Woodchuck 30th Anniversary Artist Spotlight – Katie Lozancich
November 17, 2021
BIO:
Name: Katie Lozancich
Age: 27
Location: Charlesmont, MA (Summer/Fall), Jackson, WY (Winter/Spring)
Profession: Photogrpaher, Artist, Filmmaker
Length: 8 Years
Welcome to our Woodchuck 30th Anniversary blog series where we will be highlighting hand-selected creatives every week through the Fall. This year marks our 30th Anniversary and we have asked 25 creatives from across the country to help celebrate 30 years of creativity and innovation by sharing with us what creativity means to them. We sat down with each creative to hear more about how they use creativity on a daily basis and what influences their work. See below for our conversation with Katie!
W- Hey, What’s up Katie? First off, thank you for taking some time to chat with us today about your use of creativity in your daily life as a photographer and as a creative in general. We’ve obviously seen a lot of your photos at this point but you also take a really unique approach to some of your other art by mixing illustrative aspects with your photography. What started all of that?
K- I’ve been making art for as long as I could remember. As a kid, I carried a sketch pad wherever I went and scribbled all kinds of little doodles. My favorite thing to give people was art, and I always made paintings. But growing up in a small town limited my exposure to actual working artists. Because of this, I never saw it as a career and wrote it off as a hobby.
In college, I discovered photography and that changed my life. To me, photography seemed like a medium that could let me travel, connect with people, and experience new things. As a result, photography became my focus, and I found my niche in the outdoor and action sports world. A few years ago, one of my clients came across my paintings on Instagram and suggested that I should blend them with my photos. I went for it, and the response I got was incredible. It’s funny how life works because when utilized both passions I started creating my best work.
W- Sounds like you really chased you passion for photography. Look where that landed you! It’s really cool how you saw photogrpahy as not only a career path but as a means of allowing you to live your preferred lifestyle as well. When you’re creating one of your mixed-media illustrations or just behind the lense, what sources of inspiration do you find yourself drawing from. Are they internal or external?
K- It’s a mix of both. There’s a part of me that has to be creative, and if I let it go unused for too long it drives me crazy. I become like an antsy kid that’s been cooped inside. I just have to paint, like how a runner needs to go running or a skier needs to be on the slope. It’s kind of like a muscle, and if you don’t use it then it’s not as strong.
When it comes to what drives my creativity, it’s mostly external forces. I’ve never been one of those artists that can whip up illustrations from nothing. I have to draw on experiences or places that I’ve been to. I think that’s why my photography work is so beneficial to my art. It constantly feeds me with ideas and keeps broadening my horizons.
W- It’s almost like your photos set a framework or blueprint for your paintings. What a great pairing. Great analogy by the way! As someone who’s profession requires a great deal of creativity, what does the idea of “creativity” really mean to you?
K- Creativity is a form of curiosity. It’s how I interpret the world, process it, and add something new to it. I find it to be very playful, too. When I’m really in the flow with my work, I feel like a kid again. There aren’t rules or boundaries. It’s just me and the canvas.
W- Well said! It’s interesting that you feel a sense of youthfulness. As adults, a lot of us start to see the world in a very structured and concrete manner, so it must be nice allow yourself to come out of that for a bit while working on a piece of art. Before collaborating with us, did you have any srt of prior connection to Woodchuck at all? Through your creative process was there anything that you learned about us that you would like to share?
K- I’m a New England transplant, and this summer I gained a new appreciation for all things craft brewed. The craft brewing scene in the Northeast is unparalleled, and it was cool to learn that Woodchuck is a pillar of this community with their contributions to the American cider movement. One thing that caught my eye about Woodchuck, was the variety of ciders in your lineup. I’ve never seen anything like a “Mimosa” or “Pearsecco” cider, which tells me that Woodchuck isn’t afraid to try new things and play with wild ideas. That’s something that resonates with me as an artist!
It’s also cool to see a brand put so much value in the arts. This series is shining a spotlight on so many talented creators, and it’s been fun to see everyone interpret the prompt differently. Thanks for including me!
W- Aw Shucks! Thanks Katie! That really means lot to us and we’re glad you can see those values shine through in our product and our brand. We certainly do pride ourselves on our innovation and creative take on hard cider. Cheers!
Check out Katie’s art piece over on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter . She combined a photo of our Mimosa Cider with a little bit of Watercolor for a really cool effect!
Be sure to check out our online cider store and online merch store. There, you’ll be able to stock yourself up with your favorite cider and purchase some all-new Woodchuck swag like t-shirts, Glassware, hats and more!
Cheers and Happy Cider Sippin!
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