Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chloe Kehm. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Chloe, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happier as a creative? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job? Can you talk to us about how you think through these emotions?

I actually have a full-time, regular job. I love making my art and I am able to make money off of it but I need my day job to actually afford the cost of living. At the beginning of 2020 I was still working part-time at my job, I had just graduated college with my fine art degree the previous spring and had worked a temp job at a library that allowed me a lot more creative freedom that I loved. It was only a temp position though and when it was over I went back to my previous part-time job. I remember staying up late one night with my partner and crying to him about how unsure I was in my career, my pursuit of art, and how unhappy I was at my day job. I remember feeling like I was never going to be able to do what I love and that I’d be stuck at a job I wasn’t sure I wanted to be stuck in. Later that year my day job offered me a full-time position and with COVID happening I wasn’t able to do any in-person art events so I decided to take it. I am so glad I did. I feel like my financial stability has helped me make even more of my art and expand what I’m able to do and make for my in-person events and online store. Since beginning to work full time I feel like my time and effort that I put into my art has only increased, along with the quality of my work. Deciding to do both has been hard and I definitely don’t feel like there is enough time do make all the art that I want to but for me personally it felt like the right choice. I’m a manager now at my day job and I’m making more money than I ever have on my art before. It’s hard work, it’s not for everyone but right now I’m really happy with the arrangement. It made me realize that there is always time, always tomorrow to work on something, and that just because I say yes to something doesn’t mean I’m stuck, I can change my mind. Who knows, maybe in a few years I can afford to leave my day job!

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

I’ve been drawing and designing characters ever since I was little and by the time I was in high school I knew I wanted to pursue art as a teacher. As I went through college it became apparent to me that being a teacher maybe wasn’t the right step for me, but I still wanted to go after art as a career. Throughout college I took creative writing, character design, and comic creation classes and it became very clear to me that I wanted to use art as an avenue for story-telling. I started selling my work at anime and comic conventions with a close friend while still in college. We would split the cost of the table at events and share resources for what we made, be it prints, buttons, acrylic charms, and stickers. We started off small and made fan art of popular media and slowly gained a bit of a following within the conventions near us. Since then I’ve grown into making much of my own original art and have branched out into making merch like t-shirts, enamel pins, and even custom commission work. My favorite thing as an artist is making my own original content and telling my own stories with characters I create and getting the chance to help others do the same. Few things make me happier than getting a commission to help someone design their Dungeons and Dragon’s character or to help them bring to life a creative project of their own. I think what sets me apart is my style and my attitude. I work hard to be personable, fun, and open with those I work with and with those who consume my work. Being able to make people laugh or relate to my art is what I’m most proud of.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

I want to be able to eventually do art full-time. I have so many stories I want to create with my art and my biggest goal is to get back into making comics and eventually publish my work. I want to be able to tell my stories and to tell them to as wide a audience as I can. Story-telling and characters will always be a driving part of my work.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

It’s the people who buy my art from me or commission me. Interacting with them, seeing them excited about my own work or happy with the custom work I make for them is a huge driving factor for me. I get satisfaction out of others satisfaction with my work. But on the flipside of that I think seeing my own growth year by year also really excites and rewards me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kuroedraws.wixsite.com/myportfolio
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kuroedraws/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kuroedrawings/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/kuroedraws
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kuroedraws