Instagram artist brings weird seltzer water flavor fantasies to life
Every seltzer-chugging person has fantasized about their dream flavor.
Kate Rath brings those bubbly fantasies to life. The 31-year-old artist has been posting whimsical seltzer-inspired art on Instagram for the past several months. Using markers, watercolors, and a little bit of inspiration from Twitter, Rath makes all of her cans pop.
"I stopped drinking about a year ago and was pretty bored because I'd cut out my favorite hobby so I just started messing around with my new art supplies in my free time," Rath tells Mashable via email.
She was originally inspired by another Instagram page, the now-defunct @chobani_flavors, an "unofficial parody" account showcasing Photoshopped Chobani yogurt cups with weird, non-yogurt flavors like "Broken Glass." But since Rath didn't know anything about Photoshop, she went the traditional route. "I just decided to start drawing fake seltzer flavors with my new supplies."
It's safe to assume Rath is a seltzer drinker herself. So much so that she scored herself an invite to an online community of other bubble-fanatics: The Secret Society of Seltzer. It's a Facebook group called "Now Fizzing" and a digital space for people who just love seltzer water.
"Everyone on the group is super friendly, which is rare for the internet. There's no attitudes there -- just people supporting each other and posting pictures of seltzer that they're drinking." Rath credits some of her seltzer mania to the "Fizzers" she's met in the carbonated realm. "It's certainly contributed to my fanaticism."
Rath's healthy obsession translates well in her art. She has a knack for plucking obscure and niche cultural phenomenons from the current zeitgeist and painting them on to the familiar Polar Seltzer can, arguably a phenomenon itself.
Here's one for "Wonderwall" by Oasis.
"I have a running list of ideas on a note on my phone. Sometimes I will pick something off of there or I'll check Twitter to see if there's anything trending that I could make a flavor out of. A lot of times I just have an a-ha moment and think 'ooo that would be a good seltzer flavor' and just sit down and do it right then and there," Rath said.
This one captures Shen Yun, the epic Chinese dance-show-turned-meme, perfectly.
Niche but highly-relatable human tendencies can also be found in Rath's work. Who hasn't fallen ill to a combo meal of symptoms only to find themselves on WebMD, diagnosing themselves with a disease they definitely don't have?
The can Rath uses as a template isn't by mistake but by design, as Polar is her seltzer supplier of choice. "My favorite flavor is Blackberry Citron from their Winter Seasonals last year, specifically in a can (bottle just doesn't taste as good!)"
If Rath could have any flavor though, it would be "world peace" or "student loan eradication." Realistically, she'd like to see more herbal flavors on sparkling water displays. "How good would a sage seltzer taste?"
Today, seltzer sales continue to surge, proving its popularity in a more health conscious society. Rath is just glad to be in on the fizzy fun: "I didn't think that it would be as well received as it is since it's such a weird niche. I just hope people keep enjoying it! And that everyone stays friendly and supportive. And to someday have as many followers as a Kardashian."
Harry is a fellow on the Culture Team. He loves memes and Taylor Swift (no, like, actually.) He'd like to thank his parents for always believing in him. This will be his first broadway production. Oh, wait, he thought this was a Playbill bio...
