Behind The Brush with Arielle Katarina
In this edition of Behind the Brush, we sit down with Southwest Florida artist Arielle Katarina. Her big, bold work is packed with vibrant color, crisp lines, and a little untamed chaos. A self-proclaimed tropical fruit and fossil hunter, she pulls daily inspiration from the beaches, wildlife, and blazing hues around her – transforming them into everything from sky-high murals to standout beer labels. Her mission is simple: spark joy, channel nature’s energy, and leave you feeling wildly alive.
How would you describe your artistic style to someone discovering your work for the first time
Big color, bold lines. I like to create designs that are vibrant, fun, and a little rough around the edges. My original influences were the vibrance and flowyness of Peter Max and Heinz Edelmann mixed with the chaotic energy of Ralph Steadman. My work is sort of a modern mix of the two, combined with tropical leaves and animals.
Nature themes show up in your work often. When did it shift from being a subject to being a real source of inspiration?
Oh man, I love nature so much! I feel like nature has always been an integral part of my life and my work and they’re super intertwined. I spend most of my free time exploring nature and most of my work time painting it! If I’m ever feeling creatively stuck I go out for a hike or to the beach and I always find something inspiring that gives my brain a reset.
How does living in Southwest Florida influence your palette, your mood or the stories you’re drawn to tell in your artwork?
Living in SWFL has been an awesome place to paint lots of projects that have tropical vibes and bright aesthetics. The plants and animals I paint are all around me in real life, so it’s easy to translate the joy and energy I feel from that into my work. As far as palette goes, I use a lot of bright teals, greens and oranges; my favorite color to use right now is Tropicana Cabana by Benjamin Moore.
What part of your creative process still feels like pure play? What part takes the most discipline?
Linesssss! My favorite part of painting is laying on the nice, crispy linework at the end. It’s flowy, unites the whole piece together, and I think brings the energy to the mural. I put on music and go at it and it’s so freeing and rewarding. The part that takes the most discipline for me is laying on the layers of base color. It’s a crucial part of the process but I’m always the most excited to get to the line layer at the end!
You move between large-scale murals and beer can labels often. How does your mindset change when you’re creating something immersive versus something meant to be held?
Bouncing between the two keeps my brain engaged and flexible, sort of like doing a puzzle. It’s interesting to create something small that can fit in someone’s hands that is also 3D and also has to stand out on a store shelf! Small things need to be simple and easy to read overall, but detailed enough to catch someone’s interest. Large things already get attention with their size, and honestly, sometimes working really small can be more challenging than a huge mural! With beer labels I use more of the graphic design part of my brain, with murals more of my uninhibited artist brain and physical body.
What’s a recent project you’re especially proud of right now and why does it stand out?
I’m really proud of the hockey puck I designed for the Tampa Bay Lightning. It was such a unique and cool opportunity to see my artwork being autographed by professional hockey players and seeing them get sold out at the stadium. My favorite recent mural is on the rooftop of Nine20 Apartments in Bradenton. It’s bright and bold and high in the sky! And it has a giant bird on it.
When someone spends real time with one of your murals, what do you hope they walk away feeling?
I hope that they walk away feeling energized and with an aura of exuberance for life. A desire to have fun and find happiness in nature.
If there were no limitations, no budget, no location constraints, what would your dream project look like?
Oooooh, that’s a great question! I’ve always wanted to paint an aquarium, zoo, or some kind of nature facility. Something that would get people excited to visit the animals. Painting overseas or on a tropical island would be awesome too.
How has your definition of success evolved since the beginning of your career?
I used to think that you needed to develop a signature style, have your sh*t together, and everything figured out before becoming a successful artist, but I’ve learned that those things do happen and come together with practice over time. I think overcoming obstacles and learning to use those lessons as building blocks to resilience is what success is built upon, and that as you get better and better at what you do the success happens naturally. That happiness and enjoying your work make you more successful than money does.
You’ve described yourself as a tropical fruit and fossil hunter. What’s the coolest or most unexpected thing you’ve ever discovered?
Florida is full of fossils, and I think holding a tooth or bone in your hands from an animal that existed thousands to millions of years ago is the coolest thing ever. My favorite fossil I’ve found was a Pleistocene tapir jaw that I found digging in the Peace River! I’ve also found megalodon, mammoth, mastodon, camel, horse, and dugong fossils here. My favorite fruits are annonas (some kinds taste like straight-up pina coladas) and I’m biased but I think some of the best mangoes in the world come from Pine Island, Florida. Come try them June – August!
For anyone who wants to keep up with your latest work and adventures, where’s the best place to follow along?
Follow me on Instagram at @akatarina! I post a lot of adventures on my stories and behind the scenes of my murals. I always have something interesting going on, like recently healing from an octopus bite, looking for the elusive mangrove cuckoo, or finding porcupine fish on the beach. For work inquiries, check out my website www.ariellekatarina.com.
