Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey Smith.
Hi Kelsey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My name is Kelsey Smith. I’m a queer artist who’s studied illustration for the past 9 years. My style has evolved and changed over the time but I’ve found a special fulfillment in creating art for my community and being able to express myself.
I graduated from college in 2022 after studying Illustration for the Animation and Gaming Industry. I’ve worked with clients like Harper Collins, Adobe, Gallery Nucleus, and the Sketch Effect, most recently creating corporate illustrations for animation.
I’m most passionate in publication design and illustrating intricate pieces with fantasy elements. I’m focused on creating artwork for merchandise and markets since it’s a great opportunity to connect with fellow artists within the community and share my work with others in a genuine manner.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Social media has been a great tool while also being a hindrance in my personal creative journey. My career started there and I’m grateful for the opportunities that arose from those apps, but given how quickly algorithms shift and the need to continuously be posting or sharing content, it can be pretty tiring at times. I’ve decided to combat this by getting involved in local markets as a way to make authentic connections with my audience and fellow artists.
Sites like Instagram were fairly new when I first started getting into art and working up the courage to share it. Thanks to a few factors but mostly luck, I actually gained a decent following in high school and that defined a large part of my early art. However, the consequence from that was making art not for myself, but for my followers and receiving likes. Even now, I struggle with that and creating work I feel passionate about and not trying to get swept into the shifting algorithms.
Additionally, what also comes with social media for most artists is the struggle of comparing your art to your inspirations and peers and end up in a vicious mental cycle of not feeling fulfilled with your own creative journey. The best way I’ve found to combat this is removing yourself from social medias’ demands and connecting and talking with artists in real life. Surrounding yourself with a creative support group has made a huge difference in my life and it’s a great way to inspire each other to make art. That’s become one of my greatest tools in being happy with my art and in life.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been fortunate to have a following for my art as it’s changed and grown over the many years. I started my current online presence in high school and was drawn to illustrating scenes of solitude and “liminal” environments. That body of work contributed to me learning digital art and propelling me forward into pursuing art as a career based on the reception from viewers.
Currently, I focus on publication style illustrations with elements of gothic imagery and fantasy. I see myself moving forward with these motifs as I study other illustrators who developed graphic styles of rendering like Alphonse Mucha and Ivan Biliban. I hope that my recent work will continue to find its way to new audiences and will be able to resonate with them. To me, one of the most important and validating components of creating art is hearing or seeing about how your art has made someone feel.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk is a part of being creative. There’s many instances where I’ve felt doubt and I still do. Choosing to dedicate myself to an artistic field or career is still something I struggle with, especially now in the growing era of unethical and unregulated “creative” AI.
Post graduating college, it was extraordinarily difficult to land any in-studio job since most of those positions were phased out during COVID-19. Having to compete with a global remote market is intense and I’ve been balancing freelance work and a service job for several years now as has a lot of my peers. As to my decision to pursue an art degree, I don’t regret wanting to make a career out of something I’m passionate about.
I feel very strongly that people shouldn’t be discouraged from their dream or wanting a job that they could be passionate about even in the face of changing industry practices. For me, it was sharing my art in a meaningful way and being surrounded by others who love art as much as I do. Although I’m not in some animation studio out west living the grandest version of my dream, I’ve still found a way to share my work and meet other creatives. Having little victories and accomplishments give me the motivation to keep going, keep creating and focus on what I am capable of. I would encourage other creatives who might be in a similar situation to find fellow artists, inspire each other, and do what you can to bring art into the world.
Pricing:
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.amidstsilence.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amidst.silence
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amidstsilence/
