Kolbi Lane - March Featured Artist

On weekend mornings as a kid, Kolbi Lane could usually be found on the living-room floor, mesmerized by old cartoons. Her eyes scanned the characters in nineteen-thirties animation, the likes of Betty Boop and Mickey Mouse. Those rubber-hose characters and exaggerated expressions became the visual language she absorbed long before she ever called herself an artist. "You can definitely see that in my work because my work is also very goofy and based on Western animation."

Inspired by those cartoons of old, Kolbi imagined herself working in animation. However, life had other plans. Kolbi pursued a degree in education and a stint in teaching before she returned to art with more clarity. "I'm very thankful that I started in my thirties because I am more mature... my art is so much better than when I was twenty-one," she reflects.

Her artistic voice blends the playfulness of classic American cartoons with the ambition and detail of Renaissance painting. She delights in giving personality to unexpected subjects–hot dogs, aliens, sardines, horses, candles–anything that sparks her imagination. "I like taking little things, like little objects or animals, and creating personalities out of them."

Step into her studio and you can see how these worlds take shape. One side of the room is lined with horror memorabilia and video games; the other is stacked with art supplies from floor to ceiling. She often works for hours at a time, usually with a movie or audiobook playing. Her process begins digitally–sketching on her iPad, printing the design, and tracing it onto paper–before she builds color with gouache and depth with colored pencils and pastels. "Each stroke gives a different color every time... it adds variation, depth, and makes each piece pop," she explains.

Over time, Kolbi's work has shifted dramatically. In her early twenties she mostly drew people; now she rarely does. Moving away from human subjects pushed her to grow technically and creatively. "Focusing on things that aren't people requires a better understanding of anatomy," she says–whether she's studying the curve of a caterpillar or the structure of a sardine tin.

At the heart of her practice is connection. "I love connecting with people through art... it just makes people happy," she says. She's continually surprised by who responds to her work: *There are so many different types of people who I would never think would be fans of me, but they come and see me at all the markets." Catalyst has also opened doors for her to teach and connect more deeply with the community.

All of this makes her Catalyst feature especially meaningful. For Kolbi, this moment is both a milestone and a beginning–a chance to share the joyful, detailed, imaginative world she's been building since those early mornings in front of the TV. And she's only getting started.

Kolbi Lane’s work will be on display in the Catalyst gift shop (and 10% off!) the entire month of March.