Meet the Qrafties: Kat J. Weiss, Illustrator and Designer of Bao T-Shirts
5 Mins Read
Kat J. Weiss is an independent illustrator and designer from a multi-ethnic and multi-lingual background; born & raised in Hong Kong. Though she feels kind of out of place sometimes (as is the typical "third-culture kid" narrative), Hong Kong will always be a place to call home. Kat illustrated a series of loveable food inspired characters. She picked up the traditional screen-printing technique and hand-print her very own illustrations on t-shirts for people to cherish (watch how she screen-print t-shirt at the end of this sharing).
The cute Bao and Chilli Bebe characters you see on this blog post are her signatures. The cuteness and pun element of Kat’s Characters somehow reminds us not to take life way too serious and we can always add some fun elements to our daily life. Smile! Kat enjoys drawing with inks, as it is unpredictable, accident-prone, and precise, all at once. Her work is collage- and pattern-like, with surreal and playful compositions. Though she operates in a few different styles – sometimes saccharine and simple, sometimes a little more sophisticated – her leaning towards the decorative remains throughout.
Hand-printed Adora Bao Baby Onesie
Tell us about your screen-printing journey. How did you come up with the idea of hand-printing your illustrations on t-shirt?
I started my screen printed shirt business end of 2017 / beginning of 2018. I wanted to create shirts with my characters on it and a friend of mine offered to help me screen print them. Eventually I picked up the craft and now I do all of the printing myself. There were always those couple of people on Instagram who would ask me to put my characters on shirts so I figured, why not.
Your signature illustrations bao and chili bebe illustrations are lovable. Where do you usually get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration just like anyone else would – from my subconscious + my environment. The characters I create are a mix of both Western and Asian culture, combined in a cute visual, with a pun. Being of mixed heritage, having grown up in Hong Kong, and never feeling quite Asian or European enough… I suppose it was only a matter of time until this feeling would express itself visually. Also, I try to create with heart and joy, I think that is important, too.
Many of your illustrations are related to culinary art. Are you a foodie yourself?
How could I not be a foodie! There are too many HK foods to like, so I don’t know if I can name a favourite, but I’m also vegetarian so I’m limited to that.
What do you enjoy doing the most in Hong Kong?
I love going hiking, kayaking, and to the beach, and on the other hand, I also like walking around in the city, like in Yau Tsim Mong or Sheung Wan. I love how many different sceneries/landscapes you can experience in Hong Kong.
Hand-printed Chilli bebe T-shirts
What is the first piece of artwork you sold in your life? How did it feel having someone appreciate your work for the first time?
I sold a watercolour painting about 8 years ago. I don’t remember how I felt. But it doesn’t matter, because the amazement and gratitude you feel every time someone decides to support your business never goes away.
Is there a time you are not inspired to draw? How do you overcome creative blocks?
There are many times I do not feel inspired to draw – more times than I would like to admit. I have been drawing for a very long time already so the novelty isn’t really there anymore. It’s a career, not a hobby, so if I really have to work on a commission then I’ll just do it. If I don’t feel inspired to work on personal work, then I won’t force myself, and trust that the drive to create something will come back.
Which Illustrator inspired you the most?
For my merchandise design work specifically, I am very inspired by the character Pusheen cat. It is created by Illustrators Claire Belton and Andrew DuffIt. It always gives me joy to see that character. I want to spark a similar reaction in people when they see my designs.
“Being of mixed heritage, having grown up in Hong Kong, and never feeling quite Asian or European enough… I suppose it was only a matter of time until this feeling would express itself visually.”
What is the best piece of advice you have received?
If you want to figure out which one of your artworks or designs have the most commercial potential, scroll through your instagram statistics and pay attention to which post(s) got the most engagement – that means not just the highest amount of likes, but the highest amount of comments (and/or shares). Pay attention to the kind of comments you get, too – has anyone every specifically commented that they would like to be able to wear or buy a certain design of yours? Sometimes people really just tell you what they want from you.
I think I heard this on a Creative Peptalk Podcast once – it’s hosted by illustrator Andy J. Pizza.
What’s next? Will you be creating new illustrations or trying out different art technique?
I would love to be able to sew my own merchandise (maybe masks?) but I like to keep my business as minimal as possible. I don’t feel the need to put too many things out in the world – there is already so much stuff!
Hand-printed Pho and Orange T-shirts
What our Qraftie shopper says:
“Everything is great! Real efficient artist! Got my order in two days. Love the quality and design!!!”
WORDS FROM OUR FOUNDER
“Kat and I first spoke over a video call where she shared with me her journey in art and design. We met in person at our first appreciation reception where I got a chance to get to know her personality better. I found Kat to be an authentic and down-to-earth person. I admire her dedication to art and the way she put effort on avoid unnecessary waste throughout her production process. Instead of having her illustration t-shirts made through a printing company, she took a further step to picking up the screen-printing technique herself and hand-print her very own design on t-shirts one by one. I look forward to seeing Kat grow along her design journey and continue bringing positivity to people’s lives through her cute creations.”
Thank you for being an appreciative reader as always. Meet the Qrafties is a series of Qraftie sellers’ stories, sharing with you the passion and hard work behind the creative works you see in their Qraftie stores. If you enjoy reading this blog post, please share it with your family and friends. Stay tuned for our next Meet the Qrafties story.
September 2020
About the author
The Qraftie blog aims to provide you stories related to craftsmanship, culture and lifestyle around Hong Kong.
