We were lucky to catch up with Kai Dennis recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kai, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

I grew up around art. Whether it was using the plastic embroidery kit for kids, making outfits for my dolls out of clothes that didn’t fit me anymore, or drawing in crayon on the bottom of the kitchen table. We lived and breathed art in my household. While I didn’t realize it as a kid, I have to attribute a lot of my love for making art and crafting to the environment my parents provided. They have both been my biggest cheerleaders in my starting my art and event business, even if they don’t always understand it. I could not have two bigger cheerleaders in my corner, and they are always there to support my even when I don’t want to support myself, or feel doubt in my abilities. No matter what, I know they will be there not only to cheer me on when I’m doing well, but also to let me know how I might be able to improve. Its the balance of praise and constructive criticism that I appreciate more than anything because I know when they say something positive they mean it.

Kai, 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?

My name is Kai Dennis and I go professionally by the pseudonym ‘L.G. Kaymari’. I am a digital artist and event host, hats that seemed to fall into place one after the other.

Growing up I was, and still am, a huge fan of anime and cartoons. Not only for the story but for the art. I was always fascinated how each artist has a footprint, something that uniquely distinguishes them from other artists. That led me to wanting to find my own style, my own art footprint that someone would see and say “that was made by L.G. Kay”. But as I became more invested in anime I saw a gaping hole in the genre. A lack of people that looked like me. Now, that is what my art is because that is what I want to provide to my community. My art is full of POC, so kids who were like me growing up can look at my art and see themselves in it. Can see themselves as a hero, or royalty, or a fantasy character. My art continues to evolve as I work to find a style that I can truly call my own but with each piece I create I find myself getting closer and closer to being there.

I also mentioned that I am an event host. Starting this year I have also begun hosting Anime themed Markets in my hometown under my LLC “Afrodite Arts” with the same goal in mind that I have with my art. Through “Afrodite’s Anime Art Market” I hope to not only promote POC artists but also all kinds of marginalized artists and small businesses and bring the community together for a fun and family friendly event. Small business America and minority America are so important to me and because of that I find myself loving not only hosting Anime Events but also tabling as an artist at them.

It has been a long road getting to where I am now and my biggest obstacle to getting where I am was myself. I had a lot of self doubt and reasons why I wouldn’t be able to start my business, or why it wouldn’t work. It wasn’t until I was able to find all of the reasons why I could do it that I had the courage to make my aspirations a reality. My journey has only just started but I’m looking forward to seeing where this will take me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me the most rewarding part of my events and going to different conventions is talking to other creatives and seeing how much more POC there are in the anime and gaming industry. The feeling of community I get from seeing all of the unique interpretations of beloved anime characters as POC as well as talking to other POC creatives about different experiences we have in common is something that I’ve not felt anywhere else. If I were not an artist and vendor at these conventions I would never have these opportunities for collaborate and commune with so many amazing people.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

I think the biggest thing society can do is not discredit the hard work that goes into being a creative. No matter how easy, or simple something may seem to a non-creative there are years of practice and hard work that go into creating. The hardest conversations I’ve had to have is that compensation VIA exposure, is not fair compensation. Creatives deserve fair compensation for work, relative to experience and what is being provided. The best way to support creatives is to buy from them, and to not screen shot and share work without proper credit or permission.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.afroditearts.store/
• Instagram: instagram.com/afrodite__arts/
• Facebook: @afrodite__arts
• Eventeny: https://www.eventeny.com/events/kawaiifashionshow-5862/