We had the good fortune of connecting with Karolina Adams and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Karolina, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I first entered the world of art shows it very much took priority. I was doing a lot of shows in state and out of state, which left little room for anything else. I missed some great vacation time with my husband and friends, for example, to do shows. I was constantly in my studio drawing, painting, printing, framing, etc. I don’t regret it though. I feel that that focus was needed to build my art business. Today I’m a lot more relaxed. For my own sanity, I need the life-work to be in balance. I value my time to myself and my time with my husband and friends. It fills me and actually makes me a better artist. Today I only do 8-9 art festivals a year plus some gallery shows. There are times where I will schedule a gallery show/s and and art festivals at the same time, overlapping or every weekend for a couple of months in a row but it doesn’t happen very often. The events really have to be worth it to me to pack myself full like that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My artwork is introspective in nature, which means I purge out my thoughts and feelings with ink onto paper, usually. I’m constantly checking in with myself and reflecting on what is happening with me internally. I examine my thoughts and my emotions and I “talk” about these experiences and how I deal with it, in a clean, minimal, and quirky style. Although these stories are personal, they communicate everyone’s emotions. Everyone of us deals with darkness, weakness, limitation, as well as, happiness and triumphs while finding the strength. I guess I illustrate what it is to be human.

My road to being a professional artist has had an organic flow. I’m a self-taught artist. I went to school for interior architecture and graduated with a BFA. Entered the field but after many years of the rigid schedule of a commercial TI designer didn’t leave much room for creativity. It physically and mentally drained my free, go-with-the-flow spirit. So while searching for my way in life synchronicity took place. I was asked about my art, which had me pull out my old drawings from collage years. One drawing, a tryptic, wasn’t finished, so I decided to finish it. I laid it out on my kitchen table where I worked on it. In the meantime a friend of mine stopped by. He saw the piece and persuaded me to contact a local gallery, as he was moved by the emotion it carried. Earlier in the day, he stumbled upon a gallery in Oldtown Scottsdale and took one of their business cards. He gave me the card and I decided to follow the lead. I was invited to present my work to a panel of jurors, got accepted and was with the gallery for five years. From there other galleries expressed interest in representing my work. A few years later I was “pushed” by my biggest cheerleader, my husband, to do Fine Art Festivals. Now my favorite part of my job.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
Downtown Chandler to the Brickyard restaurant. They serve amazing food. Great atmosphere too. for dinner one night. I love the Dhaba for some Punjabi cuisine. And the House of Tricks in Tempe is great. Being an artis I want to give a shoutout to a GREAT gallery the {9} gallery in Phoenix. I love their first fridays as there’s always new art on view. The owners are fantastic. Just a great atmosphere. I also love the Olney gallery for first Friday exhibits.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Henry Bosak IG @Bosakfineart is someone who I’m constantly impressed with. His style of work is realistic painting and at times it’s hard to tell if it’s a photograph or a painting…until you get close to the piece. He’s incredible. If you don’t know his work you should.

IG @Be_Mo_Kind is a company that I love. Their message to be more tolerant, understanding and just Be Mo’ Kind is something I stand behind. They have really rad clothes with their logo that I wear proudly.

IG @Ba.Sko is a great graphic artist. Her work is similar to mine as it’s clean and minimal with lack of color or just one punch of color.

If you love pottery and quirky/funky “pot” check out IG @Augusta_pots . I have a few of his pieces and just put in an order for a set of cups.

Website: karolinaAdams.com
Instagram: Karolina.Adams
Facebook: Karolina Adams