Katherine Appleby - Illustrator

I am an artist, illustrator and designer currently creating from my home studio (aka spare room) in Victoria. I am a lover of fine stationery and beautiful designs and I am owner to one black and white studio cat, Indy. I began my career as a secondary teacher, but always had that nagging desire to be a professional artist and designer and to own and operate my own arts business. 

I studied a Bachelor of Creative Arts, taking a double major in Visual Arts and in Marketing. I graduated with distinction and was invited to join the International Golden Key Honour Society, where I was later awarded the 2013 Visual and Performing Arts Award in Painting.
On completing the degree I took further study in Graphic Design, with the desire to bring together my skills in art, design, marketing and business. As a result, in 2014 I established Indikat Designs, a boutique stationery and design business. I am unsure where the future will take me, but that’s the exciting part, isn’t it?!

I am inspired by nature and by invented reality. That might include a nature documentary (who can resist a good David Attenborough), a natural history illustration, a Terry Pratchett book, or a walk through the bush. I am inspired by beauty. I am also inspired by creative business owners who have found success doing what they love. Bring it on.

Website: www.indikatdesigns.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/indikatdesigns
Email: katherine.appleby@gmail.com

How long have you been creating?
I have been creating art since before I can remember – like most of us! But when I ‘grew up’, I never stopped. Throughout my school years I entered art competitions and began selling some of my artworks, though I often lacked confidence and belief in myself. In 2011 I left my career to pursue my artistic dreams through further study, which is when I began to believe in myself and began working on a more professional level.

How did you get started?
Indikat Designs started earlier this year upon completion of my studies. Indikat Designs brings together my skills in visual art, graphic design, marketing and business along with my love of fine stationery, home wares, and other design items. I sell primarily through local market stalls and online, but I hope to expand in 2015 to sell through a larger variety of avenues.

What is your greatest inspiration?
My greatest inspiration is nature with its astounding intricacies, from the most bizarre Bird of Paradise imaginable, to the most unbelievable plant that you and I would struggle to conjure up in our wildest dreams.

What is the greatest challenge to owning and operating your own business?
I’ll be honest: the greatest challenge starts and ends with me and the belief I have in my business and my own abilities. I could state that it’s about balancing a job whilst running my business on the side, or that it’s about finances, or a work-life balance. But in the end, it’s really about the conviction I have that my creative business idea is one that is worth sharing with the world.

What is the best thing about owning your own creative business?
The things that brings me the greatest joy in my creative business is seeing someone smile after seeing my products. If I can bring a smile to someone’s face, my work is done (regardless of whether I sell a product!). I love creating (with all my heart and soul), but in my opinion it’s worthless if it does not make a positive impact in the world. I love being able to share what I do with others. This is the best thing about owning a creative business.