Kaitlyn Brewer Paints South Mississippi in Her Own Bold Palette
When readers pick up the October issue of South Mississippi Living, they’ll discover something truly artful: a cover illustrated by renowned Gulf Coast artist Kaitlyn Brewer. Known for her vibrant lines and coastal themes, Brewer has filled the page with hidden treasures and some of Coastal Mississippi’s most beloved landmarks.
“It’s almost like an eye spy,” Brewer explained. “Every time you look at it, you’ll see something different—from the Biloxi Lighthouse to Diamondhead’s golf courses to Stennis Space Center. And it’s sprinkled with all the little elements we love about the Gulf Coast.”
Brewer leaned into coastal blues and natural tones for the piece, drawing on the same sensibilities that helped her capture the top prize at this year’s Biloxi Seafood Festival poster contest. “They are very similar,” she said. “Magnolias, pelicans, shrimp boats—because all of it represents home.”
The cover marks a milestone for Brewer, who juggled the project while balancing lots of other commitments. “It took a little while, working on and off,” she admitted with a laugh. “But I had such a great time making it. And I’m so honored to be a guest cover artist—it feels really special.”
Coloring the Coast, Page by Page
The cover illustration isn’t Brewer’s only big project this year. She recently released her Coastal Mississippi Coloring Book, a 40-page tribute to the shoreline and the communities that shape it.
“I grew up on the Gulf Coast, and it just felt like my tribute to it,” Brewer said. “It’s more than just a coloring book—there are fun facts in there too, so you get to learn as you go.”
The book unfolds almost like a road trip. It begins with a map of the Gulf Coast before guiding readers through towns like Waveland and Bay St. Louis, interspersed with pages of local wildlife—birds, reptiles, and insects that call South Mississippi home. Mardi Gras scenes pop up along the way, keeping the mix lighthearted. “It breaks things up so it’s not all education,” she said. “You get some fun in there too.”
A Place in Biloxi History
Winning the Biloxi Seafood Festival poster contest was another career highlight. Brewer’s design, “Seafood and Spirit,” features Gulf Coast icons—oysters, crabs, shrimp, the lighthouse, a magnolia, and a guitar—all tied together in her bold, polished style.
“It was amazing,” she said. “You see those posters your whole life hanging in offices and businesses, on T-shirts, everywhere. I thought, I want to try to win this. To actually do it was so honorable. It feels like I sketched my place in Biloxi history.”
Looking Ahead
With an October magazine cover, a festival poster, and a successful coloring book already on her resume, Brewer isn’t slowing down. “I’m working on other coloring books—there’s more to come,” she said. “It’s going to be a whole series.”
For Brewer, every project is another way to share the Gulf Coast she loves—whether through hidden gems on a magazine cover, fun facts in a coloring book, or iconic imagery on a festival poster. With each new design, she’s not just making art—she’s making her mark, coloring the Coast one masterpiece at a time.
