“Be bold, be brave, put your work out into the world.” -Ajuan Mance
I’m Kat - an artist in love with fantasy worlds, light and color, and the feeling of pencil hitting paper just the right way. I currently run the blog, Kat in Japan to share my experiences with others interested in working, studying, or living in Japan. I create my own assets like logos, photography, and copy while monitoring SEO.
I received my BA in Studio Art and a minor in Japanese Language from San Francisco State University. Although I'm originally from the SF Bay Area, to expand my experiences and enjoy life to the fullest, I have lived in many different cities. From San Francisco to Los Angeles, Montréal, and even Tokyo.
In 2020, I became Studio Manager & Painter at Hattas - a unique and inspired mural & sculpture company in Los Angeles. Using my organization, curiosity, and creativity earned me the title of Studio Director at Hattas.
I derive inspiration from artists such as Wayne Thiebaud, Natasha Allegri, Rebecca Sugar, Ariel Ries, and others. My peers and mentors inform my artwork. I owe where I am today to the guidance of Nick Sousanis, Susan Belau, Mario Laplante, and Jeanine Hattas Wilson, who have always encouraged my artistic voice and offered sound advice.
Ultimately, as a mixed-race creator, I share my experiences of the world in hopes that they resonate with others. I want to tell stories that are fun and spunky but also encourage deep thinking and social awareness. When I'm not working on art, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, cooking, reading, and playing video games. My pronouns are they/she.
Features and Awards
SFSU’s Transfer Magazine issue 118
SFSU Comic Arts Club Zine 2017 and 2019
Nagano JET Programme’s Leavers’ Series 3
2019 recipient of the Martin Wong Scholarship in Drawing and Painting
