Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Brianna McKay. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Brianna, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Has your work ever been misunderstood or mischaracterized?
This might be a loaded topic to discuss, but out of all the options available to me, this one resonates the most. I am a black woman and I’m an artist. Those are not characteristics that are exclusive to me, but they can certainly be challenging ones when pursuing an art career. Let’s not forget to mention that being a black woman already places a burden of representation on us from the day we enter the world.
I was fortunate to have parents that instilled the value of hard work, but what other choices do I have when I must overachieve on a regular basis to prove my worth among my counterparts? There isn’t much available for a black woman without goals, so my only option has been to succeed at everything I put my mind to. I grew up surrounded by people that looked like me until I was a teenager and our family decided to move to St. Mary’s County Maryland. Anyone that has visited can tell you it’s not the most comfortable place to be black. Talk about a culture shock! Although I was immersed in a different environment, the mission was the same, succeed and show everyone the beautiful things I do.
After high school I struggled with deciding on a path because on one hand I could’ve studied art and on the other I had been told by society that you can never make it as an artist. So, what did I do? I chose “communications” as my college major. Seemed safe but I had no passion, so that quickly faded. I found myself in a weird slump after college. Job after job, no career, no plans, no passion; not even for art anymore. I wondered how something I was crazy about could just slip away from me. My natural ability, my everything… gone. It was a weird realization because although I could see it slipping away from me, I had no drive to get it back. I was in a void and I was ignoring the very thing that could’ve filled it.
Several years later the pandemic hit and everything changed. I was unemployed, depressed and unmotivated more than ever. This time, when the same realization came to me I chose not to ignore it. I picked up some canvases and started painting again. Day by day I started to feel better. I can’t really describe the feeling because the word joy doesn’t even compare. Imagine someone waking up to darkness, the type of darkness that just feels cold and endless. You don’t know how far it stretches, you don’t know how far you have to walk to get to the light switch. Every time you stretch out your arms there’s more empty space, and more darkness. That is what my void felt like, but painting was like someone turned on the lights and I realized I wasn’t in a dark room after all, everything was exactly as it was before at the last happy moment in my life.
This feeling was so captivating that I decided to share it with the world. What else was there to do while we were all trapped inside? I started a TikTok like everyone else and showed everyone my cute little paintings. Despite being an artist my entire life, I’ve never been formally trained. I’m self-taught, so the only practice I have is drawing everyday items and watching the occasional video on YouTube (which I hate because my attention span is so short). I was a little nervous because I’d never displayed my pieces before. Only my closest friends and family knew about my passion. I even started an Instagram page solely for my art. People quickly inquired about purchasing my paintings. I was surprised! I didn’t think anyone would want them. I was painting more, selling more, and trying to be an “influencer” in a space that I wasn’t sure how to navigate. I’d only used social media for social purposes, never to market myself before.
This part of my artistic journey is when I feel like people began to misunderstand what I was trying to do. For instance, Instagram is full of models, unrealistic beauty standards, and straight up creeps. I was painting the female figure, promoting femininity, and empowering myself but I could see that I was getting the wrong attention. I started to take it as an insult because that was not my intention of the paintings, I felt like I was failing because people were coming to my page to see me, not my art. I’m black, then a woman, then an artist, NEVER open to being creeped on. I still struggle with my social media presence because on one hand I want people to know who I am and see who is behind the creation, but I crave to be mysterious and only showcase my art. My Instagram has changed several times as I’ve learned to navigate the algorithms. I want to be seen, I want my art to send a message but not invite people into my DM’s for personal reasons. It’s very frustrating being a woman who creates sensitive, or some may say NSFW content, because people view my creations as invitations rather than expressions.
I’m often referred to as “just” an NSFW artist or “just” a cartoon illustrator but I’m so much more. I’m fortunate that I’ve never been formally trained because it’s given me the ability to be raw in my expression. Constantly learning isn’t a choice, it’s a requirement if I want to improve my skills. Challenging myself by using different media is the reason I’m able to call myself a true artist. My portfolio surpasses the boundaries of social media and I’m an open book to anyone that asks the right questions. If you want to see more, there’s more, I really despise when people categorize me for one piece instead of looking at my entire collection. I’d like to think I’ve got the balance figured out now, but sadly it’ll always change because the algorithm is a nightmare for creatives who aren’t paid partners with huge companies. All in all, this journey is still just beginning for me and I can only hope that eventually people will see who I am and what I represent, only time will tell. Just remember this, where you found me will never be my final destination. Give artists the space to evolve and change, stop pigeonholing them because of stereotypes, gender, sexual orientation and ethnicity. I’ll never be who you want me to be, because I only know how to be myself.
