Artist creates art lying down: Klimitas will show her art Saturday in Abbeville

This Saturday, Abbeville will be featuring an Art and Jewelry Show downtown. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Roger and Alice Boynton invite you to the show that will feature Katherine Klimitas, a New Orleans-based artist and designer who brings her love for all things artistic to live.
Katherine Klimitas, who sold her first watercolor at the age of 10, grew up in a household where her parents were veterinarians. Her artistic style reflects her life-long appreciation for animals and her belief that there is a lot that we can learn from our four-legged friends.
As a young girl, Klimitas’ parents wanted their daughter to grow up as normal as possible, even though she was the only one in a wheelchair.
The Metairie artist paints lying on her side due to osteogenesis imperfecta – brittle bone disease, which stems from a lack of collagen and leads to broken and deformed bones.
Due to OI, by the time she was 10 Klimitas had broken bones more than 500 times. As a result, at 2 feet, 7 inches tall, Klimitas has never been able to walk. Instead, she zips around in an electric wheelchair and jokes that she’s been driving since the age of 2.
Even though Klimitas thought of herself as being just like her friends, being included in everything they did as much as possible, there were times when her parents Dr. Adriana Sagrera and the late Dr. Frank Klimitas wanted her to enjoy things that she couldn’t physically do, so they came up with activities that they knew she could do.
Adriana got her daughter her first watercolor set at the age of 5 and enrolled her in several art classes, and the rest is history. Standing at 2 feet 7 inches, Klimitas has a very different way of painting and making jewelry.
“I have to paint laying down because it’s easier for me,” she said. “A professor of mine taught me how to look at something and understand what it looks like as if I were sitting up.”
She soon figured out a way to compensate for her different angle.
Focusing on the eyes for a lot of her paintings, Klimitas says that it’s because the eye is an essential part of her work.
“You can see someone’s personality through their eyes and that brings them to life.”
Klimitas began making jewelry around the age of 14.
As different as it is, it works for her.
The 32-year-old artist says that painting takes a lot of concentration.
“You’re creating something on a blank piece of paper, whereas, with jewelry, I’m taking pieces of stone or metal and putting it together,” she said, “which gives me a lot more freedom and isn’t quite as mentally demanding.”
What used to be a hobby of hers became something more. Klimitas said that when she was young, she used to create art and loved doing it for fun, but it became a minor issue that became her future.
“I’d finish a painting and think to myself, ‘okay, I just did this painting that turned out really good, so how can I monetize it?’ This had her searching for another hobby; something that could open the door for her, a career.
Graphic design. Putting most of her time meeting deadlines for her clients, graphic design is still art-related.
“It’s a little more marketable and is consumer-friendly,” she said. “It’s really helped me in my art because it allows me to do things like make products with my art on them.”
Being able to design, paint or make jewelry 3-4 times a week is something she enjoys. “If I’m having an off day, I don’t have to force myself to get up for an out-of-home job,” said Klimitas, “and I appreciate that a lot.”
KAK Art & Designs, Klimitas business, is doing well. Her love for art is in every aspect of what she does, whether it’s graphic design, painting or making jewelry.
In the former Classic Design building in downtown Abbeville, local art enthusiasts and animal lovers alike will be able to view original watercolors, signed prints, handcrafted jewelry made with precious metals and hand-picked stones, as well as gift items pairing Klimitas collection of wildlife art with humorous quotes will be available during the Art and Jewelry Show.
Refreshments and door prizes will welcome you while visiting the show. The address is 112 S. State Street in Abbeville, across from the Sheriff’s Office.