We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaitlyn Kee. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaitlyn below.

Kaitlyn , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been interested in drawing. It started out with a book that my aunt bought me from the Dollar Tree. In it, I came up with my own dress and outfit designs. We’d sit together for hours and draw and color dresses and shoes. Based on that current interest that I had, I remember my parents buying me a kit to DIY design Barbie dresses for Christmas that year. They also got me a light box that had silhouettes to put together to design your own outifts and draw them out. They’ve always supported me in all of the things that I’ve wanted to do and gifted me with items to help me succeed in those things. Whether it be horseback riding, playing guitar, photography, playing piano, or my art. They’ve always tried their best to give me all of the support and resources to succeed. I remember when I first took up painting, I was really nervous about it. I had a lot of self-doubt, and would look at my art, and think to myself, “I’m just not sure that it’s good.” But my dad, he would take pictures of it on his phone, and he would show literally everyone! It kind of embarrassed me, at the time, but looking back, I’m positive that his pride in my work helped me to become more confident in myself. And my mom, she would get me to paint all of her Christmas gifts. We’d work together to come up with ideas (painted picture frames, painted Bibles, all kinds of things) for all of the people in our life who we exchanged gifts with. Her asking me to do that also made me surer of myself, because it was like, “It’s a good enough job that she’d want to gift my work to people”, and it really helped me to not be so afraid to try new things and put myself out there. The ways that they chose to support me, such as giving gifts to help me do more, showing off my paintings to others, or by asking me to do something for them to gift someone, has been some of the most impactful things in my life and my painting journey to have encouraged me to keep on going. I am forever thankful to them for having encouraged and supported me so much in all of the hobbies that I chose to have growing up.

I do have to give credit to most of my family, though, and not just my parents. They have all been so great, and so supportive, by asking me to do things, or recommending me to do things. They’ve recommended me for making props for church plays, room decor, a baptistry, party props, so many opportunities that I wouldn’t have had without them. Also, I married kind of young, and my husband has been crazy supportive. He’s always encouraging me to execute my ideas and giving me all the compliments once I finish a piece. My in laws have also been really supportive. My mother-in-law has asked me to do several paintings that adorn the walls of their home, and my father-in-law has asked me to paint scenes on some of the furniture that he’s built to sell.

And, of course, I have to give credit to my family for the best thing that they ever did to impact my life in the greatest way possible: raising me in a Christian home. Without that foundation of faith laid before me, I wouldn’t be anywhere near where I am today. God has blessed me so much in my life.

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

I’m Kaitlyn, a stay a home mom who loves to paint. I’ve always been interested in drawing, but I was between 13-14, I think the first time I picked up a paint brush. My first real painting was of a bohemian calf. I was nervous to try it, but once I did, I fell in love. I began painting gifts for family members Christmas or birthdays, and from there, went on to do more “official” work. It kind of took off from my own projects, and then having others ask me for specific requests. I mostly paint landscapes and animals but have also worked on some commissions. I’ve sold a few of my paintings, but art is also one of my favorite gifts to give. I use acrylics on canvas mostly, but I’ve also painted scenes on furniture and have recently started painting picture frames.

I try my best to incorporate personal things that are important to my clients, within the art that I am working on for them. Whether it be their favorite colors, their pets, things that are relevant to their family or family heirlooms, I want a piece that I do for that specific person to be unique to them. Something that they will get and know, because it’s distinctive to them and/or their family.

I want potential clients and followers of my work to know that I will do my very best to collaborate with them and give them an art piece specific to them and their needs. I will work with them to give them a one-of-a-kind painting to display in their homes, or offices, or even to give as a gift. I want to work with them to create a piece of art that will fit into their life and be passed down from generations to come. Family is very important to me, and that includes making sure that the art I create for you is special to yours and your home.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

My goal in continuing to create art that I can share with people, is I’d like to be able to contribute to my household income while still being able to stay home with my boys. They and my husband are the most important things to me, so I’d love to be able to help our family out, yet still being able to be here for them on the day to day. I love being able to watch them grow, while still being able to add a little income to our household, even if it is simply helping out around birthdays and holidays. Being their mama is my number one job, so it’s nice to be able to have a creative outlet that also helps a little bit.

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

The most rewarding part of this journey is knowing that somewhere, my art is sitting in another person’s home. My art is bringing someone else joy and it’s so special knowing that something I created is a part of another person’s life. Something that they see daily, and hopefully brings a smile every time they see it. I love being able to create unique pieces for people, that you know no one else is going to have.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @mycupofkee
• Other: email at [email protected]

Image Credits
Kaitlyn Kee