October 2025
Design Off The Grid With Katrin Schroeder: An American Artist Living Her Best Life In Florence
Not all of us are called to the “traditional” career path or way of life. Artist portrait credit.
Not all of us are called to the “traditional” career path or way of life.
I mean, I’d argue most creatives, especially those who choose to freelance, start an agency, go to work as their own boss, or do something outside of the expected 9-5 employment role can relate to that.
And I love hearing less-than-likely stories because they align so much with my own philosophy that sometimes, you just have to take design (and many other aspects of life) “off the grid.”
My friend, Katrin Schroeder is one of those “off grid” people.
Katrin is an American artist who has been living her absolute best life in Florence, Italy for years now.
I was so excited to sit with her and chat about what her life looks like now. And what led her to do something so far out of the standard comfort zone that most of us can’t help but look on in awe.
"I think of what Michelangelo said about revealing the angel within the marble – building a creative life is a lot like that. You strip away all the ‘shoulds’ you’ve absorbed about what life is supposed to look like, and little by little, you uncover the shape that was always meant to be yours."
From “realistic” career path to what she was called to do
Like many creatives, Katrin always felt called to the arts – particularly painting. And Katrin says, “I was lucky because my mom championed that passion early on, even helping my high school establish an AP art program just for me to take it.”
Which is honestly such a power move on her mom’s behalf, especially because Katrin was the only student enrolled in that first year (though many students have since taken it)!
In college, Katrin majored in graphic design because she thought that was the most “realistic” career path. But she couldn’t resist taking every available painting course in the meantime and, “I somehow managed to convince many of the painting majors that I was one of them, so much so that they were shocked by the color of my tassel at graduation!”
After graduation, Katrin worked as a full-time, in-house graphic designer at a makeup company for four years, but, “When I was offered a promotion, I had a moment of clarity: this path wasn’t where my heart truly lived.”
Confronted with this realization, Katrin decided to make the leap and became a self-employed graphic designer and painter.
Long story (somewhat) short, Katrin’s journey eventually brought her to Florence, Italy, where she was accepted into a reputable painting atelier in 2021 where she continued her formal training.
Katrin recently left the school, and is currently transitioning back into life as a full-time professional, while exploring cities that could become home to her next studio.
Portugal is catching her eye at the moment, but she says, “We’ll see what unfolds!”
Assumptions and truths
When asked what (wrong) assumptions people make about Katrin’s life as an expat living in Italy, she laughs, “People often assume my life must be an endless daydream of spritz and aperitivo. And while those moments do, thankfully, exist, the reality is that even in paradiso, you still have to roll up your sleeves! There are dishes to wash, bills to pay, and therapy appointments to make.”
Another assumption is that because Katrin is an artist, she must be painting every waking moment.
In truth, as most fellow creatives can surely relate to, it’s rare to have a full uninterrupted day devoted just to painting – there’s so much behind-the-scenes work that goes into sustaining a creative career.
But Katrin says, “I’ve learned that these in-between moments, when I’m not at the easel, often feed my work in unexpected ways that are just as essential. And for some reason, it’s not uncommon for people to think I’m much younger than I am (often by a decade), which leads to a lot of confusion about my lifestyle, accomplishments and choices.”
At which point, she laughs, “And yes! I’m tired!”
"I want my coconspirators to succeed alongside me. In my studio, that means paying people a living wage and making space for marginalized voices in my self-initiated works."
An American in Italy
Living in Florence has definitely influenced Katrin’s artistic voice.
She tells us, “The most tangible shift is that I used to paint almost exclusively from photographs, and now I can translate subjects from life onto canvas, which is a completely different experience. When you’re staring at something three-dimensional and trying to tell its story on a flat surface, it teaches your eyes and hands a new kind of dance.”
Katrin also says that when she first arrived in Italy, she was, admittedly, a bit naive about how different American and Italian (specifically Florentine) cultures really are.
“Living here has been like having one foot planted in history and another stepping toward the future. Florence reveres its heritage and you can feel the breath of the Renaissance through the streets. While American culture often leans into possibility and reinvention.
