Meet Katy Tolj (@kmctcreative), an Australian Artist who creates vibrant, realistic sky and landscape paintings. From pastel beaches to sunny fields, find peace in the expertly blended brushstrokes and gradients. Find out more about Katy’s art journey down below – her vision is inspiring!

You sure know how to paint a sunset (WOW)! What drew you to painting the sky? 

Thank you! I have always been drawn to sunsets, sunrises and cloud formations. It’s always fascinated me, and I find it very meditative to look up at the sky. I grew up near the beach and so I am lucky to often see spectacular skies. Because I find it incredibly relaxing, I started to try to transform those feelings of calmness and peacefulness onto a canvas so I could experience that feeling whatever time of day by looking at my paintings. 

How did you find out you were a creative person? 

I have been creative ever since I can remember. Art was my absolute favourite subject at school and the class I always looked forward to. Being creative and painting has gotten me through so much and has always been extremely therapeutic to me. I wouldn’t be me without my art. But I also come from a very creative family, so I guess it’s always been part of me in that way too! 

Do you have a fave Mont Marte product? 

Oh my, can I say multiple? Firstly, I love the all the Acrylic Colour paints but the one I use the most of is the Titanium White paint. I use it daily to mix in with other colours. I couldn’t get by without it.

I also love all the canvases. They are such great quality and again, I use them daily. 

Lastly, I love the Detail & Liner Brush Set. They are amazing for all the little details when painting a landscape!

Do you have a place you like to visit for creative inspiration? 

I love to go down to the beach, watch the waves and be by the water. It’s very inspiring to be in any type of nature for me, and it’s always a bonus if the sky is pretty! I find so much peace by being in nature and it definitely fills my brain with inspiration and new ideas whenever I am outdoors.

What creative project were you a little unsure to start but turned out better than you hoped? 

I started a painting and was getting very overwhelmed with it as it was not turning out how I envisioned. I was so frustrated that instead of taking a break (like I should have) I poked a hole in it, and it ended up ripping the canvas. I was so deflated with myself but after a few days I had an idea from the rip in my artwork, which turned into my original idea of a ripped painting called ‘riptides’.

To date, it has been one of my most loved paintings online! When I look at it hanging up it always inspires me to not give up and keep going. Sometimes the most unexpected results can come from something that didn’t start out how you wanted.

Do you get art block? If you do, how do you tackle it? 

I most definitely do get art block. If you asked me this even a year back, I would say I push through it (not a great idea) but nowadays, I have learnt to not push my creativity and to take a break when I need to. If I’m up to it, I will get creative with other crafts if I’m feeling art block with painting. It can help me get back into the groove of inspiration. My advice would be to be gentle with yourself and to try not get frustrated when your ideas do not transfer to canvas / paper. The ideas will flow when they are meant to!

What’s your favourite season and why?

I love spring. It’s such a magical time of year in Melbourne, it’s perfect weather for exploring nature & especially for painting / creating artwork outside. The sunsets in spring also are so different to other seasons. I really just wish spring lasted longer!

What’s your creative space like? Do you play music, have plants, or keep it minimalistic? 

I do have plants around me and lots of my paintings surrounding me on the walls. I will admit my art space is often very messy and disorganised, so I am definitely not a minimalist type of person.

I try to keep my space clean but that usually doesn’t even last a day. I often find myself sitting on the floor while I paint as I find it quite grounding. I typically either have music or a show on in the background – I have ADHD, so having something in the background quietly often helps me work better and helps me focus on what’s in front for me. And of course, when it’s sunny outside I like to sit in the fresh air and paint. 

Who do you look up to?

I look up to both my Mum and my Nana who are both creative people. My mum has always had artwork on the wall and appreciated art. My grandma is an artist herself, so growing up around her artwork inspired me a lot to paint and explore my art style. I still remember her making me a colour chart from paint to help with mixing colours, which I have to this day.

The other person I look up to is my Dad. He is also extremely creative, and I have a lot of fond memories when I was younger making art with him – especially creating chalk drawings on the driveways on the weekend. He has always encouraged me to follow my dreams and to keep pursuing my art journey no matter what. Sometimes that’s hard to do when you compare yourself to others, but he has always maintained if you do what you love success will follow eventually. ☺️

If you had to be an animal for a day (other than human) which would you pick? How come? 

This is a tricky one, I would say an owl! They are so fascinating to me. I could fly to any place I’d want and be up so high to watch the world go by for a day. Plus, the scenery would look so different from that perspective. I definitely think I would get a lot of inspiration! 

Katy’s creative vibes have us ready to grab the nearest canvas and get painting! It’s important to find the balance between challenging yourself to make mistakes, and taking a break when you need it. So long as you give yourself the time to connect with your inner creator, that’s all that matters.  

See more of @kmctcreative by checking out our gallery, where her art journey is featured!

Stock up on Katy’s faves like Acrylic Colours, Canvases, and our Detail & Liner Brush Set. If you do create at home, #montmarteart or tag us @montmarteart on Instagram or Facebook. We’d love to see what you come up with!

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