We had the good fortune of connecting with Audra Colino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Audra, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My business, KREEPSHOW, was created very organically. During quarantine, I began painting for fun, and soon a coworker of mine gifted me all her oil paints from art school when I told her I started delving into this craft. In the summer of 2020, my partner and I wanted to work on a creative project together, but due to COVID-19, we were forced to come up with something on our own. We pieced together both of our artistic sides and developed KREEPSHOW, which just launched at the end of February 2021 this year. I wanted to make KREEPSHOW very performance-based within our packaging, promotion, and the items we created. My partner and I have studied theatre for years, and wanted to incorporate theatrical elements to truly make our brand unique. We provide stamped “tickets” to the KREEPSHOW when an item is purchased, giving our customers & clients a personal experience and feel as if they are being transported to a different plane of existence. A “Golden Ticket” or “Letter to Hogwarts”, if you will.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I knew that when I sold out on a few paintings I casually posted on Instagram last April that art was something I was meant to do right now. Now, a year later and a new business launched, I sold out on my first oil-on-wood collection. I feel it very deeply within me that art will always be the right path for me to take. It has been a long journey to birth my business into the creative world, and it took quite a few steps to get where I am now. Having my partner Jaz with me has immensely helped all my ideas flourish. We go through trial and error together. I’ve learned that being true to yourself and your craft will push you in the right direction. Artists truly see the world differently than others, and we express it very uniquely. There is a place for everyone’s art, and communities continue to grow. When your heart is your guide, your confidence will follow, and others will see that. There are more people than you know that are following your artistic path. As an artist, I want people to find comfort in my creations. Nostalgia, energy, solace, desire. I create with personal meaning, but subjective thoughts make art live on. I perform, create, write, build. Seeing and feeling comes with all of that, and it has always been my passion to look inward and create something out of an experience.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Los Angeles is a hive for artists. An outdoor canvas we get to leave our mark on. I go to villages like Silverlake and Echopark with a magnifying glass-attitude, because art is hidden for those who seek it. I am a coffee connoisseur, so I’ve thoroughly experienced many espresso bars in the city. I’d have to say that Terra Mia takes the cake for me when it comes to a good latte. I enjoy my own side job as a barista and the drinks we serve there, but there’s something about Terra Mia that has me day dreaming. Living in the valley, I’ve found little wonders that make my eating habits grow ten-fold. Poké Rainbow and Sweetfin provide a love I could never find elsewhere. Sushi lovers, if you haven’t experienced poké yet, these are the spots that will definitely have you coming back for more. As an impressionist and traditional art lover, The Getty is a beautiful place to get lost in. The tram ride up through the trees feels like a portal whisking you centuries back into a marbled castle filled with historic paintings. Monet and Rembrandt reside here as some of my favorites. Wisdome LA is a trippy 4D digital art experience that truly launched me into a galaxy I want to get back to every so often. It is a fantastical world with live music, art exhibits, VR interaction, and incredible 4D planetarium-like adventure. Hands down one of the best places I have ever been to. Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would LOVE to give my shoutout to my partner, Jaz, for stepping in my shoes and really seeing what KREEPSHOW is all about. She has always been at my side when I get down about being a new artist in the grand world of talented traditional and contemporary artists, and now the bustling digital art world. I’ve felt very small, but Jaz makes me feel like I’m on top of the world with my art. Everything I create, she puts on a pedestal. She provides worth to my pieces where I have trouble finding it. I feel very lucky to have a partner so inspired, dedicated, and encouraging of my creations. She really helped KREEPSHOW come to life.

Website: kreepshowshop.com

Instagram: instagram.com/audracolino

Twitter: twitter.com/kreepshowshop

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kreeepshow?lang=en Personal website: audracolino.com

Image Credits
Ben Romero

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.