How Art Saved BIG Artist Karine Tonial Grimm

If the right words don’t exist to convey the complex emotions you experience…

And you crave an outlet that can help you work through your feelings…

This interview is for you.

Highly successful and talented artist – Karine Tonial Grimm – is getting vulnerable and sharing her journey with mental health and art. 

In this interview you’ll learn…

• how art helped Karine heal in the depths of depression.
• how her journey with art and mental health kick started her career as an artist.
• the best advice she has for artists facing similar challenges.
• how learning from her experiences might change your life. 

But before we dive into the interview…

If you are suffering from a mental health crisis immediately contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988. Help is available 24/7. 

As you will learn later in this interview, Karine Tonial Grimm will tell you, never give up. 

Who is Digital Artist, Karine Tonial Grimm?

Karine Tonial Grimm is a digital artist creating joyful abstract and minimalist art. She currently lives in Brazil with her husband and two children. 

Karine is attentive, detail-oriented, and caring. She is open about her journey with mental health and the impact that art has had in her healing process. Her vulnerability is apparent in her work.

Karine started painting as a form of therapy in 2017. While struggling with depression, Karine needed an outlet where she could express the depth of her emotion. Karine credits art as the pivotal process in her mental health healing journey. 

You can feel the depth of her emotion in each piece. Whether it’s pure elation felt through her joyful pink abstract art or the serious yet hopeful notion from her gray and purple abstract paintings, it’s easy to get lost in an emotional experience while admiring her art. 

The connection that people feel to her style is apparent. Since she transitioned from art as a form of therapy to art as a career, Karine has sold an impressive 3,500+ pieces of her art worldwide! 

BIG is thrilled to welcome Karine into its community of emerging artists. As a mental health advocate, Karine is doing more than just creating stunning art for your living room. She’s making a real difference in the world. 

Trust us when we say, Karine’s journey is full of relatable moments and advice…there’s something  in this interview that can benefit everyone! 

Now let’s get into the interview!

How Art Saved Karine Tonial Grimm and Launched Her Career

How did you get started creating your artwork?

I started painting while battling depression. Art came as therapy. 

Art is an incredible way to express complex emotions and work through feelings without words. 

It helped me when I felt like there weren’t words to describe exactly how I was feeling. 

As I painted, I processed and healed. 

The contemplation and creation of subjective beauty lifted me from the depths of despair to the heights of euphoria. I am so thankful for art. I truly feel like it healed me. 

What emotions are you trying to capture and convey with your artwork?

I’d say joy and peace are the two best emotions that I love to convey and capture. 

What is your process for creating your artwork?

I work in the mornings and some nights. I take a break from creating in the afternoons and evenings to spend time with my kids. 

I have a special color palette that I love to work with. 

The inspiration for a particular piece can come from anywhere. Sometimes something as simple as buying a new brush can change the course of my paintings for weeks at a time. 

Some days I am more inspired than others, but when I am relaxed and free to have fun, I always create better art. 

What inspires you most?

I love to travel and get to know different people and cultures. 

The ability to live wherever I want and to work from there inspires me and my art. 

I like international pop music and police dramas, but most of my inspiration comes from outside of the mainstream. I am more influenced by color and emotion. 

My husband has also been a huge influence on my work. He is the most positive person I’ve ever met. He believed in me, invested money at the beginning of my career, and the most important thing – he is always there to motivate me when I am feeling down for whatever reason. 

How has your style changed over the years?

In the beginning, I had no appreciation for minimalist art. Today, however, I love the beauty and simplicity of minimalism. 

I feel so grateful to see how I have improved. 

The first piece that sticks out in my mind is a black and yellow abstract that I had placed in a gold frame. It’s humbling to see my improvement since I started. I had no idea what I was doing in the beginning.

I started painting on canvas. After about 2 years I moved to the digital art world. 

I love it because there are so many more creative possibilities. Now I’m able to more fully express myself through my art. 

When you think about your career as an artist so far, what are you most proud of?

I am proud to know that there is so much of my art in homes and galleries around the world. I did not foresee that when I started painting as therapy. 

I think one of my favorite pieces would have to be Settled. It goes well in almost every setting and has become very special as it’s my best selling piece.

What has been the biggest challenge in working as an artist so far? 

Some days the inspiration won’t come. I try to understand that this is normal, but it still can be frustrating and discouraging. 

I would also say that painting in a non-abstract style is a challenge for me. Painting, say, landscapes, is something I wish I could be more proficient at. I’m working on that though! 

What advice would you give to artists who face the same challenges?

Do not be afraid of uninspired days or trying things that you don’t feel as confident about. 

For every day that feels hard there will be so many more days when you won’t be able to stop creating for hours and hours because you will be extremely inspired. 

Easier said than done, but keeping that perspective is very important. 

In general, what is the best advice you have ever received?

Do not give up. 

I know it’s cliché, but there are so many times I thought about quitting. I’m so glad that I didn’t. If I had ever stopped, I wouldn’t be here today. 

It’s so hard working through the pain and tough times. But it’s worth it to get through to the joy and peace on the other side. The journey won’t always be straightforward, always keep going. 

If you could go back in time and tell yourself one thing, what would you tell yourself and when?

I would go back to 2017 in the middle of my darkest moments with depression and tell myself:

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8.28

It’s comforting me to remember that I am not alone in my struggles. Art helped me work through it and trusting in God gave me a sense of purpose bigger than myself. 

It’s hard for me to believe, but honestly my battle with depression may have been one of the best things that happened to me. I discovered art because of the dark moment I was in. It changed the trajectory of my entire life. 

Everything happens for a reason and works itself out. That doesn’t mean it is easy, but in the end, it’s worth it. 

How does it make you feel to see your art hung in other people’s homes?

Words cannot express how gratifying it is to see or know that my art is in so many different homes around the world. I’m grateful that people feel inspired by or connected to my work. 

Art makes all of the difference in your home’s environment. It brings joy and creates a welcoming atmosphere. It brings me so much happiness to know that my art can make your home feel lighter and brighter.