Sit Down With Our #090 Featured Artist

 Kateřina Krámová

Featured Artist / #128 ScrawlrBox 

I’m an illustrator and graphic designer currently based in Prague, Czech Republic. Although I have some formal art education, my journey with watercolour started later, when I discovered it on my own alongside digital illustration.

I run a small business creating handmade ceramic palettes for artists, and I also sell stationery products featuring my illustrations. In addition to painting, I host workshops and offer illustration services. I’ve never wanted to choose just one direction, so my work naturally combines all of these areas.

Your work has a strong sense of atmosphere and calm, we love it. What first drew you to painting, and how did your style develop?

I struggled with finding my style for a long time, it took me almost five years to feel like I’d found what I was looking for. I started with watercolour illustrations, mostly painting animals and landscapes from photos. Then I moved into more stylised illustration and experimented a lot. A turning point was when I began using abstract splashes of paint and water and finding shapes in them. Later, I joined an Instagram challenge where I pushed myself to create full compositions instead of just characters. That’s when I started painting more loosely and focusing more on colour than subject. One of those paintings still hangs in my studio as a reminder of where it all began. My work is still evolving, but I finally feel like I’ve built a solid base.

Where do you find inspiration, is it rooted in real places, memory, or something more imagined?

Mostly in nature. I spend a lot of my free time walking or hiking, and I’m constantly inspired by landscapes like mountains, hills, and meadows. My paintings come from imagination and memory rather than direct references, but they’re deeply rooted in these experiences.

Do you find granulation changes the way you think about texture compared to smoother watercolours?

I use granulation a lot in my work and see it as a bit of magic in the painting. I love that it’s difficult to control and impossible to recreate in the exact same way every time, unlike smoother watercolours. Pigment granulation is what makes watercolour such a unique technique, and I find it fascinating to explore the different textures it can create.

Are there particular subjects (like landscapes, skies, stone, or foliage) where you feel granulating paints really shine?

I use them a lot for ground surfaces, grass, and sometimes skies. They add a natural feel, so I use them wherever I want something to look more organic.