Shop.Eat.Know.Find.Enjoy Local. 

Who am I and what is the Inspiration behind The Chroma Club:

I am foremost a wife and mamma to two beautiful girls 7 and 5.
A trained artist and textile designer and have been drawing for as long as I can remember.

A quality South African import who has been toying with painting since playschool.

I am a self-confessed book-worm-at-heart with a solid passion for textiles, screen-printing and
the Arts.

I am a trained Ballerina and pianist as well - was at a crossroads when finished high school

on which path to take as a career -and being an artist won hands down!

I really really love teaching and have empowered kids and people in different art workshops.

I specialize in custom orders and just love transforming dull walls and interiors into colourful,

vibrant environments for my clients. Customization has played a significant role in my business

from the start and is my favorite.

After years of teaching and taking commissions as a contemporary artist,
creating large scale paintings for modern interiors, I really missed my
silk-screening and fabrics.

And so that’s when I launched The Chroma Club two years ago.

[Chroma comes from the term pigments found in paint]

A Pop Art Inspired Art and Home-wares brand designed and ethically
hand-made by me from my studio home, Gold Coast Australia.

It’s my passion and my lifeblood.
It’s what makes my heart sing.
I love creating and painting, getting my hand dirty.

The products I create are bright and bold hand-painted and screen-printed cushions, table cloths / throws, timber 'portholes' [round wall hangings], original art on paper using different paint mediums and limited edition art prints.

​

My creative process:
I always let my intuition guide me.

I'm drawn to prints with eccentric large scale designs and intense, colour-hued palettes in

a rainbow of many colours.

Drawing, painting and printing takes a lot of mental concentration, so I always like to work

when I'm feeling well rested, and inspired. Not always possible, but that's the hope.

 

I approach each fabric design and art piece as though I were creating fine art.

It always starts with a series of sketches or a painting that will be translated into a

printed fabric or printed artwork.

Not all of my paintings become fabrics, but all of my fabrics and wall art started with

original art.

 

I love the exuberance of freehand brushwork.

But I can also finesse meticulous rendering when its called for.

I never analyze what I'm doing while I'm painting, I go with the flow.

Most of the time I have final product in mind. But sometimes there are accidents.

A painting goes in a direction I didn't expect. And that can come out even better.

It's a thrill when you see something that was just in your head come to life.

​

Dedicated to supporting local business as well as mindful environmental ethos, all products not only stand out but are sustainable for both the environment and economy. With an aim to creating a sustainable brand, The Chroma Club, uses eco-friendly dyes, natural and raw fabrics and hand-spun traditional techniques, that leave a less harmful foot print on our precious environment.

​

Influences:

The bright and beachy influence comes from my love for the ocean!

Growing up on the beach, surfing and scuba diving definitely has had an impact on my work.

 

I paint intuitively, useing distinctive Pop Art inspired drawing, painting and collage to create

my patterns. Specializing with various mediums such as fabrics, wood, metal, paper and canvas.

 

The organic shapes in nature inspire, as well as everyday living.

 

COLOUR plays a huge role, I have an emotional connection to it.

 

The movement of Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art, in particular Rothko and Warhol. 

 

The creative process of Japanese artist Kazumi Yoshida, who expressed his work in larger than

life lyrical painting. 

 

Picasso and Duffy's freehand spontaneous feel of painting and drawing.

​

Music:

I cannot be in my studio without switching the radio on - which is usually Breeze Fm.

I love the background chatter, and old classics I can sing along to whilst working.

 

Typical Day:

Up at 6-ish, the expresso pot goes on the stove, then its getting the kids ready and out the

door for school. Then its either running errands, maybe a gym class, or straight back home

to get to work. The office is emails. admin, accounts, social media, trend research, sourcing

out materials, and collaborating with manufacturers. 

Studio time is fun time, where its getting orders done and coming up with new designs.

School pick up comes round oh too fast at 2.30pm, then its homework or moms taxi to activities.

Dinner, bath bed.. then back in the office from around 8 - 11pm to try and finish what I didnt tick

off earlier.I work hard at this business practically round the clock.

 

Best part of working on The Chroma Club:

Getting my hands dirty in my studio, painting, printing and experimenting!

But most of all the reward of hearing from a happy customer, or seeing pictures that they just l

ove their Chroma Club creation - that its revived their room or home with happiness and colour.

 

Hardest part:

Time management!

Working from home with small kids requires a lot of self discipline and routine to say the least.

I've learnt to block my time when I'm most focused mentally.

I've learnt and am still trying apply myself to plan, prioritize and stick to those tasks that need

to be ticked off the list, its all too easy to get distracted with other things around the house.

 

Where can people get their hands on your products and connect with you:

 

My website: www.thechromaclub.com

Instagram: @thechromaclub

Facebook: The Chroma Club

Pintrest: The Chroma Club

Twitter: @kraath

 

I sell my products at craft fairs, 

The Village Markets at Burleigh and Paradise Point

Retail Boutiques through wholesale partners

​

Favourite Qoute:

The mind is everything, what you think, you become.

Buddha

 

Where can people find you when not working:

On the Beach, in a hot yoga class, or having a nap.