Dancing between the two has given my artistic voice a deeper, richer lens. It’s like how my atelier had me draw entire figures just to make me a stronger portrait artist – stepping back to see the larger pictures changes how you perceive the smaller ones.”
Now Katrin says her work carries both worlds: classic techniques and traditional tools, woven into modern stories.
But Katrin remains very much an American girl at heart.
“You can take the girl out of America, but you can’t take the America out of the girl! Many of my Italian friends refer to me as their ‘cowgirl.’
One thing that sets me apart from other artists here is that I carry a strong sense of entrepreneurship, something I think comes partly from my design background and partly from growing up in the U.S. It’s one thing to make art; it’s another to navigate the art of running a creative business, and I enjoy that challenge.
I’m also very future-oriented. While Florence has given me an incredible respect for history and tradition, I have little interest in painting stories that have already been told. My American roots make me hungry to push forward, to explore new narratives that haven’t yet had their moment on canvas.”
A creative day in the life
I had to know what a typical day looks like for Katrin and she told me that she embraces the Italian lifestyle of not being rushed.
“Most days, I let myself sleep in,” she says. “I only set an alarm if there’s an appointment, which is honestly, one of my true signs of success. Despite my best efforts, I’ve never been able to keep a strict sleep schedule, so finally having the freedom to work with my natural rhythm has completely transformed my quality of life.”
Katrin’s mornings start slowly, with a homemade matcha latte, catching up on messages and emails, and easing into the day to set the tone.
Once she’s fully awake (which Katrin says takes a hot minute as a self-professed nonmorning person), she tackles the more structured parts of work like meetings, accounting, and project proposals, so that by afternoon she can float off into her creativity.
That might mean painting, designing, or even creating social media content, which for Katrin is just another form of storytelling.
To close out the day, Katrin usually takes a walk in nature at sunset to ground herself before evening plans.
She says, “If I happen to sleep in extra late, I’ll squeeze in a few more light tasks. I like to try and leave room for calls with family or friends back in the States thanks to the time difference, or, if I can be completely honest… play The Sims (one of my favorite pastimes since the early 2000s).”
Which sounds pretty perfect to me, but I wanted to know what Katrin’s biggest challenge was in creating a life “outside the norm”:
“The hardest part of creating a life outside of the ‘norm’ is that there’s no clear map for it. Most of the time, I know exactly what I don’t want, but it takes a lot of trial and error to discover what I actually do want…and what truly supports my art. It’s not an efficient process, and it demands that you take an unflinching look at yourself.
But, at the risk of sounding cliché, if you can learn to fall in love with the journey instead of obsessing over the destination, there’s so much joy to be found along the way.
I think of what Michelangelo said about revealing the angel within the marble – building a creative life is a lot like that. You strip away all the ‘shoulds’ you’ve absorbed about what life is supposed to look like, and little by little, you uncover the shape that was always meant to be yours.”
"The success I’m starting to enjoy now is really the beautiful, messy intersection of all those phases."
Defining success and living by values
For Katrin, “Success is about alignment. The closer I feel to the person I want to be, the more successful I consider myself.”
When I asked her if that’s changed since leaving the U.S., she said, “It’s definitely shifted. When I first moved to Italy to focus on my painting, I imagined success would mean winning a major international portrait competition. That felt like it would be the ultimate feather in my cap. But living here has slowly untangled my sense of worth from constant productivity and professional validation. At this point, I’m not even sure I care to enter those competitions. If I’m genuinely enjoying the process of creating, that’s enough for me.”
She also told me that the past five years have been pivotal in reshaping her values.
“I’ve become more aware of my own privilege and how important it is to use it thoughtfully – to advocate for others, treat people well, and make sure that the way I create doesn’t just serve me alone.
I wish this wasn’t true and that art was more accessible, but as it stands in the world, fine art is, at its core, a luxury.
But I don’t want that wealth to bottleneck at the top or come at the expense of others. I want my coconspirators to succeed alongside me. In my studio, that means paying people a living wage and making space for marginalized voices in my self-initiated works.
