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

Kait, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I have always been a creative person! Drawing, painting, making color palettes, and journaling, in between other things. However, back in 2020, with my full-time job on hold due to the pandemic, I had a lot of time on my hands. I spent a lot of my time looking inward, re-evaluating things and starting to bring my long time creative ideas to fruition! In this time of reflection, I began to take myself seriously as a creative and develop my brand, Posse Paper Goods. With the belief that you are a reflection of the company you keep, the word “Posse” as the namesake of the brand, represents the importance of human connection and collective experiences. My first official project and product, was a fully illustrated deck of playing cards based off of impactful people in my life, called “Posse Playing Cards.” Seeing the deck of cards I had envisioned for years come to life, from concept to production, made me realize that I was absolutely capable of pursuing a career in design. Investing my time and following my creative impulses with the design of my card deck was the start of my professional career as an illustrator and designer.

Kait, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My name is Kait Culbertson, I am 24 years old, from Little Rock, Arkansas. I am a self-taught illustrator and designer! My professional career as a creative started in 2020, with the development of my brand, Posse Paper Goods—My very own line of art prints, journals, cards, stickers and more! Available online on my website, in person at various markets/expos, and in a couple of local shops in Little Rock! Other services from Posse Paper Goods include illustration, custom branding, printing services, and art licensing.

My art is most inspired by my daily life, feelings, dreams, and words from my journal. My work centers on themes of positivity and tenderness. I like to think of my work as playful expressions from the human experience, illustrated in vivid color. I think what sets me apart from others in my field is my consistent use of bright colors, bold type, and paper textures. A lot of my work involves phrases from ramblings in my journal that I have personally used to get through big feelings and transitions in my life. I am the most proud to share words so authentic to my own life experience for others to consume—In sharing, I hope to make the world a brighter place to be for those who resonate with my art. I cannot thank my clients enough for their trust in me to create for them and my customers for their support of my artistic voice.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The overall mission driving my creative journey is to be as authentic as possible—Which a lot of the time means prioritizing just being, hearing myself out, and feeling my feelings. A lot of my ideas and themes come from long streams of consciousness I just let free onto pages of my journal. Revisiting these ideas and words are my oftentimes my main inspiration for new pieces. The goal behind my creative journey and expression is to make the world a brighter place to be!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Before I started pursuing my ideas and sharing a lot of my art on social media, I was honestly afraid people would think it was stupid. Actually, what’s stupid… Is thinking your most authentic expression of yourself is unworthy! Everyone has their own creative voice and it’s a wonderful part of life! Whether you want to share it, is up to you. It is incredibly rewarding to witness someone feel connected to something I have made. If my work is able to meet someone where they are, it means everything to me. It is fulfilling for me to be seen and felt through my art. It’s what keeps me creating, sharing words from my journal, and goofy drawings with the world. It’s intimate sharing yourself in this way, and being seen for who you are is beautiful.

Contact Info:

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