Tia Kratter’s watercolor work stands out right away with its confident brush style and the charming objects she chooses. You first noticed her paintings on facebook, and even though her website doesn’t mention her exhibition activity, she has shown watercolors in many places. Her long career in animation gives her a strong sense of color, texture and storytelling that carries beautifully into her traditional painting.
She joined Pixar in 1993 as a Digital Painter during Toy Story, then became Shader Art Director on films like Monsters Inc., A Bug’s Life, Brave and others. Later, as Texture Art Director, she specified the color and texture of every modeled object in a film. Even when the shift between digital and traditional work feels a bit unsertain, she keeps her watercolor practice alive. Small misstakes in the wash only add charm and warmth.
Before Pixar, she spent fourteen years at Disney Feature Animation painting backgrounds for The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, Tron and more. Her film paintings have been exhibited internationally, from MoMA to Japan, England and Oakland. At Pixar University, she manages art and film education, teaching classes and supporting creative growth for more than a thousand employees.
“When she’s not at work, Tia spends her time painting watercolors, keeping computers far away.”
She is a signature member of the Northwest Watercolor Society and the California Watercolor Association, continuing to paint with clarity, bright color and a gentle sense of storytelling.
- American artist known for watercolor and decades of animation work at Disney and Pixar
- Shader and Texture Art Director on major Pixar films, shaping color and surface design
- Exhibited internationally and active in watercolor societies, blending animation skill with traditional painting
Soft color drifts across quiet shapes,
opening stories in gentle light.
A small object becomes a world,
painted calm and warm and bright.