Ultimately, I want to step away from old models of ‘artists as a lone genius’ and build something more collective. Something that feels expansive, rather than just feeding my own ego.”
Advice for other creatives
The coolest part about the life Katrin has built for herself is that if she could go back and take the same path again, she would.
“I’m really happy with the growth I’ve experienced and where I seem to be headed. Sure, there have been some tough lessons along the way, but all my experiences and skills have culminated in bringing me here. And for that, I’m grateful.
People often ask if I wish I had gone straight into painting and skipped the graphic design degree, but honestly, I see so many talented artists who emerge from these academies with amazing skills and zero clue how to run a business. And then they struggle.
Working as a designer, often collaborating with marketing experts, and later diving into social media, gave me the tools I needed to run my own business. That foundation has set me up for better success than if I’d taken a more ‘straightforward’ fine art-only path.
So, the success I’m starting to enjoy now is really the beautiful, messy intersection of all those phases.
TL;DR: no, I wouldn’t change a thing!”
So, what advice would Katrin give to young creatives who are considering a “non traditional” career path?
“There’s this popular saying, that ‘if you do what you love, you will never work a day in your life.’ and I understand the sentiment, but trust me when I say it is very likely you will probably work even MORE (at least for a period of time).
You are going to need to be devoted to walking this path to get through some of the grittier moments on your way to success. And you will probably have to make some sacrifices along the way that force you to look at yourself and ask if this path aligns with the lifestyle you want to live.
If you give it a try and decide it’s not for you (at least in the moment), that’s perfectly ok! You can always come back to it, if/when you feel like it.
I’d also like to add this: feeling drawn to something creative doesn’t mean you have to monetize it. It’s trendy right now to turn every passion into a side hustle (which makes sense, given how hard things are financially), but sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is protect what lights you up and keep it just for yourself.
There’s no one ‘right’ way, and you’ll know what’s best for you.”
Given how grounded her advice is, it’s completely unsurprising that Katrin stays inspired and motivated by interests outside of her artistic practice. She says that’s the best way she can nurture her creativity.
“Innovation occurs at intersections and one way I support this is through reading. I actually signed up to a library back in Colorado, near to where my parents live, because I think it’s more important than ever to support US libraries.
And it’s a great way to swap out doomscrolling for something inspiring (and educational). Learning new things keeps me motivated and curious!”
“Innovation occurs at intersections and one way I support this is through reading."
Fun questions for Katrin
Q: Do you have any favorite rituals for staying grounded?
A: This isn’t particularly sexy or glamorous, but I’ve learned that (whether I like it or not) routine is essential for keeping me grounded and preventing me from turning into an overstimulated gremlin (yes, I’m neurotypical haha).
My daily rhythm of a slow morning matcha latte, an afternoon weightlifting session, and an evening walk keeps me sane.
Q: What’s a creative trend you’re glad to leave behind?
A: I’d say this is more of a mindset shift than a physical or visual trend (like a font), but I’m genuinely relieved to see the slow fading of ‘hustle’ culture.
It always felt like a one-way ticket to Burnout City (speaking for a friend, of course), and we all deserve so much better than that.
Q: On the other side of that coin, what’s one creative trend you’re excited about?
A: With the rise of AI there seems to be a growing yearning for things with an element of human touch/whimsy woven into them. To me, this really sticks out with fashion trends (think: quilted jackets, embroidery, bows, etc.).
I think we’ll also see a revival of romanticism, especially within the painting world. As an impressionist painter (and self-declared lover girl) I am STOKED.
And of course, none of these mediums are an island, so it’ll be interesting to see the conversations that happen from one creative field to another.
Q: If your life had a soundtrack, what are three songs that would be on repeat?
A: Such a good question! At the moment these three seem to be befitting:
- “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac
- “Apocalypse” by Cigarettes After Sex
- “Cherry-Coloured Funk” by Cocteau Twins
Bonus: I’ve had “No Broke Boys” by Disco Lines & Tinashe on repeat for weeks