, I worked in about 5 different styles. As an emerging illustrator, when you advertise you really need to pick one style so you don’t confuse art directors. They need to be able to associate you with a specific look. When I was trying to decide what illustration style I should pursue and advertise someone told me not to think about which would be more profitable – to only think about which style I enjoyed working in. It’s always better to follow your own happiness than try and figure out what others will like.
What is your best way to break out of a creative rut?
To clear my head I either go to the gym and run or stare up at the sky for a while. Clouds usually calm me.
Where do you draw inspiration for your work?
Playing with my son. He has a great imagination and being around him pushes me to be more whimsical. Everyday things will inspire me like wrapping paper, books, toys, cartoons, plants in my yard or paint chips.
