We were lucky to catch up with Kaitlin Mason recently and have shared our conversation below.

Kaitlin, appreciate you joining us today. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

My post-secondary education was where I learned the most skill and knowledge in the fine arts field. I was lucky enough to attend two different schools which allowed me to explore many different processes and mediums. Over the last few years, I’ve developed a layering technique using coloured pencils on wood panels to create my drawings. This choice of mediums began as an experiment because I was unable to continue to afford the cost of framing works on paper, so I tried wood panels. The later technique came later on. I realized that if I added additional layers of coloured pencil, the vibrancy and the saturation of the colours became much more opaque and painterly, which eliminates the grainy texture coloured pencil is known for, and creates dimension. Although knowing what I know now might have sped up my learning process, I don’t think it would have improved my drawing skills. My work has greatly improved over the past few years, and that is a direct result of all the drawings I’ve made. If I had discovered my current technique sooner, I wouldn’t have had the chance to make all the work I’ve created. The skills I think were most essential in the beginning were drawing, but also photography. Being familiar with my camera, so I could take quality reference photos, was very essential. I try to control as much of my process as possible, to get the best possible outcome. I think time is always a very challenging obstacle. I’ve always juggled multiple projects, deadlines and jobs, so having the time to actually create and experiment definitely impaired the learning process.

Kaitlin, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Kaitlin Mason, and I’m a full-time artist working out of my home studio about an hour north of Toronto. I graduated from NSCAD University in 2013 with my Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree, and have been creating and exhibiting ever since. I’ve always been a creative person, even as a child, I was always making something. I ended up starting my post-secondary career in an interior design program, because I didn’t know that being an artist was really a career option, but I knew I needed to do something creative. I eventually realized that interior design wasn’t for me and switched to the fine arts program at Georgian College in Barrie Ontario. I was lucky enough to have access to a variety of mediums and materials all through my post-secondary career, but once I graduated I really fell in love with coloured pencil. It was a relatively mess-less medium, inexpensive, and I felt as though I had more control over it than paint. But the cost of framing drawings on paper was becoming too expensive so I was looking for an alternative surface to use. I always preferred painting on wood panels, and so I decided to try my coloured pencils and I haven’t looked back since! One of the other reasons I decided to start using coloured pencils on wood, was that it was something I hadn’t seen before. A large number of the artwork on display at the exhibitions I do are paintings, which was something I noticed really early on in my exhibiting career. It was important to me for my work to stand out, I really wanted to create something unique in every aspect. I am very proud of my work, and that I am doing something unique both in subject and materials. I’m also really proud of how my process and technical skill has developed and improved over the years.

I think it is most important for viewers of my work to understand what it is. My drawings are often mistaken for paint or photo transfers, which is certainly a compliment, but it is more important that the time and effort put into each drawing is recognized and appreciated as well. Art is subjective, everyone views it differently and that is perfectly acceptable. It’s great to formulate your own thoughts on the artwork, but it can also be very insightful and beneficial to understand the artists’ meaning behind the artwork they have created, as their intentions may align with your viewpoints, creating a stronger connection to the work.

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?

Being an artist is not an easy career path. It’s long hours, a lot of alone time, with no guarantee of financial stability. You really have to believe in what you’re doing and have the passion for it, to stay motivated. Being an artist is a business, which unfortunately is not something that is taught when you go to art school. Art school teaches you the technical skills and processes to create the work, but it does not teach you how to run a successful art business. Everything I know, I have either taught myself or learned from others. Artists wear a lot of hats in the world of art and business. We create the work, photograph/video the work, market the work, sell the work, and handle all the administrative tasks involved in running a small business.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

Society’s support for the arts community is essential for building a creative ecosystem. Of course, supporting artists by buying their original art, prints and products is the most helpful, but that’s not always financially possible for everyone. There are many other ways to support artists that do not include buying their creations. Simply showing up makes a world of difference. Show up to the exhibitions, and tell your friends, family, and neighbours about that new artist you just found. Sign up for their email newsletters, follow them on social media, and share their work on your social media pages, you never know who might see it and could potentially buy from them.     

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kaitlinmason.com
• Instagram: @kaitlin_mason_
• Facebook: Kaitlin Mason Art