We were lucky to catch up with Kim Rosen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kim, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I have always loved drawing and it was the perfect activity for a quiet, introverted kid. It wasn’t until I was in High School that I learned I wanted to pursue art. I had great art teachers who encouraged me to keep at it and to keep working hard. They gave me confidence to apply to art school. I attended the Fashion Institute of Technology, a school that felt more like working in NYC rather than being a student. FIT had the perfect combination of creativity, grit and competitiveness. All of my professors were working artists. If you wanted it enough, you graduated into a creative field.

Kim, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I have always loved patterns, composition and story narratives. For ten years before starting FAYCE, I was an Illustrator for books and magazines. It was my job to break down a story into the simplest concepts and convey those concepts in smart and meaningful ways. Throughout the years as an Illustrator, I began to realize that I wanted to create work that was more tactile, had some staying power and work that could enhance everyday life. I have never stopped breaking down concepts. I have always been simplifying until whatever it is I am working on just “clicks” in my mind. The inspiration behind FAYCE was to create simplified patterns that tell a story. Patterns and stories that aren’t always obvious, but make you look and maybe wonder what the ideas were behind them. Even though the story might be obscure to the observer, the idea that even the most abstract and simplified shape can be steeped in a backstory is exciting to me. Creating patterns that aren’t easy to pigeonhole into a specific genre or trend is my guiding light.

I would like people to know that I love my job and all that it entails. This career in textiles and wallpaper is a culmination of everything I have ever learned and utilizes all aspects of my professional experiences throughout the years. Whether working as an Illustrator or prior to that, an Art Director, Graphic Designer, working on movie sets, in printmaking studios, all of those invaluable experiences led me to FAYCE and I am extremely grateful and proud of this company I have built.

My goal is to keep creating interesting work, to stay true to myself, be authentic and never be influenced by trends.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I mentioned, before starting FAYCE, I wore many hats. I have pivoted several different times in my career and I haven’t looked back. If you believe in yourself and work hard, you can land in the right place. Everything that I have learned in all my different jobs, I now utilize in my business. You might not think your past experiences hold any value, but they all add up and create a well rounded professional toolbox.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

We need to value art in schools and at home from the start. In my opinion, art of any kind should hold as much importance as any other subject in school and shouldn’t be categorized as an elective. Even if a student isn’t artistic and has no interest in art, creative thinking in any field is a huge asset.

Art is everywhere. I once met an artist who designed sneaker treads. If everyone could learn about the huge variety of creative fields and not just drawing and painting, I think society as a whole would value creativity in all forms.

Contact Info:

• Website: faycetextiles.com
• Instagram: @faycetextiles

Image Credits
Chattman Photography