Looking Up Blog

The Insights, Antics & Experiences of Katherine Klimitas

Latest Blog Posts

What Kind of Business Do I Have?

Today, I’m answering a question I get pretty often: What kind of business do you run? The short answer? I run an LLC—a Limited Liability Corporation. (And yes, I sound like I know what I’m talking about… but honestly, I only know the basics!) Here’s what I do understand: An LLC helps protect your personal assets. If […]

Behind the Scenes: Creating My Turtle Painting

As an artist, preparing for a large-scale show like What a Wonderful World: A Louisiana Menagerie is both thrilling and overwhelming. This show featured 61 paintings, each celebrating the rich and diverse wildlife of Louisiana. Among them was one of my favorites—a watercolor painting of a turtle called “Lincoln.” Today, I want to give you a behind-the-scenes […]

Growing up with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Hide-and-Seek That Ended on a China Cabinet

Growing up with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) meant that I often had to do things a little differently than other kids. OI, sometimes called brittle bone disease, affects bone strength and mobility, which meant my family and friends had to be mindful of my safety. But one thing I never wanted was for my disability to prevent me […]

Twenty Years After Katrina: My Family’s Story

This week marks twenty years since Hurricane Katrina changed New Orleans and the Gulf South forever. If you live here, you know the news has been filled with remembrance pieces, footage, and commentary. For many of us who lived it, reliving those days isn’t easy. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to write this. But […]

That One Time I Met Sugarland

Today I want to share one of my fondest memories: the first time I met Sugarland. If you know me, you know I’m a huge Sugarland fan. Let’s rewind to when I was about 23. I recently became friends with a fellow superfan named Christy—we actually met while stalking Sugarland at Jazz Fest. Yep, that’s how it started: two […]

Splendor Beneath the Waves: The Coral Reef That Started It All

Every artist has that one piece—the one that feels like a turning point, a burst of inspiration that changes everything. For me, that piece is Splendor Beneath the Waves, which represents the vast beauty of a coral reef. This painting, which was featured in my exhibition Off the Hook: A Journey Beneath the Waves at the West Baton Rouge […]

Handicap Discrimination Over Inclusion: A Night at IP Casino

Last night was supposed to be a fun, music-filled evening with a good friend—one of those nights you look forward to for weeks. Instead, I left the IP Casino in Biloxi feeling frustrated, hurt, and frankly, a little stunned by how things played out. Discrimination will do that to you. My friend and I had […]

Can You Train Your Own Service Dog?

“Can You Train Your Own Service Dog?” Today I have the pleasure of sitting down with Ann Becnel of Ann Becnel Companion Dogs, LLC to talk about all things service dog related. Ann has over twenty years of service dog training experience, and she helped me train my own first service dog, Lexie, many years […]

My College Path to Becoming a Professional Artist

As I approached the end of high school, I knew two things for certain: I was going to become a professional artist and I was going to college. What I didn’t know was exactly how I was going to get there. I dreamed of attending an art school, immersing myself in a creative environment that […]

Blow Me a Kiss: The Playful Charm of a Pufferfish

Among the colorful creations in my exhibition Off the Hook: A Journey Beneath the Waves, one piece stands out for its personality and playful charm. My pufferfish painting is aptly titled Blow Me a Kiss. It was on display last year at the West Baton Rouge Museum and was an absolute joy to create. It captures the whimsical essence […]