Today we’d like to introduce you to Katherine Bingley.
Katherine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I started painting when I was 21 (about 10 years ago). It started as kind of a therapeutic outlet for me to relax and be introspective. I continued painting and began making small illustrations while I attended college for graphic design. Fine art was my way of escaping from the strict rules, structure, and tediousness of design.
After graduating, I worked for a skateboard/longboard company where I designed board graphics, web and print graphics, catalogs, stickers, apparel, tutorial videos – the whole deal. During that time, I was getting more involved in music festival installations and large-scale murals. I started working with Desert Daze Festival in Mecca/Joshua Tree and Music Tastes Good Festival in Long Beach.
Eventually, I moved on from the full-time skate company gig and began freelancing for a bunch of different companies, while continuing to do large-scale murals and installations and collaborating with other artists.
Has it been a smooth road?
It’s definitely been an adventure. When I graduated from high school, I had no idea what I was doing, so the biggest struggle for me was figuring that out. And, it took years and a LOT of customer service jobs.
My advice for anyone pursuing visual art is to find other people doing it- surround yourself with creative and productive people. And to use your resources, constantly seek opportunities and be bold. I think a lot of creatives, including myself, are introverts or ambiverts, so we especially need to try really hard in the face of social anxiety and depression to make ourselves go out and get what we want.
I’d also suggest making a LOT of work and being patient if it’s not good at first. Like Ira Glass said, “It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” Everyone who does creative work has gone through this. Stick with it and keep creating.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Katbing – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
I’m an illustrator, graphic designer, painter, muralist and installation artist. Most of my work is colorful and cartoony- often with underlying themes of depression, anxiety, and political nuances.
I try to make art with simple, yet strong messages that everyone can identify with in one way or another.
Do you think there are structural or other barriers impeding the emergence of more female leaders?
I’d love to see more female artists. Especially, muralists. I think one of the biggest barriers for us is societally being told to be quiet, which carries over into art and murals. Men have always been encouraged to leave their mark on the world, so it comes a lot more naturally for a guy too, say, paint a gigantic mural on a skyscraper — he earned it; he feels entitled and he’s been told his whole life to take what he wants. For women, we’ve been subdued into whispering and apologizing… and knitting and shit instead of going BIG.
I think we’re in an amazing moment in history where women are starting to scream for what they want and for recognition. Soon, the loud, confident women leaving their mark on the world won’t be outliers – they’ll be the norm. I’m an optimist.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.katbing.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katbingart/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katbingart
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/katbingART
Image Credit:
mtg1 & mtg3 by John Benson Medina, cheerz2 by Billy Skelly
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