We were lucky to catch up with Kristin Fair recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kristin, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Often the greatest growth and the biggest wins come right after a defeat. Other times the failure serves as a lesson that’s helpful later in your journey. We’d appreciate if you could open up about a time you’ve failed

My main product is flour sack towels screen-printed with my designs. There is a lot of skill that goes into that, both from the printmaking side and from the design side, and it doesn’t always go well. In fact, I had one design that was absolutely adorable when I printed it on paper, but when I attempted to print it on a towel, it all fell apart! Printing on fabric is different than paper and you have to design with that in mind. While this was an absolute failure (I never did that get that towel to work out!) it was a fantastic lesson that made me a more knowledgeable printmaker and a better designer. I am smarter about how I approach designs now!

Kristin, 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?

Skyliner Studio is all about handprinted goods that help bring a little positivity into the world! The slogan says it all… “Empower. Uplift. Smile.” All of my artwork is intended to do just that. I strive to create products that make you feel good, make you laugh, or even give you courage and confidence and when you need it!

I founded Skyliner Studio because I have always found pleasure in uplifting artwork, whether it is a poster with a pun or a greeting card, and I wanted the chance to be able to do that for someone with my own designs!

When it comes to design, I have always been impressed by the incredible power of a simple, playful sketch. My designs are intentionally that. While I have the utmost respect for artists who create detailed or highly realistic images, what is the most important to me in my art is making sure that the images are “fun” and make someone feel good. My design style is driven by that.

Maybe the thing I am the most proud of, and definitely starting to become known for, is my flour sack towels! There is something so nostalgic about hand towels hanging in a kitchen, which I love, but there is also a practical side to it – towels are like small canvases that are constantly on rotation! People hang a new one up every time the last one gets used or dirty. So for me it is really important that I am designing with that in mind… finding imagery that makes people smile, that they would want to keep “in their rotation” whether that is the kitchen, a bathroom, or whatever. And it makes me really happy to think about introducing my art into a space that isn’t historically thought of as a place to hang art. It’s kind of like I am eking out a new style of gallery that is in everyone’s home!

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Art Fairs! It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with people in ways I can’t on social media (my main marketing outlet). I get to answer questions about my art or the printing process, plus I get the chance to hear what people like or don’t like. I am also pleasantly surprised at how many people pick up a business card at an Art Fair and then contact me later for a sale or a commission. So yes, Art Fairs have definitely been the best source for new clients!

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

In September of 2019, I took a leap of faith and quit my job in technology without having another job lined up. My plan was to take 6 months off, and really decide “what I wanted to be when I grew up.” This was really scary, but pretty empowering as well. All was going to plan until March of 2020 when my 6 month end date collided perfectly with the pandemic. With my time table and plan scrambled, I (like many) had to make a new plan. The next year was a struggle to figure out what was next for me, and then in the Spring of 2021 an opportunity for a 6 week virtual screen printing class from The Minnesota Center for Book Arts (MCBA) presented itself. My partner suggested it to me, and he thought it could be a really good and fun class for me to take. I agreed (as long as he took it to) and we signed up! That class ended up changing my life. It was a really cool experience, and after the class ended I was left wanting more. So, Skyliner Studio was born.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.skylinerstudio.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skylinerstudio/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skylinerstudio

Image Credits
Ben Etten