So, tell us a bit about yourself, Kit. What should our readers know about you?
•Just a curly haired kid from Canada who loves peanut butter and jam sandwiches. Still a curly haired Canadian who loves peanut butter and jam sandwiches.
Now to what everyone is curious about, your art. When you were growing up did you always dream of being an artist?
•Art has always been like breath to me. just a fundamental part of my existence. Not something I could think of not doing.
In the past you have described your artwork as a “dark dream.” What inspires this style of work? Do you ever find yourself looking towards other artists for inspiration?
•It’s never something I needed inspiration to do. It’s just a part of me to my very core. Art is just as much of me as the blood in my veins or heart that pumps it. I’ve created my whole life, and sure, there are things that are cause for inspiration, but it can be anything from other artists, to the people that enjoy seeing my works, to the tiniest broken piece of glass lying on the floor- and the way the light catches it- to the shadows cast by the morning light on my ceiling as I lie in bed. Inspiration is everywhere. Even in the seemingly banal.
Now that we have talked about style and influence, let’s delve into mediums. Do you have a preference?
•It depends on my mood for the day. There’s periods of time where all I want to do is draw, and others where all I want to do is paint, and days when I just itch to tattoo.
As you just mentioned, you have a history of tattooing, which you have recently picked up again. Do you plan on going back to this permanently, or are you content with just doing it sparingly?
•I miss tattooing terribly. I’d like to get back into it if I could better manage the anxiety. Ideally, I’d like to be a part-time artist and part-time tattooer.
So we also have to discuss social media since it has become such a huge influence in the art world. Would you say that social media has helped your growth as an artist?
That depends on where artistic growth lies for you. For me, artistic growth is a personal thing that only I can see and feel. Social media has nothing to do with that for me. Although, in the other sense, it’s helped get my name out there and artwork seen, so in that sense social media is the cause for a tremendous artistic growth.
When it comes time to sit down and create, what are some of your “rituals” or ways of getting into an artistic zone?
•I pretty much live in the artistic zone. I’m ready to paint and draw anytime, anywhere.
Even though you are always “in the zone,” have you ever had artist’s block? If so, what have you do to overcome this?
•Artist’s block is a foreign concept to me. There’s never a lack of inspiration. I have a massive list of pieces I’d like to create and not nearly enough time to execute them all.
I do have some off-days in that I’ll think everything I draw is awful and can’t for the life of me even draw a straight line even with the help of a ruler though.
You have now gained a good deal of success in your artistic career. Is there anything that you have come up against artistically that you have had to overcome?
•Of course. Since taking the dive to being a full-time artist, there’s been a struggle of painting what I’d like to paint and painting what I “have” to paint. If I created solely the pieces I wanted to no bills would ever get paid. So it becomes a matter of balance. Trying to figure out how I can still get my artistic voice across while accommodating a demand for artwork.
Speaking of adversity, you have mentioned before that you struggle with social anxiety. How has this affected your art and life in general?
•This is something I don’t openly talk about, mostly because I feel almost a sense of shame, but I’m now learning to not only accept it, but embrace it. Because the truth is, if I hadn’t had the anxiety to the extent I do, I wouldn’t have spent as much time creating as I have. Yes, it has kept me from having a ‘normal’ life, but it’s lead me to the creative life I have now. Being an agoraphobic with insane social anxiety means I never leave my home and almost never have anyone over. So of course this leaves plenty of time to create, but it’s also a more organic process, uninfluenced by the outside world.
You have recently got married (congratulations by the way!), and your husband is a fellow artist. Do you enjoy always having an artistic collaborator?
•Thank you. Honestly, my whole life I’ve preferred to be alone, just creating in solitude. I don’t know how many times I’ve said or hashtagged #marriedtomyjob. I even made a post quoting Warsan Shire- “My alone feels so good, I’ll only have you if you’re sweeter than my solitude.”
Well, not only have I found someone who’s sweeter than my solitude, but I’ve found my best friend, who happens to be the best art partner as well as life partner. He just makes creating that much more wonderful. To be able to have my two loves in one- it’s heaven on earth.
You have done some amazing work together. Do you have anything in the pipeline, any future projects?
•We have so many ideas it’s insane. One lifetime wouldn’t be enough to do everything we’d like.
You briefly discussed your transition to becoming a full-time artist. So for others looking to take this path, what advice, if any, would you give to them?
•The only real advice I have is practice. Practice will teach you more than anything else will. By practicing you will find your artistic voice, and in that you will find strength and confidence. That strength is all you need to be able to take the leap to creating full-time. I had no money, no real plan, I just did it. I gave up all I had at the time and made it happen. The sacrifices you’ll have to make to pursue your dreams are nothing compared to the sacrifice you make by living a life not spent chasing your passions.
What does the future hold for you? Are there any particular career goals you are still looking to achieve?
•I’ve already hit my ultimate goal. I wake up next to my beautiful husband and paint and draw all day with him. There’s nothing more I could want from this life than what I have now.
If someone wants to buy an original piece or put in a request for a commission, what is the best way to contact you?
•Through either of my websites is best: www.KITKING.bigcartel.com or www.kitkingart.com
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