Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kai Johnson. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kai, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I learned by observing and trying. Finding something that interests me and putting it on paper. To speed up that process, I spend more time being curious. Allowing my hand to find the uniqueness in each object. That’s what differentiates artists from each other—how we observe. The most essential skill is the willingness to restart a project. Time spent on something is irrelevant when it comes to creating anything. A project deserves a second chance. Sometimes, that means starting over. The biggest obstacle in my journey is my mindset. I let comparisons devalue my skills. I often readjust my mindset. I remind myself I know what I’m doing. But, it also reminds me to keep learning and to try new techniques.

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

I am an illustrator and designer based in Kansas City, Missouri, with a Bachelor’s degree in Illustration from Missouri State University. I got started on my art journey about 6 years ago while freelancing. My most notable projects are my collaborations with KC Current and Google Pixel: I designed patches for KC Current’s LGBTQ+ Pride collection and worked with Google Pixel X NWSL Championship 2024 to design a tifo flip card and a hand-painted, 10 x 20-foot banner. Both were on display during the championship game.

What sets me apart from others is the theme of my work—my journey of self-discovery and growth. I love telling stories of my experiences. It gives me a chance to create with purpose and presents an opportunity to learn.

What I want most for people to get out of my work is their willingness to explore, not only the art, but also themselves. Being human has so many layers, and with those layers is so much power. Our words, our actions, our beliefs — we all have such an influence on everything and everyone around us. It all starts internally. What’s inside always affects the outside and exploration helps find the “why” in what we do — who we are. Every step of you is meaningful in some way. I want my art to illustrate that: moving with a purpose and making progressive impacts.

I offer a variety of products. They include original art prints and portraits of people and pets. I’ve also designed a 16×18 inch flower press, a children’s mental health journal, and wrestling gear. I’m open to all projects!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

My most recent collaboration with Google X NWSL championship illustrates my resilience. I created two designs for the game: a tifo flipped by the Girls on the Run organization and a 10 x 20 foot banner. Both displayed in the stadium. The tifo wasn’t difficult at all; a few iterations and I sent the file to the team for the championship game. The banner was my biggest challenge. It felt like the final boss: how do I tackle such a beast? I work on my projects at my kitchen table in my tiny apartment. Unfortunately, my table is not 10 x 20 feet. My partner and I scrambled to find a big enough space to hang and store the banner while I worked. We tried our apartment’s living room, our friends’ garage, my moms’ basement. Nothing was large enough. After 3 hours of moving equipment in my moms’ basement to fit the banner, I suggested we use the gym at Maple Park Middle School, so I could get some lines on the canvas. My mom works in the school district, so I had the perfect “in.” That night, we got to the school, grabbed some ladders, Gorilla tape, and started hanging. Surprisingly, we successfully hung the banner on the wall and I began working. I had about two hours to create a rough outline on the banner before we had to lock up the school for the night. I mostly finished. Getting back to my apartment, the next level was trying to conquer coloring. My partner had a brilliant idea: to fold the banner as I went. But it caused some paint to stick and peel in places I had already finished. Then I had the impossible task of dusting off pet hair from 2 dogs and a cat. This was the process: dust, paint, dry, fold, unfold, touch up. And after each touch up, I ran into the problem of not mixing enough paint. I went through about 5 variations of green! Lastly was the varnish. At 3 a.m., the morning the banner was due, I had the front and patio doors wide open. I ran the tower and ceiling fans and opened all the windows. I needed to seal the paint while avoiding fainting from lack of sleep and fumes. With only 3 hours of sleep, I was able to reach the deadline. There were so many obstacles I encountered and times when I wanted to quit. I learned a lot about myself—what it meant to be resilient—but I also learned a lot about agility, endurance, and teamwork. I feel honored to be part of this project. I’m grateful for the chance to learn and grow from the experience.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The best part of being an artist is hearing how my art has helped someone and how it has helped them work through their experiences. It amazes me to see overlap in feelings, like there was a previous collaboration. The connection is like a collision of worlds. Processing the art creates a new atmosphere from the combination. It feels good to be a part of that air.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kaistoodios.com
• Instagram: @kaistoodios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaistoodios/