Karlee Rawkins painting practice has been greatly influenced by the use of space and perspective in Asian and Middle Eastern art particularly the contemporary Japanese painting movement of "super flat", using areas of great detail contrasted with open space.

Rawkins creates ambiguous motifs suggesting landscape, animal and pattern simultaneously. Her work explores the relationships and association humans have with animals and especially traditional farmyard animals, finding the suggested domesticity and comfort an interesting medium for manipulation. Her current work features rabbits, they have an image of innocence and vulnerability particularly poignant in the current culture of fear and anxiety.