Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Katie Leigh. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Katie, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Before university, I was a self-taught artist. I started drawing when I was a child, and my style evolved with me as I grew up. I never stopped, and my drawings only improved over time. Cartoons were a major inspiration for me back then, and I essentially learned how to draw from observation through watching my favorite animated characters. This marked the very beginning of my artistic journey. I’m incredibly grateful that my mom continued to foster my dream of becoming an artist throughout my middle school and teenage years.
Then 2021 rolled around, and entering university was the next big step. College exposed me to all different forms of artmaking. But most of all, it strengthened my love for traditional drawing. I learned the basic foundations, like anatomy and perspective. Under the mentorship of my professors, my skills improved drastically, and I was also learning more about myself throughout the process.
The biggest obstacle for me throughout my journey has always been myself. Although art had been my passion throughout my entire childhood, I had never actually considered myself to be a true artist. I have always been my harshest critic, and feelings of imposter syndrome continued to cloud my mind throughout university. I always worried that my art didn’t meet the standard of my classmates, and I constantly wondered if I had chosen the right degree. I think my own insecurities often got in the way of connecting with more people and putting myself out there. Looking back, I wish I trusted myself and my abilities more. I had the skill, all I needed was the patience and grace to allow myself to work and improve.
It wasn’t until my senior year when I finally felt like I had found my voice in my art, and learned exactly what kind of art I wanted to make. Most of all though, I was finally proud to call myself an artist.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Katie Leigh, and I’m an artist living and working out of San Marcos, Texas. Born and raised in Harlingen, Texas, my creative journey began ever since I could hold a pencil. I never lost sight of the fact that I wanted to be an artist since then. Fast forward a couple years, and I went to university where I pursued a BFA in Drawing. I met many talented artists who have now become friends, and my professors have been great mentors and continued supporters of my work.
I fell in love with charcoal drawing, collage, and mixed media. This has become my primary mode of artmaking, and has been the best medium for me to express complex emotions that aren’t always easy or talk about, such as grief and identity. I use lots of recycled and found material, such as cardboard, old photographs, and more. I’ve found that experimenting with these unconventional materials have been a great way to illustrate specific moments in time. Everything is based on feeling, which has not only been beneficial for me, but also for my artwork.
It was also in university where I was introduced to the world of illustration and graphic novels. Although my academic background was primarily focused on fine arts, I’ve always had a passion for other avenues of storytelling, such as illustration, comic books, animation, and much more. I recently started taking this aspect of my art more seriously, and now work on writing, illustrating, and developing my own graphic novel in my free time.
What sets me apart as an artist is my simultaneous passion for all forms of artmaking. There are so many different ways to create, and I constantly want to experiment and explore new ways of making work. I’ve dabbled in drawing, mixed media, sculpture, painting, ceramics, digital art, and more. I strive to incorporate different mediums of art in the work I make, and I never want to stick to one medium. Part of being an artist is constantly trying new things, even if it doesn’t always turn out as expected.
Overall, my main reason for creating is because it’s fun. That’s part of the beauty of this profession.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding thing about being an artist is how creatively fulfilling it is. There is a sense of pride I feel after finishing new work, and a strong anticipation to push it out into the world for others to see. Although I believe in creating art solely for yourself above all else, another really great aspect of creating work is the connections you can make with other people.
One of the best moments of my academic career was when I presented my Thesis body of work during my senior year of university. I had worked so hard and spent several late nights in the studio throughout that final semester. I remember feeling so jittery with excitement leading up to the day of the opening reception. When my friends, family, and professors were finally able to see my work in its final form, I had never experienced such a powerful mix of relief, accomplishment, and satisfaction all at once. I was able to talk to so many people, watching and listening to all their reactions. The connections my work had with other people was inspiring in itself, and it only reignited my determination to live my life as an artist.
The instant gratification I felt in that moment had to be one of the most rewarding feelings ever.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
Personally, I believe everyone is born with creativity and has the ability to create. It sometimes takes practice to hone in that ability, but its definitely inside everyone. I think everyone who considers themselves to be a non-creative struggle to understand the purpose of creating art, especially when there isn’t always an immediate payoff in return, whether that be financial or physical. In other words, I think most people struggle to understand the reason behind choosing to pursue a career in the arts. In a world that prioritizes money and sidelines time for your passions, I think it is a completely valid question to have.
The truth is, I didn’t decide to become an artist for the money. I knew this career path would be a challenge to pursue, but I still chose to become an artist for the love of the craft. And I think a lot of other artists would agree. As I said earlier, my passion for creating art is something that fulfills me. Ideally, I would love to rely on my artwork as my sole income. Yet even if that idea never takes shape, it wouldn’t stop me from creating nonetheless. It’s about the joy I get from doing it.
Just like with anything in life, you have to work towards your goals. My journey as a creative is no exception. It may take longer than expected to find where exactly I want to be, but it is still a journey nonetheless. Regardless of where the future takes me, I don’t think there’s a world where I am not creating art, whether that’s full-time, or in my spare time.
I think it’s important to let yourself be inspired by anything and everything around you, because it not only feeds your soul, but also allows for the possibility of making something new. Surround yourself with good people, watch movies, listen to music, play video games, make something, anything.
Long story short, there is joy to be found in being creative, regardless of how much you allow that creativity to enter your life. It’s up to you to go out and find it for yourself.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://katieleigh.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katieleigh.h_/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-leigh-1b69b2319
Image Credits
Deandra Lee