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

Hi Kara, thanks for joining us today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Desperation. Curating your thoughts to want it so bad you need it, and then you begin searching for it in everything everywhere. Before I began throwing myself into my work as I do now, I hit a pure rock bottom. About a year ago, I thought my life as an artist (aka my life) was over, simply because everything I had dreamed up had completely fallen apart in seconds. At that moment, I felt as if I had already died, but as upset as I was, I was equally as angry. With months of built-up stress, pain, and perfection all being so pointless, I was beyond pissed! So, what turned this failure into success, I decided to fight back. Fight against my hopelessness, fear, and oblivion of what to do. Every minute of every day, I took to the internet to search for ways to survive as an artist, and, from not knowing anything, I built my own website and social media platforms, began finding galleries and exhibition opportunities wherever I could, worked two jobs, one to teach me about art and one to make money to support my art, and turned my life and the way I think about my art into what I never thought it could be. Every day that I live the life I have now, I am grateful for that moment when everything fell apart and I let it teach me instead of ruin me. Never in my life have I worked so hard for something like I do for my art now, and never did I think I would be so happy to do it. Success is all about deciding what to do when you don’t know what to do, and fighting for your art as every artist should.

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

I am Kara Theart; a 19 yr old artist in the middle of nowhere Alabama where I’m working to build my own way into the art industry. After graduating from the Alabama School of Fine Arts high school, I wasn’t able to afford to leave my hometown to study the arts. That’s when I began to aggressively start the journey of creating my own platform for myself and my artwork to support my career.

My most well-known works are my large-scale, Microspiral, ink drawings; depicting the relationships between abstraction, landscapes, and figures. I create these pieces in my downtown studio in Birmingham, Alabama, as well as share the process of this work on social media. Outside of this portfolio, I practice Metal Arts in welding, blacksmithing, and casting iron at Sloss Furnaces in Birmingham; working as their TikTok creator and part-time artist. I started my first year studying at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in their BFA program. I participate in local art booths and shows as often as I can, and love connecting with other artists through these events and on social media. I’ve been so lucky to get to travel for my work this past year, and have learned so much from other artists and my own efforts. Every day I am so grateful to have made the active decision to begin building my own career. I have never felt so proud, capable, and excited for the future.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

Social media was a huge tool for me, but it took me a while to get to a point where I was confident, consistent, and seeing the results I do now. I meet a lot of people that cheer me on but are worried to start themselves. The best way to think about social media is that it’s the most inexpensive way to start a business; with time and money.

When I was just starting, I did a lot of research on youtube, because I knew if I was going to get advice about getting views, it would be from people who depend on views. This advice was not only about the algorithm but what kind of content to post. I mixed the advice from artists and non-artists, and did a lot of my own experimentation. I like to treat social media as an experimental game, both for my own sake (detaching my content from my worth) and to make it more interesting. Every app is different, every video’s results are unpredictable, and every day I learn something. It took me 6 months of posting almost every day before one of my videos ‘blew up’, and, ironically, the video was for an Instagram trend that I posted on Tiktok. I still do research every day, and that includes finding friends and connecting with other content creators more personally. Social media can be a beautiful opportunity for you to learn, connect, and expand your business.

And social media didn’t just give me an audience; with needing ‘new content’, I would always have to be making something. I got into a routine that really helped me to keep producing artwork almost every day, and I don’t think I would’ve made as much time for my art without social media. I want people to know that the mindset you have is something you can learn, just like losing or adopting a habit. Social media is a learnable skill and one that will pay off through compound interest. If you want the assets and opportunities it brings, don’t hold yourself back from them. It will take time, but if it’s your dream, then it’s worth the effort.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

It is such a sincere way of feeling forever at home; I’ve turned to art each time I run into my loneliness. That could be in simply creating the work, where you being to work out all the problems you’ve created; starting conversations with your own mind. It’s a way to document your anguish, emotions, and physical presence. There is also nothing more comforting than getting to speak to another passionate creative about their thinking.

The art community is such an inclusive and experimental place when it comes to thought. A place where arguments are discussions and there is a surplus of cycling encouragement. No matter the media, getting to work in a creative space with other artists is nothing but satisfying. Art is such a welcoming concept as it is tailored to learning to communicate and share your experience. Being an artist is a rewarding lifestyle, full of questioning, experimentation, and observation. It is true freedom in thinking and allows the extension of the mind and the body. Art, and everything that comes with it, is a way of configuring a meditative way of processing reality.

Contact Info:

• Website: karatheart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/karathe.art/?hl=en
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@karathe.art

Image Credits
‘photo of me’ – by Moe Kite ‘more photos’ 3 edited photos in my studio – by Moe Kite