Kasia Borkowska: Balancing Dreams & Reality in the World of Art
Kasia Borkowska's artistic journey is a testament to balancing passion with practicality. From her early love of art to navigating the challenges of a creative career, Kasia's story highlights the pursuit of dreams amidst real-world demands. This is Kasia's story in her own words, sharing her evolution as an artist, the pivotal moments that shaped her path, and valuable insights for aspiring creatives.
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My name is Kasia Borkowska, and I have always been an artist. My journey into the world of art began in kindergarten, sculpting little clay cats, copying Disney characters from books, and designing elaborate dresses for imaginary princesses. Even then, I knew that art was my passion. At the age of 13, I enrolled in an art school, which was the first step toward realizing my dreams. I continued my education with a Bachelor's and then a Master's Degree in Art, which only strengthened my conviction that this was my path.
During my studies, I learned painting, classical drawing, sculpture, art history, and more. I achieved significant success in competitions, especially in painting, and received considerable recognition for my drawing skills, both classical and abstract.
From childhood, I knew the general direction I wanted to go, though it took a long time to find my exact place in the art world. I wanted to create for people and bring them joy. After graduating, I followed a conventional career path. Having studied interior design, I became an interior designer. Although my work satisfied clients, it didn't fulfil me completely. There was too much technicality, calculations, and product searching – and not enough creativity and pure art. I longed to fully immerse myself in creativity without technical and logistical constraints.
On Some Defining Moments
I had two key moments in my artistic journey. The first was when I chose my field of study. I opted for interior design, thinking about future stability, even though my heart was set on painting or sculpture. I remember my painting teacher telling me, "Kasia, think carefully, you might regret this. You are an artist." I didn't heed his advice, which later became one of my biggest life dilemmas. This thought resurfaced in 2022 when I realized I no longer wanted to design interiors. That's when I decided I had to find a way to pursue my true passion.
Kasia Borkowska's fresh Cherry Collection
On Challenges & The Biggest Obstacles
One of the greatest challenges was leaving a stable job to start over. I feared failure, but my belief in my abilities helped me through tough times. It wasn't easy because it meant giving up financial security and career stability, which is a huge risk. Another major challenge was acquiring the necessary technical skills and understanding the art market. I wasn't well-versed in 2D graphic programs, having mainly worked in 3D environments and with technical drawings in CAD programs. I spent countless hours learning and perfecting my craft, which eventually paid off.
I also had to face criticism and a lack of understanding from others. Not everyone believed I could succeed as a patterns designer, but determination and hard work allowed me to prove them wrong. There were many moments when I lacked support, and the criticism was demotivating. It was sometimes hard to believe in myself when there was a lack of supportive words around me.
On The Turning Points
I had two significant turning points on my path to finding myself. The first was realizing that I didn't want to design interiors anymore. The second was discovering an online portfolio of someone who designed patterns – a career path I hadn't heard of before. It turned out that there weren't many companies in my country hiring artists for such positions, with most requiring on-site work. However, my online searches revealed several sales platforms where I could sell my designs to clients worldwide. Discovering these platforms opened new possibilities and allowed me to pursue my passion in a way that seemed impossible before.
On Balancing Creativity with Reality
Balancing creativity with daily responsibilities is not easy. I try to plan my time so that I have a moment for creative work every day, while also taking care of my personal and professional life. Prioritizing tasks is key to success. I set realistic goals and avoid overloading myself. Finding a balance between work and rest is crucial to prevent burnout.
The support of loved ones is invaluable. Thanks to them, I can focus on my passion, knowing I have people around me to rely on and who can help with daily tasks. Emotional and practical support from loved ones is essential for maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life.
On The Creative Process
My creative process begins with gathering inspiration from various sources – nature, architecture, the world around me. I fill myself with graphic information. Then I move on to sketching and experimenting with different techniques and shapes. I sketch by hand, letting my hand work freely without overthinking. Often, I don't define the theme of my work, allowing it to reveal itself. Ideas sometimes come spontaneously during a walk or a bath.
I transfer the hand sketch into a graphic file on the computer, where I refine shapes, details, add color, and textures. I then create different color versions of the design. Sometimes I make collections – adding simpler designs that match the main ones in color or style.
On Working on Spoonflower
My journey with Spoonflower started with a few projects I uploaded as an experiment. It quickly turned out that my contribution paid off financially and brought joy to customers. Since then, I regularly create new patterns and constantly improve my skills to offer something new and fresh.
I also participate in Spoonflower challenges, which until the end of 2023 were weekly, and now bi-weekly. Twice I made it to the top ten, and several times to the top hundred selected designs. This was very motivating. These challenges give us a theme, and as artists, we have to fit within it, often pushing us to expand our possibilities and break out of creative ruts.
You can see so much of Kasia's work over on her Instagram Account
On Drawing Traffic To Your Work
A key element of my marketing strategy is regular activity on social media. I regularly posted new works on Instagram to attract attention and build my brand. Currently, I'm taking a short break to focus on personal life and rethink a healthy approach to social media. I noticed that preparing materials takes more time than creating designs. I'm preparing to return to Instagram in a more balanced way, allowing better time and energy management.
Collaborating with other artists and influencers is extremely valuable, as it allows us to reach a wider audience. Such collaborations help increase the reach of our work and attract new followers, which is crucial for building a strong presence on social media.
Through collaboration with other creators, our online visibility grows, which can open up new professional opportunities. This can include invitations to participate in prestigious projects or establishing contacts with future business partners.
All these activities, if conducted authentically and aligned with our values, can significantly impact the development of our artistic careers.
Tips for Success
Creating from the heart and staying authentic are keys to success in the artistic and creative world. It's important that what we create is in line with our true nature and passions. Projects made forcibly or just for show rarely bring true satisfaction and can quickly lead to burnout. When we are authentic in our creativity, we not only attract an audience that genuinely appreciates our work but also gain a deeper sense of fulfillment.
To stay updated with my latest projects, follow my Spoonflower account and Instagram