We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaila Starks. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaila below.
Kaila, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
There’s a lot of things I’ve wanted to be and different paths I’ve wanted to pursue in my life. But the one I always come back to is art. I knew when I was very young that I wanted to be a professional artist. I was always creating, whether it was drawing, painting, ceramics, fiber arts, even cooking. Like many other artists, I was told that there is so stability in artistic careers and I should choose something that pays better. I remember the first time that was ever said to me. I couldn’t have been more than nine years old. As I aged I explored many interests, thinking maybe it could be a fulfilling career path but they never felt like long term fits, even if I still found them interesting. In 2022 I started exploring with wire wrapped jewelry. Something I started as a creative New Year’s resolution became a new love. After only 5 or 6 months of exploring wire jewelry, I was invited to be a vendor at a local art show. It felt like a sign, an invitation to dive deeper into this. I applied for more pop ups, offered custom pieces and even took an entrepreneur training course. But then I reached a period where the path became less clear and I wasn’t sure how to move forward. I still had a part-time job and then I had the opportunity to move up to a full-time role. I went for it, thinking I could do both and this new role would help fund my art and give me some financial stability. And it could’ve done both if all my energy wasn’t being spent at that job. It required so much of my energy that I didn’t have any left over to create, not even for pleasure. I took a step back from the art for a bit because I knew it would be temporary and I truly believed in the work I was doing. But I became so drained and exhausted and it was impacting more in my life than artistic expression. I knew my time there was coming to an end but I was scared to walk into the unknown. And one day, I realized that I can’t put my art on pause anymore. Art is an extension of the soul and mine was begging me to walk forward into the unknown. I sent my resignation notice and felt peace and clarity I hadn’t felt in months. I express deep gratitude for all I learned about myself in that chapter. Now I’m preparing to forge my own path. I have a feeling there’s gold on the other side.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started crafting jewelry as a New Year’s resolution but also because I struggled to find jewelry that I liked. I have a unique style and I wanted something that matched that. That’s how Aligned Designs came to be. Our adornments are intuitively crafted one-of-one pieces. Whether it’s a ring, a nose cuff, a pendant necklace or a bracelet, every piece is just as unique as you.
I am very proud of the beauty we add to our community. The confidence and joy people have when they wear our pieces creates a ripple effect. They feel more confident and that spills over into other areas of their lives. I’m grateful for every customer, every follower and every supporter that support not only my art but also the evolution of my art.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
Society can best support artists and creatives by accepting that this isn’t a career field or a job, it’s a life path. And everyone’s path looks different. Some artists are making their living from their work. Others are creating in their free time. All of it is valid. Artists are historians, tastemakers, innovators, alchemists. All the things society needs to move.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
For me, the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is evolution. As I change and grow, so does my artistic style and vision. And vice versa. The art is like an archive of all the versions of me that have existed. To be an artist is to meet yourself over and over again. It helps me understand myself on a deeper level and in turn, understand the world around me.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @aligned.designs111
