15th August 2024
Interview with Katrina Foley
Having fun with different mediums and textures has always been part of Katrina Foley's journey.
Katrina Leanne Foley, aka Potato Picasso over on Instagram, is a Welsh artist, born in the Rhonda Valleys. She has always had a passion for art, from a very young age. Art has always been a safe space for Katrina. She has always been very open and advocated for mental health as she struggled when she was younger and sometimes still struggles to this day.
For her, art isn't just a hobby, it's helped her throughout her life and got her through hard times. Katrina uses clay from our sister company, DAS, and System3 Acrylic Paint to create her art.
What inspired you to pick up a brush and start painting?
Drawing was my first medium, growing up in the day and age when YouTube was becoming more popular, I started to notice other mediums and wanted to try other styles! My favourite YouTuber is Moriah Elizabeth! She inspired me to be more creative in my work and not hold my art to just one medium, thus my many styles were born!
When did your love of art start? Did you always want to be an artist?
I've always been creative from a very young age! I would always find myself in the classroom being more happy when I got to create art! This continued throughout my school years and becoming the woman I am today, full of passion for art and continuing my creativity!
What would be your advice for new artists just starting up?
My advice? Have fun!! Create art that's truly for you, practice always makes perfect whether it takes weeks, months years, or be it your natural! you will progress and you will get better and learn techniques along the way you thought you never could! Never give up on your passion for art if that's truly what you love to do!
What is the best tip you were told early in your career?
To have fun when I'm creating! When something goes wrong you can always pick up a paintbrush and try again, create art that's truly for you! And when you do this you will grow!
How has social media helped your career?
Instagram and Facebook have helped me tremendously! I've always been passionate about posting my art to my Instagram, it's always served as a satisfying portfolio to me, only this year when I started really working towards my goals I got blessed with what I now call my tater family! And I will be forever grateful for all the support I got and continue to get!
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Many artists inspire me! I'm known for drawing my cute style but I've always been a Halloween girly at heart, loving the styles of Tim Burton and junji ito! I strive to try and be different!
What is your favourite Daler-Rowney product and why?
My absolute favourite product has to be the System3 acrylic paint! I've been using it for many years, it's actually the product that got me into enjoying painting more! The colours are so opaque and bright and are probably the best paints I've ever tried! I will always go back to Daler-Rowney's paint as it's definitely my favourite to use!
What is a technique that you haven't tried yet that you would love to try & why?
I would love to try drip painting!! I find myself watching these satisfying videos and yearning to try it myself one day!
Explore Katrina's work further here.
