We were lucky to catch up with Abby Kacen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Abby, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

Since childhood, I’ve always been interested in drawing and storytelling. A lot of my learning has been done through trial & error and absorbing art that I love, but I did attend the University of Georgia where I studied drawing and visual storytelling for my BFA. I wish I had known that I could really find love with making comics because I was pretty lost along the way. Now, I feel like I’m playing catch-up on reading classic underground and indie comics like Love & Rockets and Witzend. I didn’t have their work in front of me, and now that I have them on my radar I’ve started to learn so much about my own practice in making comics. Aside from that, having a community of artists who are making what you’re making and who will introduce you to cool stuff and give you constructive criticism is also essential to the craft as a whole.

Abby, 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?

I’m a cartoonist and illustrator. I operate on the DIY and underground level and got my start by making zines and doing local show posters in Athens, Georgia. Over the years, I’ve expanded to curating and publishing collective zines, aided artists in selling their work online, and organized artist events. My main focus is to make things affordable for artists and provide accessible avenues for people who are interested in buying art from artists. I think art should be for everyone, and it can be exhausting for full-time artists who have to grind just to get noticed. I have the privilege of working full-time in the community for artists and creatives, so I make sure of my resources and connections to uplift artists. Aside from that, my creative practice is very personal and meditative and I like to keep it that way rather than feeling like I need to lean on it for stabile income.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the connections you form. Whether it’s someone connecting to your artwork or just making friends with fellow creatives who vibe with your work. It’s so magical to find a connection through this practice that is a pure expression of who you are as an individual. When you put your work out there and people respond to it, that is a great step in knowing that you’re not just creating alone and in a vacuum.

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

Local businesses and community groups can really help artists by making resources more affordable for them and giving them opportunities. Rather than hiring some branding group from out of state, find a local designer and give them an opportunity. If you’re hosting an artist market, find ways to offset the costs so that artists aren’t sinking their money into tabling fees. And most of all, people should be going to see local musicians and buying art from their local artists, not that mass-produced garbage from a craft store. This is what can sustain artists and keep them producing beautiful art in and for your community.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keepitweird.art
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mild_pain/

Image Credits
Abby Kacen