We recently connected with Kaelin Mae and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kaelin, thanks for joining us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

Like most individuals who identify as artists, I’ve been creating art my entire life. As a child, I wanted to be a cartoonist. I’d create my comic strips and send them out to professional illustrators and comics like Bill Waterson from Calvin and Hobbes. In my adolescence, I could attend an arts-centric school where I could study visual art and create art through a structured curriculum for hours a day. This endeavor, while an incredible education (more art in schools, always), did impact my excitement for creating art- the due dates, deadlines, and rigor were difficult for me, and I rejected the artist identity for many years and turned to political organizing instead. As I got older and finished college, it was during the pandemic that I began to reclaim that identity and started creating art again – not for anyone but myself. My artistic career does not just include visual art- I have expanded my horizons and it includes writing about my experience with the donor conception industry, creative projects such as introducing a broader audience to a card game they’ve never heard of, and creating cheeky illustrations through commissions from loved ones. I truly believe that you cannot force yourself to be creative or to create meaningful art. For you, that may look like a structured art course. For many, it could mean taking a few years off. A creative career is a lifelong journey and it does not have to be how you pay the bills for it to be a legitimate, and impactful part of your life.

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

I’m from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and currently based in New York City. As an artist, I’m grateful to be able to create and work full-time. I primarily sell my work through Instagram (@kaelinmae) and accept commissions. I’m part of a vibrant community of artists that includes printmakers, writers, musicians, cooks, baristas, dancers, actors, teachers, illustrators, and graphic designers. Coming from a family of artists, I’ve been supported in all my creative endeavors.

I understand that I’m just at the beginning of my artistic career. I’m constantly exploring new mediums, canvases, and ways to share my projects. I mostly create watercolor and ink illustrations but also enjoy working with digital art, acrylics, and oils. Lately, I’ve been pursuing more unconventional creative projects.

One of my proudest achievements was designing and formatting Not Your Average Noodle, a commissary cookbook published by Dinner Bell Magazine, an indie food magazine. The cookbook, written by men incarcerated in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, aims to bring joy through food to those still imprisoned. As Dinner Bell writes, “Cooking well in prison is an act of resistance… we hope this tool helps create a space of joy through food despite the circumstances.” I encourage you to purchase a copy, send one to an incarcerated person, and support the works of R. Ya’yir Carter, Pierre “Polo” Pinson, and Jon “D-Boi” Brown.

Additionally, I write personal essays focusing on human rights and disability injustices. I believe in the power of vulnerability and openness, and I’m convinced that societal transformation comes from raising awareness and building community. I see art as fluid, with each medium complementing the others.

Recently, I launched a stream aimed at preserving Double Deck Pinochle, a dying card game mainly played by older generations. I’ve joined a community of online players, but the number of participants is dwindling. I’m one of the few people in my twenties who knows how to play and is passionate about keeping it alive.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I believe NFTs are a scourge on society and a grift designed to scam individuals. They provided influencers with a convenient way to profit, but now that the hype has died down, it’s clear that their intentions failed. While I won’t comment on the artistic quality of NFTs, I do believe the attention they received, instead of being given to small, passionate artists, reflects a broader issue with how our society values art and creators.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had known that is is okay to share unfinished art, art you’ve looked at for way too long that you now hate, art that you think is subpar. There is beauty in the unfinished and we are often too focused on delivering perfection that will never exist. I especially believe this to be true if you’re sharing your projects primarily on social media.

Additionally, I wish I had known that ‘competition’ is really a non-existent principle when creating. We should build upon each others work, be in community with other artists, and share with one another the tips and tricks we’ve learned along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://medium.com/@kaelinmaemiller/a-journey-beyond-anonymity-the-quest-for-truth-medical-history-and-the-rights-of-the-af6c978d00c4
• Instagram: @kaelinmae
• Other: https://www.dinnerbellmag.com/shop/not-your-average-noodle-send-a-copy-to-a-prisoner

  Twitch: bin0kel