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

Vanessa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you in your creative career?

My very first working experience was as a concession hawker at the college football stadium in my hometown. They let you start at only 12 years old. Looking back, it’s crazy they let us do that. We looked like little kids. But I learned very early on that my hard work, my blood, sweat and most certainly tears, would be traded for minimal pay. We worked on commission so I really had to hustle and sell as much as I could if I wanted to see profits. At the time I was so young and had no true monetary responsibilities so it felt like I was rich. Now that a decades gone by since then, I can see the exploitative nature. This nature runs through pretty much every mainstream commercial industry. I’ve realized when it comes to my art and what i’m passionate about, I can either choose the commercial route, or forge my own path. The commercial industry is likely to be more exploitative of my time and energy, and creating for someone else would leave me with less for myself. However, it’s more consistent when it comes to income, and that’s very valuable today. But focusing on creating art for yourself despite what income it brings will always be more fulfilling to me personally. Creatives have to find the balance that works for them.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Like most creatives, I grew up loving art from a young age. I explored a variety of mediums throughout high school and college, including ceramics, sculpture, and painting. I decided to leave my home town of Lincoln, Nebraska and major in animation at Kansas City Art Institute, where I graduated in 2022. During my time studying, I focused on building my skills in 2D digital frame-by-frame animation. My senior thesis film, “Earth Project” showcases my style of trying to communicate complex and thought-provoking ideas in a way that is cute and fun and easier to digest. Post-graduation I’ve really been focusing on creating art for myself again, instead of having to exhaust my energy on assignments. I still mainly work digitally, creating pieces often focusing on themes of nostalgia and affirmations. Lately, I am heavily inspired by creators like @sotce and @chicfeast.art (on instagram). I think we’re in an exciting time where technology has made creating and sharing art more accessible than ever. Memes are in a way, a new form of art and poetry. Anyone with access to a smart phone has access to making digital art in so many forms and I’m excited to see where it goes in the future.

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

I think the most important and easiest thing anyone can do is support the artists they know in their own community. This can look like a lot of things, like commissioning someone to do your wedding invites, buying a print from a local artist to decorate your home instead of getting the same painting everyone has from Hobby Lobby, proudly display art made by little ones and encourage their creative expression. Even if you’re unable to support artists financially, you can help spread the word to people that are able. Keep your creative friends in mind to recommend to anyone who may need their services!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

To me, the most rewarding part of being an artist is pretty selfish. I have years of these archives of my mind and who I was as a person. It’s like a journal but can honestly say a lot more. Seeing my phases of art styles I’ve gone through over the years is rewarding in itself for the entertainment value I get from going through old pieces and reminiscing on my mindset from that time. Every sketchbook is like a time capsule from when it was created. But it’s also rewarding because I get to see my progress as an artist. Seeing my technical skills evolve is huge motivation to keep going.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.vanessakleinart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vrae.anim
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vraeanim
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@vanessakleinart