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.
Hello everyone! My artist name is Artless and on social media platforms as artless.space. I am a self-taught artist and I have been digitally illustrating for a couple of years now but I’m more comfortable with traditional styles. I started sketching and using pastels in middle school and everything took off from there. It’s difficult to narrow down what I’m best at because I enjoy experimenting with all types of mediums. That constant experimentation has allowed me to develop different techniques to perfect my pieces.
I offer a large variety of products and services. I offer canvas and photo printing that includes stickers and other merchandise options. Custom commissions are really popular and include: logos, custom character design, event flyers, NSFW and portrait/animated-styled paintings, giving customers an image to match their brand or creating a portrait that captures the essence of their loved ones is my favorite thing to do. My creativity can serve many purposes, but the ultimate goal is to keep my clients happy. Their satisfaction means the world to me and it’s the gift that keeps on giving.
My ability to be open-minded really helps me in this business. Some of my more risqué pieces have made people feel more comfortable entrusting me with very sensitive concepts for their commissions, which is something I’m very grateful for. I thoroughly enjoy creating that type of content. To know there’s such a demand for it makes me very happy. Being open-minded means that I’m open to more collaborative suggestions from my clients as well. I believe that if a person trusts you with their visualization of a concept, it is your responsibility to materialize that to your best ability. I owe it to my clients and my brand to do my very best, in order to maintain a great creator-client relationship.
Whether you’re someone stopping to take an extra glance at one of my creations, looking to commission me for a custom piece or maybe someone who wants artistic advice, I’m willing to share as much as I can. I not only enjoy making things for people, I enjoy learning from people too. You don’t have to be an artist in order to inspire me, I’m inspired by so many interactions. I have far more to offer than what I choose to showcase on social media, that’s why it’s important to have a consultation with all of my clients so I can get to know each and every person a little bit more.
When people find my work displayed around Baltimore city or online, they can expect to find different representations of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). What you gather from each piece is completely up to you to decide. I create for me, it’s merely a plus that others appreciate it enough to engage with me and get to know me. The most proud moments are when people I’ve never met tell me that I’m an inspiration to them.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The ability to collaborate with other artists and network is one of the most rewarding aspects of being an illustrator. I’ve learned so much from people that I’ve never met in person, all because we found a mutual connection on the internet. Content travels so quickly that it’s readily accessible anytime you need it. My most valuable relationships are with content creators that have learned how to leverage social media and bring in constant engagement. Even if these relationships don’t directly lead to commissions, the guidance I gain from these friendships is unmatched.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Support is absolutely essential in a thriving creative ecosystem, let’s never forget that. In my opinion there are a few things that are paramount when it comes to the type of support I personally enjoy. Firstly, respecting artists’ work. This can be crediting the artist when required, abiding by an artists’ contract or guidelines, and compensating artists appropriately for their time and skillset. Respect goes a long way and non-creatives aren’t always able to see the perspective of artists, but these simple courtesies can positively change the relationship that artists have with everyone else.
Second, buy original artwork and commission local artists. This speaks for itself, but sometimes the best solution can be the simplest one. Think of that artist friend you have; they’d take more pride in creating for someone they know. It helps us feel recognized, appreciated, and essential in our communities. Big brands aren’t going to interact with you and thank you for all of your support. They’ll send out some vague, cookie-cutter message for your purchase but we all know that’s not personal. Support local, support the artists you know, it’s really that easy.
Lastly, we can address the elephant in the room, funding. There’s a reason that you hear people use the term “starving artist”, it has such a negative connotation and its attachment sets artists up for failure before they even begin. Government agencies, foundations, and private organizations can provide financial support in the form of grants, scholarships, or funding programs specifically designed for artists. Financial assistance can help artists cover the costs of materials, studio spaces, equipment, or professional development opportunities. I cannot speak for everyone, but in my experience these types of things aren’t advertised unless you happen to be in art school or happen to reside in an Arts District. We need programs so that present and future artists have a sense of hope and encouragement.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://artistree.io/request/artless.space
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/artless.space
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bri.mckay.m
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-mckay-21631697
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/artless_space
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@artless.space?_t=8WXGqPzuZ70&_r=1
Image Credits
First photo was captured by Sean Dackermann. Remaining photos are original works of mine