Annette Kraus is a Seattle-basedartist and illustrator. She has been creating in the arts for almost four decades.
Seattle Refined: How long have you been creating? What mediums do you work with?
Kraus: I’ve worked as an artist and illustrator for close to 40 years. I started my career in New York as a staff illustrator at various newspapers around the metro area and then made the big move to Seattle in 1992, where I continued my career as a staff illustrator at the Journal American in Bellevue and a short stint at the Seattle Post Intelligencer newspapers. By the time kids came along, I wanted more flexible hours in my professional career, so I decided to go full-time freelance and have been doing that ever since. I was freelancing for newspapers and magazines across the United States when my kids were small. I also had a decade of contract work with MSNBC and Microsoft.com which kept me very current with my technical skills as well as my editorial work. It was an exciting time because the dot.com era was strong and no one knew what the internet was going to evolve into, we creators were challenged to forge the way and test out this new medium. I did a lot of illustrations explaining how tech software and tools can enhance your life.
I was trained as an abstract oil painter in art school but eventually transitioned to illustration and graphic design in my professional life after graduating college. I worked in colored pencil and airbrush early in my career, but primarily, I am a digital illustrator and have been working digitally for my entire professional career. My favorite tool currently is an app called Procreate on the iPad, along with the pressure-sensitive Apple Pencil. I transitioned from Adobe Photoshop a few years ago when I used a Wacom Tablet and a digital pen as my input device. The Procreate app mimics all the art tools and paints I was trained in traditionally and is an absolute pleasure to create in. I still use the Adobe Creative Suite for my finishing touches and production on my art pieces before I send them off to a professional output printer to be printed on fine art archival paper. Despite working in tech for a large portion of my career, absolutely none of my work is produced through artificial intelligence in any way. I am a strong believer that human intelligence far exceeds artificially generated artwork any day.
Can you tell us about your artistic process and how the different stages work into it?
I always create sketches either in a traditional sketchbook or sketching on the iPad to work out my plan before I start the illustration I have in mind or the commission from the art director. After the sketch phase is approved by the art director or client, I begin the illustration. Many times, I like to ask the clients which of my illustrations they like the best in my portfolio, so I know to stay close to that style or sensibility while doing the commissioned illustration. Sometimes, I have an article I’m hired to illustrate for a publication. That requires that I read the article, understand the information in the story and what the author wants to convey to the audience. Then the fun part begins, where I research, conceptually plan out the illustration to help inform, entertain or even problem-solve with the audience in mind.
Tell us about where your inspiration for your art comes from.
New ideas and inspirations are always flying around in my head. I take my daily walk in the Washington Park Arboretum with my husband, and I’m always taking out my phone to photograph leaves, bark on the trees, mushrooms, lichen, moss and the many many flowers that bloom throughout the year in the arboretum. It is one block from my home, so I spend a lot of time in the arboretum, walking around, looking at the ever-changing beauty around me. I’m obsessed with different types of trees. My other obsession is architecture, so I’m always observing whimsical shapes, roof lines and architectural features. I like incorporating funny-shaped houses and trees into my fine art pieces.
Do you have a specific “beat” you like best – nature, food, profiles, etc.?
I love drawing things in nature; bugs, birds and botanicals and organic shapes. Lately, I’m kind of on a kick with illustrated maps, too. My most current pet project is illustrating my neighborhood of Madison Park. I decided to make my map available as a 504 piece, 16×20 inch puzzle, as well as a print you can hang on the wall, on my Etsy shop.
Do you have one piece of art that means more to you or is extremely special to you?
I did a piece a few years back of my childhood house. I grew up on a small farm in SW Iowa, and I’m so glad I created that piece with the house and yard because my family no longer owns that property. Now I can only really visit this special place in my memory or when viewing the art piece I created of that house and yard and my childhood dog, Sam standing in front. My art pieces must always tell some kind of story. That’s so important to me.
What experiences in your life have affected your art the most?
The pandemic most definitely affected my most recent works, as I was stuck at home and I feel like we spent so much time taking walks outside and social distancing. It was an unusual and uncertain time, and I know it affected how I responded to the natural world around me. I really tried to “stop and smell the roses” on my outings because it was suddenly so quiet in our urban neighborhood. My botanical bug series came from that experience. Also, my kids have certainly influenced my commercial work, as I have done illustrations for PBS and other magazines that involved children’s market and/or education. I’m pitching some of my work to toy manufacturers. Particularly my Evie Cat series, where I’m hoping to produce toys that represent the special characteristics of that city, such as our beloved Seattle Pike Place Market. I hope to see my toy designs in museums and aquarium gift shops someday that reflect that city’s unique landmarks.
If we want to see more of your work, where should we go to find it?
My latest work is always posted on my Instagram page @annettekraus, my professional Facebook page and on my website www.annettekraus.com.
Spark and Thread, a super creative art boutique on Aloha and 19th on Capitol Hill, carries my stickers, pins and prints and sometimes features my work on their walls as a guest artist. I’m thrilled to say The Arboretum Gift shop is also carrying my puzzle as long as supplies last. The puzzle includes the entire arboretum in the puzzles, so that was totally fun for me to illustrate it and include some of the popular iconic features of the arboretum, such as the Japanese Garden, the Gazebo and the Pedestrian Bridge.
What is next for you? Anything you’re working on right now that you’re really excited about?
This summer I have been working on my botanical bird series which I’m super excited about. I’m making stickers and also have limited edition archival prints made of my botanical bird series. I’m working on some illustrations for an author to pitch to a publisher for a possible book deal. But I can’t share it just yet. But it’s a pretty quirky story and I’m all about quirky. I feel fortunate to have the freedom to create work that resonates with my values and passions.
Lastly, how do you take your coffee? (We ask everyone!)
Full octane Americano with cream at home. Mocha’s when ordering out.
About ‘Artist of the Week’: This city is packed with artists we love to feature weekly on Seattle Refined! If you have a local artist in mind that you would like to see featured, let us know at hello@seattlerefined.com. And if you’re wondering just what constitutes art, that’s the beauty of it; it’s up to you! See all of our past Artists of the Week in our dedicated section.