Meet Katharina May | Artist – pro wildlife and environment

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katharina May and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katharina, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking risks, means the key for succsess, at least it does to me. It´s like walking new paths through a rough area, even when there are planty of smooth trails. The probably biggest risk I took, was moving abroad. I left Germany and all my friends, family and known surroundings behind. I didn´t know if this will end well – you never know – but I would have regret later to miss this opportunity. I got the chance to live in Montana and California and traveled through Nevada, Arizona and the east coast of Africa. Only thus brought me sensational impressions, which I also show in my artworks.

The moment showing my paintings to others was another risk I had to take to get results. There is more in my art than just beautiful motifs. I take the risk to polarize. Every painting of mine has a message and I try to transport the good and the bad, but still with a persuasive picture at the end. My current main subjects are political critical, which brings lovers and haters to my fence. But I rather take the risk of critic, than quit doing my art and to express my side of a often two-sided ideal. I step out and show what I can and what I want.

As mother of a wonderful daughter may I say; it is a huge risk too, being a single mom and still belief in yourself to be successful as a self tought artist and bring food on the table. I am an autodidact painter and learned style and methodes just by trying out. I use environment friendly bird sand to get structure, that way I don´t have to use chemical pastes. Let me say at the end – life is a risk. Sometimes you get a chance to take a risk or to leave it. I say; if it feels right – do it!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art has been influenced by adventures and experiences I could made during my travels and periods of residences. These opportunity gave me the chance to develop and refine my style. It also allowed me to discover different cultures and how to see this true world. My main subjects are our wildlife and environment. I like to polarize, because I am also political active, not just in my artwork. I use self-taught methods and techniques for my paintings, as eco friendly bird sand instead of chemical paste. I would love for other artist to try out more environment friendly ways, to save recources.

With my art I want to show the beauty of this world, but also the problems we all face. We need to help when help is needed. Do it with small things or even bigger if you can. When ever I can, I help with donations and art auctions. We have to stop war, deforestation, poaching, animal torture and human abuse! We have to stop killing Phytoplankton by all the plastic trash and micro-plastic in our oceans. I want to give a message, not just a painting. I feel inspired by what I see, want to make people happy with my art and draw attention to our modern problems. I have art in my blood, working as autodidact and I want to bring a little bit more colour and imagination into your home. Some of my artworks goes for donations, to help them who can´t help themselves.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The best thing to do with good friends is visiting an art show. I highly recomend to go to a show or exhibition. There are always new perspectives you learn from each other and lots of fun going on. Best place in Europe isn´t even the Louvre in Paris, no – it´s those cute little places and art museums in the Netherlands you have to visit. Shoud I pick a place in the U.S., I would say, grab a glass on a winery and walk through Temecula Valley (California). Art can wait then!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother and sister are the ones, who always believed in me, my safe haven and both are definitely searingly honest. They are my biggest reviewer, besides my daughter, and the only persons who may see most of the process of my paintings and artworks.

Website: www.gallerymay.com

Instagram: gallerymay_art