We were lucky to catch up with Katie Carrillo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Katie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I decided in my last year of high school to get a BA in Theatre for Costume Design, and after attending one year of graduate school, I quit and played with my craft until I settled on Illustration. I often wonder if I would be further along or happier with my Illustration career if I’d started earlier. I often see people who took as many art classes in high school as possible and got BFAs at conservatory programs, and I’m envious of their skill at such young ages. But I honestly feel like this was the path that I needed to take in order to have the appreciation for illustration that I do now. After doing a conservatory program for Costume Design, I grew to hate the theatre industry and left it completely. I think conservatory programs are great for some people, but for others like me, the rigorous and competitive atmosphere can suck the joy out of a craft. I like that I’m creating my own path using my life experiences from other disciplines and jobs. The path I took when I was younger allowed me to live a lot of life and meet a lot of interesting people. Now I strongly believe that the best way to keep growing as an artist is to keep living as much life as possible and to remind yourself that there is no “right” way to do this. It’s also nice to remember that it’s never too late to pursue what really makes you happy.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Hi! My name is Katie Carrillo, and I’m an illustrator! I like to draw cute and silly things because it makes me happy. I used to think that more serious fine art was the most important kind of art, but I think I still get to call myself an artist even as I draw lil cats and raccoons in hats. I primarily draw digitally using my iPad and the program Procreate. I also edit my illustrations in Photoshop. I sell my art on stickers, prints, keychains, apparel, and other assorted accessories! You can find my work at West Bottoms Plant Co. and various pop-ups in the KC area. I also have an online shop: katiecarrillo.com. I think what sets my art apart from others is that I have a strong sense of self that shows through my work. I’ve had a lot of people tell me that my art reminds them of me or that my fashion sense is just like my art, and I love to hear that! My identity as an LGBTQ+ and Latina artist is important to me, and I love that people can see that in my work.
I love to make art that makes me smile or laugh, and nothing makes me happier than doing pop-ups and seeing people react to my work in real-time. When people smile, laugh, or show their friends my work saying things like, “This reminds me of you” or “We have to get this for ____!” it makes me feel like maybe I can do this whole Illustration thing.
I guess the most important thing about creating for me is reminding others that it’s okay to be happy and silly and that doesn’t make you any less “important” or “cool” than anyone else!
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
I think it can sometimes be hard to understand how resilient artists really are if you aren’t a practicing one yourself. The art that really speaks to others is always the art that has the personality and heart of the creator on full display. Putting yourself out there really opens yourself to a lot of criticism, and the only way to keep growing is to really be willing to listen and change. It’s a real skill to sift through criticism that is not constructive and purely mean and the criticism that can hurt, but you need to hear. The ups and downs of a career in the arts are also hard to prepare for. People think of artists as free spirits who go with the flow, but the amount of planning that has to go into sustaining yourself with your creative practice is a full-time job in itself. At times the amount of work put in the background can make people think it’s so easy since artists can come across as “effortless.” So at times, it can really feel like people don’t appreciate us for all that we’re really putting into this.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Pay people living wages!! I sincerely believe that’s the answer to everything, haha. I think capitalism and slave labor have skewed everyone’s view of worth. Artists are always undercharging because the general public has no clue what it actually takes to create things. And that’s not to say that people who can’t afford $50+ pieces shouldn’t have access to art! Everyone should be able to afford to pay reasonable prices for art, and people who create anything should be properly compensated full stop! When it comes to us non-billionaires though, I think building community is the most important thing we can do. Sharing resources, advice, and opportunities with each other is what it’s all about! There’s room for all of us to succeed, and when one of us gets an opportunity, it’s a win for us all!
Contact Info:
- Website: katiecarrillo.com
- Instagram: @sprt.arts
- Youtube: sproutarts