We were lucky to catch up with Elija Kane recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Elija thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?
When I was 16 years old, a local hair salon turned art gallery at night was kind enough to hang some of my work for First Friday. It was my first art event, outside of anything held at school. At the time I was interested in fashion, so the majority of my drawings and paintings were geared towards design. I had 8 colored pencil sketches and one oil painting. When guests arrived, they walked through the salon, to the back hallway where my pieces were hanging. I remember my family and a few of my friends joined me for the event. One of our family friends, a woman named Victoria, who would sometimes hire me to help her run the peach stand at the Golden farmers market in the summers , was the first person to ever buy a piece of art from me. It was such a kind gesture and was incredibly encouraging to me. It gave me a confidence boost and made me realize this may be a passion I could pursue.. We’ve stayed in touch all these years and to this day she still follows my art.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
My art has been a creative outlet for me all my life, and is something that continues to evolve daily. I am a hobby artist and while its not my full time job, it is something I carry with me in all aspects of my life. When I am not working as a Wish Manager at Wish of a Lifetime from AARP, I am usually painting, drawing, sewing, playing with clay or making herbal remedies in my home studio.
I turned to art at a young age as a way to bring make believe characters to life. Like most kids, I had quite the imagination. I loved drawing animals (I still do), castles, and princesses etc. When I was around 8 years old, my mom and aunt taught me how to use a sewing machine and I made my first project- a leopard print scarf with burgundy fringe (bold choices, I know). These basic skills stayed with me and when given the option to create or do another activity, I generally chose art. Art became even more of an escape for me as life grew more challenging as a teenager and young adult. I began to find much more intention in each piece, which served me therapeutically. It wasn’t until college that I took my first real painting class, where I fell in love with the human form.
I am most of proud of making pieces that I genuinely love and that interest me. It is an honor when other people enjoy it too, but I love that each piece is created out of a need for expression or exploration- usually surrounding the human body and how we identify with it. I am proud that I consistently make time to sit down and create, which grows increasingly more difficult as a busy adult with friends, family, and other hobbies and interests. One of my most joyous moments of the week is when I wake up early on a Saturday morning to drink coffee and paint. My two dogs generally sit by my side in the home studio, and to me this is one of my most favorite and magical places to be. As of late my art has focused on sustainability- up cycling clothing and fabrics from second hand shops and supporting local second hand art stores such as ReCreative Denver, where I purchase supplies. My work can be political, divisive, offensive (to some), but also whimsical and fun. I will never apologize for painting people fat, hairy, or queer.
I am often sought out on social media for personalized dog paintings. Helping others remember their beautiful furry friends through custom paintings is a honor and continues to serve as catharsis for the friends I to have lost.
As a current herbalist in training, my home apothecary and art studio have merged into one creative space. I see herbalism as an extension of my art- it is self care, it is knowledge, and it can be deeply personal to meet each individual where they are. I seek to incorporate both these offerings at art shows and pop ups.
Every year I try to set goals for myself to continue to grow and expand. These goals always include art projects. I am currently working towards my next show “Chaos” at Core Art Gallery on March 28th, 2025.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I can envision something that may or may not exist and say to myself “I can make that”, or at least attempt it. My art feels community based to me, in that I make my art accessible in price and am sometimes quick to give it away at no cost. I love getting to talk with different people at pop up markets and share about my inspiration for creating different pieces, One of the best feelings in the world is when someone identifies with on of your creations. It makes you personally feel seen and understand, like “hey, someone got it.”
How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?
Accessibility in the art world is important. I meet many other creatives who don’t know how to get their foot in the door with galleries or pop up markets. Making these resources known could be very helpful to many individuals trying to get their artwork out in front of audiences. Creating spaces that are non- traditional and non-conforming to what we’ve historically known art to be. Art can start in community and continue to expand and grow. I’ve also heard from many creatives that they can’t afford a studio space. Offering more spaces for artist to gather and to create that is economical would be a major benefit to many.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @elijakane.art
Image Credits
N/A