Based in the San Francisco Bay area, Katie O’Shea’s work celebrates the beauty and complexity of the natural world. With a background in graphic design from the Rhode Island School of Design, Katie seamlessly blends traditional and digital mediums, working in paint, pencil, and digital illustration to create lush, evocative images of plants and flowers. Her keen eye for detail and color brings each botanical subject to life, capturing both their delicate intricacies and bold forms. Katie’s art has found a global audience through licensing partnerships with companies around the world. Her designs appear on a wide range of products, from home decor and textiles to stationery and packaging, allowing her unique vision to brighten everyday life in countless ways. Drawing inspiration from the diverse flora of California and her travels, Katie’s work reflects both her technical expertise and her deep appreciation for nature’s artistry.
The dogwood was an early and frequent flower shape in my work — I find myself inspired by their simple curves and sturdiness.
As I draw more and more botanicals, I have been enjoying the shapes and the spaces around the flowers and leaves, almost in a geometrical sense. I am drawn to their bright colors and shadows and look for those when I am taking photographs of plants.
Hot pink and orange are a good combo as of late, which is a change from my traditionally more subdued work. I came across a color palette this year and started recoloring some of my old patterns, and it opened up a whole new world for me. Since then, I have been drawn more to those bright vibrant colors and contrasting them with darker, less saturated hues.
Tips for Getting Your Work Licensed
Getting your work licensed takes persistence and a thick skin. There will be so much rejection and ghosting. You have to stay in the game by constantly looking around you for things that you’d like to see your work on. Researching those companies, and pitching to them. Also sharing your work online really does help. Keep your art profile focused on art and inspiration and someone may just spot your work and reach out to you.
Learn more about Katie O'Shea katieosheadesign.com and follow her @katie_oshea_design
Learn more about her story and read her full article inside Issue 04 • Cultivating Creativity