We recently connected with Esmé Kayim-Yanko and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Esmé thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

I’ve been an artist and crafter my whole life, but it wasn’t until my late teens/young adulthood that people started pushing me to sell my work. Lots of people see what I create and immediately see an opportunity for profit. Some run further than others with this idea. An ex, for example, had a vision for me starting a tiktok for my art, gaining a large following, creating a business model for my art. I tried this, envisioned what it would look like, started the account – which lays desolate with a bio that states “new uploads every week!” and only a few videos posted.
I know these suggestions comes from a place of love, but publicizing and making money off my work is a misunderstanding of why my work exists. My art serves as an external outlet for my inner world and/or as a sensorily enriching experience. My art goes at my creative pace, not at a money making pace. I’ve tried making commissions, which has most recently resulted in a birthday blanket created 1 year and 3 months after the birthday occurred. In other words, I am not driven by cash or deadlines and in the moments I’ve tried it feels – for lack of a better term – wrong.
From these experiences, I’ve learned that if I produce things to sell it has to be a slow accumulation of work over a long period of time that I can sell as is, not any commissions. I do hope to sell at local art events around Minneapolis if the opportunity occurs, but it’s an awesome side benefit of my artistry, not a driving reason. At the end of the day I do it for me, and that’s ok!

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! I’m a Minneapolis local named Esmé and I’ve been an artist and crafter my whole life. I dabble in multiple different art forms, including but not limited to drawing, painting, collage, crochet, and embroidery. I’m primarily self taught with the help of what I’ve learned in school or from friends. I make art for myself, my loved ones, instagram, and occasionally art markets. I grew up under the assumption that as an artist you had to pick a medium to specialize in and always have a defined reason and for your work, but both of these are constantly changing within my creative process! My favorite thing about art is it can be whatever you want it to be.
My day job is as Museum Evaluator, where a primary task is learning about peoples perspectives on how museum programming affects them. I love learning about unique experiences and perspectives, and I hope to one day work in a field that combines arts/creativity alongside my interest in community and connecting with people.
Follow me on instagram @pinkyfingy if you’re interested in seeing what I’m up to!

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

There are lots of rewarding things for me, one of them is connecting with people. This can happen anywhere – online, at markets, with friends or strangers. My friend and I recently walked up to someone in a coffee shop and asked what they were crocheting, which led to me joining a weekly crochet club they were a part of. I like to walk through craft markets and talk to every artist at a table about what people make and what drives their creativity. It’s a lovely feeling to hear someone tell me where in their house an art piece I made lives. I love making art, but its impact on the people around me and those little connections is what I’d say is very rewarding for me.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

I’ve noticed with some non-creatives that their attitude towards visual arts has a lot of shame attached, which is something I’ve unlearned throughout my creative journey. It’s helped me approach new crafts with playfulness, so if I’m still getting the hang of something I’m usually not put down if I make something ugly. I worked as a traveling art teacher one summer where I taught a variety of different kids. A common comment was “I’m not an artist, I can’t make good art”. This sentiment I’ve heard many times from people who don’t believe they can create because it won’t be good. Most people don’t start-off good at a craft, so time and practice are only natural. Also, and more importantly – the goodness or badness of art does not have to be what makes it worth making. For example, I often create art to pass the time, to feel yarn/pencil/paintbrush in my hands, to combine pleasing colors, or any other reason that isn’t centered on the outcome of my work. I encourage non-creatives to not let this mindset hold you back – if you want to create, do it! If you’re not good, don’t worry! Your art is still worth it.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @pinkyfingy

Image Credits

Esmé Kayim-Yanko