Hear Katie White's Story

How did you get your start in making jewelry?

I had a heart transplant in May of 2022, and while I was living in the hospital I had a lot of time on my hands. So the art department brought in polymer clay, just thinking I could play around with it, kind of felt like play-dough. I just looked at how to make earrings on YouTube because I love jewelry. Then I started making jewelry, and just went headfirst into it.

I was a nurse for 15 years, and once I got the heart transplant, I decided to leave nursing and just start selling jewelry. It’s just been growing ever since. I don’t have business experience, I don’t have an art degree, I just figure it out as I go, which has been a unique set of challenges.

What other medium would you work with if you could?

I think the other medium I would work with is watercolor. I would love to have the time to hone that craft. I took art classes in high school and they were my favorite classes, but I’ve never really dedicated the time to practice. But it is something that I love to do.

What inspires your art?

I would say color combinations that I see out in the world, like if I see someone’s top or shirt or a painting, and I wonder how I could work with those colors to make an earring or another piece that is wearable. That is where I get most of my inspiration.

What is one goal you have for your artistic practice within the next year?

I would love to get into the Edina Art Fair. it’s kind of like the gold standard, it would be really cool to get into that. Also, I don’t want to hold back on textures and color combinations in my jewelry. Maybe pushing my comfort zone a little bit and not worrying about how many people will love it, and just making something that is unique and different, and just hoping that it’ll find the right person.

What artists inspire you the most?

I recently have been loving Jill Kittock’s art, I actually have one of her paintings. Her bold colors are so cool. I also have always loved Degas, the 18th century painter. I just love his watercolors, I love his nude colors and his shapes. I think Matisse has really interesting shapes in his work, and I think about that a lot when I’m designing my work.