@karo_oh

Instagram: @karo_oh Website: www.karooh.com

1. What's your story? Where are you from?

I’m german but grew up in a beautiful part of Austria called Salzkammergut. At the moment I call Graz my hometown. Graz is Austria’s second-biggest city and has a lovely southern vibe. After university, I worked as a motion designer and only at the beginning of 2017 started to get more into illustration. Since then I am trying to draw as often as possible. Now I am self-employed, offering illustration and animation to lovely clients all over the world.

2. Tell us about your aesthetic.

I’m all about spreading good vibes so I like to use ‘happy’ colors and always limit my palette. Simplicity is a big factor in my work too - you probably won’t see one of my ladies in front of extensive background. That’s another thing: I usually only draw women because that’s just what comes naturally to me.

3. What is your favourite medium and why?

For drawing, I prefer starting with a good old pen and paper and then switch to my Wacom tablet + Photoshop. I’m playing with the idea of buying an iPad Pro because everybody is raving about Procreate and I have to admit it sounds pretty cool to be able to draw digitally while lying on the couch.

4. What is your artistic process like?

I write down a lot of ideas throughout the day or while reading books so that I always have a long list of concepts at hand. When I start drawing I simply choose whatever feels good that day. I usually listen to podcasts while creating an illustration or animation. This distracts me just enough to get me into that sweet spot where I am relaxed and the most creative. With my personal work, I don’t want to force anything so I just go with the flow and see how it turns out.

5. Who and/or what inspires your work?

So many things. I draw a lot of inspiration from yoga and cool body movements but as well enjoy making small observations in everyday life and including these episodes in my illustrations. I also love listening to people tell their stories or simply share a fun anecdote.

6. What role does art play in your life? How does it change the way you view the world?

Art has always played a huge role in my life. From a young age on I was playing the guitar, singing and drawing little characters everywhere. I kind of neglected that side of me for some years while getting my bachelor which had a huge focus on technology. I’m so happy that I took the turn back and spend so much time drawing and expressing myself now. It’s really cool to be able to share these things with people online.

7. Where did you study?

I got my bachelor of science in Media-technology and -design in Hagenberg (basically a very small village with a lot of IT-people in it) and a Master of Arts in Media Design from the FH Joanneum in Graz.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?

I don’t really have my life planned out but having kids, living closer to nature and being able to still draw for a living would be pretty okay.

9. What about in ten?

Same thing + not caring about anyone’s opinion anymore because I’m old and cool.

10. What do you hope to achieve with your art?

First of all, I always want to make people smile or feel good. Something I would like to do more is speaking about topics that are really important to me. I have so much to say about the environment, feminism or politics and don’t really connect this side of me with my art because I was so keen on improving my style for the past two years. That’s definitely something I want to work on with future projects.

11. Now, tell us a little more about you as a person: what is your favourite food?

Indian food - it’s the perfect mix of comforting and energizing and a good Dal works as breakfast, lunch and dinner (and midnight snack). Other than that I love everything that doesn’t involve harming animals and makes me feel good.

12. Favourite book?

Hard to choose but an all-time favourite of mine is Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s, Little Prince. It has the most lovely drawings and life lessons in it.

13. Favourite genre of music?

I don’t think I can set on one genre. But I do love everything from Air.

14. What are your hobbies?

Currently, I really enjoy practicing handstands, dreaming about a van life future and spending time with people I love and in nature.

15. If you weren't an artist, what would you be?

I have always been interested in psychology so probably something in this field. I’m pretty happy with how everything turned out though. :)