We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Katie Reid a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Katie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
I feel like being an artist is a risk. Financially, you could spend a couple hundred on a painting including new supplies, only for your work to never sell. Now you’re in the hole. That’s what’s most terrifying, the risk. Before you even finish your work, it isn’t successful. However, that feeling when a painting is successful makes up for it immensely. All your hard work and time you’ve put in, finally being appreciated makes up for the fear, and risk, of failure.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I started art when I was very young like most artists and grew up, not even realizing I could make it into a job until about high school. I went off to college and am currently earning my BFA in illustration at SCAD and I am planning to get my MFA in painting. What I really want to do, is get my work into galleries and move to New York City. I’d call my work as a painter, New Age Expressionism or borderline Neo-expressionism. In my work, I often discuss topics of being queer and being perceived as a woman.
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
Dear god these things shouldn’t even exist! Just buy real art. Real art won’t put 48 kilograms of CO2 into the atmosphere every time it sells.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I feel like people make some harsh first-time judgments when looking at my art. They say, “I don’t get it” or “Why would you make something like that?” The truth is, I don’t make it for other people, I make it for myself. It’s only a plus if other people like it. Art is a purely selfish act. It’s pleasurable, sometimes. I always have had to push through my thoughts of, “What if people don’t like it…” the truth is, it doesn’t matter if anyone else likes it. Sure it sucks if the work never sells, but I like it, I rather give my work away for free to someone who likes it. Unfortunately that doesn’t pay the bills though.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://katiereidarts.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katiereidarts/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatieReidArts
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkRJmrG0XprmCFORnE4lI_A
- Other: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/kreidart Behance: https://www.behance.net/katiereid3
Image Credits
All art by me, Katie Reid