We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Olivia Helms. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Olivia below.

Olivia, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?

When I was in high school the two career paths I had thought about going into were visual arts and forensic science. I ended up committing to an artist career after being accepted to art school. I do not regret the path that I have taken but I won’t deny that I have wondered from time to time what it would have been like to have a ‘regular’ job as a forensic scientist. The last time I had the thought of ‘what could have been’ was at a point of discouragement within my art. I felt like my art wasn’t good enough for the art world and I began to have a lot of anxiety with the degree/profession I was deciding to pursue. I began to think offhandly that it would have been much easier had I decided to just go to school for a forensics degree. However, the more I thought about my previous potential future the more that I realized that forensics would still have most likely given me the same anxiety that I was having in that moment. Although I was frustrated with my role as an artist, I cared enough about my future as an artist to try to get out of the slump I was in and discover what I could do better. I concluded that if I was taking forensics I most likely would have been more indifferent to criticism due to me not having as much of a passion for science as I did with art. Despite the undeniable struggles, I am happy being an artist and I do find myself lucky to have been given the opportunity and support to pursue a career as an artist.

Olivia, 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 am currently a Junior at the Kansas City Art Institute pursuing a major in Painting and a minor in Entrepreneurial Studies. I wanted to pursue this degree due to my long-term passion for art which has stuck with me since childhood. I am actively learning how to create a better business for myself and my art through my minor to learn how to sell my paintings and prints properly. I think what sets me apart from others are the technical aspects of my work such as the colors and subjects that are depicted. I am most proud of my progress as an artist compared to when I began my freshman year. I feel like I have a better sense of style for my work and a better understanding of the materials I have access to. I tend to make art about subjects relating mostly to childhood, family, relationships, and religion and I believe the way that those topics are represented in my art is unique to my practice. I would like more people to know the topics relating to my art and what inspires me and hope that my art can connect to them on an emotional and visual level.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

When I was in high school I remember feeling discouraged often for believing I had a lack of resources to help me improve my artistic abilities believing that the only way to improve was to pay a lot of money. However, some of the most accessible resources are the people and the world around you. Are you wanting to practice life drawing? Draw people in public. Are you wanting to learn a more illustrative/animatic style? Draw your favorite scenes from shows/movies to practice. Are you wanting to be critiqued? Ask family, friends, and acquaintances around you. Do you want more sculptural materials (wood, metal, bike wheels, etc.)? Ask a store owner for any scraps they may have. Although these resources sound very basic they are the ones that are thought of the least. Being an artist is known to be a financial struggle but many things don’t have to be expensive if you ask the right people.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Society can best support artists by creating an environment that is valued and sustainable through financial support, accessible education, and community support. Grants and residencies should be invested in more by the government and patrons to help artists fund the work that they want to make to its greatest potential. This also goes for fair compensation for the artists’ work and treating them as a true professional. Accessible education and tools should be better provided so that artists do not have to worry about their economic status to decide on if they should pursue their passion or not. Gallery spaces and creative shops are also a great way to bring a community together and can increase the art scene in any city or town. Highlighting the importance of artists in the world will also help the community develop a deeper understanding and appreciation for creative work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oliviahelms.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: loafandoats
• Youtube: loafandoats
• Other: bluesky- loafandoats.bsky.social