I'm a cover girl! Kind of...

Interview: James Hutton

Photo: Hannah Darkins @theunfold

Local artist Karina Jambrak is the talent behind this month’s cover painting of a lady snorkelling in a tropical paradise. Karina shares her local favourites with The Beast...

How long have you lived here? My whole life. I’ve moved from Maroubra to South Coogee, then Kingsford and now Randwick.

Why do you live here? It’s where I grew up, so all of my family and friends are here. I love living near the beaches and couldn’t imagine living away from my mum and sisters.

What's your favourite beach? I love them all for different reasons, but I’m going to say Coogee and Bronte are my favourites.

What's your favourite eatery? There are so many restaurants that we love to go to! China Doll at Woolloomooloo is probably my all-time favourite.

Where do you like to have a drink? We often go to the Coogee Pavilion or The Dog at Randwick.

Best thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The beauty of our coastline. Being so close to so many beautiful beaches is amazing, and I also love the amount of restaurants and shops we have to choose from.

Worst thing about the Eastern Suburbs? The amount of people at the beach in Summer. I really don’t love fighting for a patch of sand between the cabanas at the beach on a beautiful day.

How would you describe your art? Optimistic, colourful, reflecting a connection to nature and inspired by past memories.

Where can people see your work? karinajambrak.com, and Instagram, @karina_jambrak.

Who are your artistic inspirations? Paul Gauguin, Georgia O’Keefe, Henry Rousseau and of course Ken Done (I’m an ’80s baby!).

What are you working on at the moment? I’m working on a couple of collaborations and a new lifestyle brand, Palmaloma, that I plan to launch later in the year (Instagram @palmaloma_).

Do you have any exhibitions coming up? I will be exhibiting at the Affordable Art Fair in Sydney in November.

When did you discover you had a gift for your craft? I’ve loved to paint and draw since I was little. Mum has said she’d always find me with a pencil in hand. She enrolled me in different art classes as I grew up, and through that I realised it was something I loved and was good at. I would always enter my art in local competitions, which I loved being a part of. As I got older I realised how much of a therapeutic outlet art was for me. I just can’t imagine not doing it. 

Did you study art? I completed my Bachelor of Design degree at UNSW College Of Fine Arts back in 2005. It was a degree that gave us the freedom to learn about many different areas of art and design, so within that I did a lot of fine art classes. I majored in textile and graphic design. 

Any words of wisdom for young aspiring artists? Create every single day, even if it’s just a line drawing in your journal. And learn as much as you can and get as much design experience as you can while you’re young. I don’t think I could do what I do now without the experience and knowledge I gained through being a graphic designer for 15-20 years. 

Any other local artists to look out for? I just met Em Hatton at the Affordable Art Fair in Brissie and love her work! She’s based in the Inner West.

What do you get up to on the weekends? I feel like my life is all about kids’ sport and being their chauffeur to parties at the moment. If it’s warm we love go- ing to the beach, having brunch with my sisters at Clodeli, back- yard barbecues with fam and friends and taking our dog Otto for walks down to Coogee. 

What do you do for work? I’m a full time artist, have been for about six years now. 

What's your favourite thing about work? That I get to do what I love while also being there for my family when they need me. The desire for flexibility was what made me start this journey and it is something I never take for granted. 

Do you have a favourite quote? “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”- Nelson Mandela.