We were lucky to catch up with Katie Reidy recently and have shared our conversation below.

Katie , looking forward to hearing all of your stories 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.

All in all, I think I’m generally a risk taker. I don’t often seek out opportunities, which sometimes I feel i should, but when opportunities present themselves, I throw myself in wholeheartedly. I am a muralist, a digital artist and an illustrator. I am happy to learn and practice majority of visual arts ranging from pen to spray paint and brush. I am comfortable and confident when I attempt visual pieces, be it sculpture or drawing, but when it comes to performance art, though I love it, I am not quite as comfortable. I have performed poetry on stage, sang on stage, given speeches, but recently was asked to do stand up comedy. I was asked by and organizer for events in which I have performed poetry and music, so when I got the text asking to perform again, I just said yes… without closely reading. I didn’t realize i was being asked to do stand up. It wasn’t until a week or 2 before the show that i realized it. And I wasn’t about to back down. It was for a charity to benefit young women and girls and there was no way I wasn’t showing up! But Id never done stand up in my life. When I arrived the night of the performance, i sat in my car and wrote down some notes on a napkin. I’d never practiced it, i just went out and did it! The crowd response was incredible, the women running the foundation were so happy and impressed. It became another tick on my “life’s to do list”. I’ve now performed stand-up comedy a few times and truly enjoy it once I’m on that stage. Before hand, I’m still a ball of nerves, but I’ve been told I seem incredibly comfortable and that it all seems natural. It’s helped me see the range of my capabilities and reminds me how often I perform well outside of my comfort zone, which is something I am proud of.

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

I am an artist, an art instructor and a child care owner. These all fit into my passions. I often feel that i wouldn’t be as happy just making art, without the ability to share the skills I have worked hard to learn.
As an artist, I have been lucky enough to help people brighten their homes, stores, communities and I love being able to tell a story through visuals. I have owned a gallery, customized clothing and created an inclusive environment. Through the creation of my custom clothing, i have been told that the people wearing it felt a major sense of confidence and feeling “cool”. Being someone who gives space and makes a way to help people grow their style and confidence is something I’m incredibly proud of, which brings me to art instruction. I have had over 2000 students in my art program, and to this day will get texts from students of mine who are in college or graduated already thanking me for the time we spent together. I often have students for years at a time and truly grow to know and love them as if they were family. I have run into parents who tell me that the way I taught really translated into full life skills, because it wasn’t about creating perfect works, it was about self-exploration and understanding process. Of all the things i have done, that is something I carry with me daily and it humbles me and also gives me a deep motivation to continue putting myself out there in all kinds of ways.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I am a proud mother and devoted wife. My mission is always to keep them safe and feeling proud. I want them to always know that I will do anything in my power to help us grow as a family. Apart from that, the knowledge that my students are watching me is a deep motivator to continue to explore everything I can do. As a creator, I have taken many risks and tried new mediums and continue to learn new parts of myself that I can then share with others, with the hopes they can see their own potential and find their own voice. I try to do it in a way that is thoughtful, kind and humble. I don’t always feel confident, I often don’t, but it doesn’t serve me or anyone else to live in my head. So even when I’m scared, nervous or deeply anxious, I keep moving forward. I am honest when people ask about my journey, I tell them how uncomfortable a situation may have been and there is power in overcoming the voices in your mind telling you that you can’t do something out of your wheelhouse. I find that I grow so much when I step out of my comfort zone. One day, maybe I’ll teach myself how to just relax, but that day has not yet come.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part is the 1am texts from past students telling me that I changed the trajectory of their lives through my art and teachings. I am a big crier and my students bring me to the brink of tears often. I recently did a speech for a Pride event and spoke about being outspoken and standing up for others and when I walked off stage, these beautiful teens who are no longer students of mine ran up and hugged me so tightly and thanked me for being who I am. There’s something so powerful in knowing that just being who I am can help others find their joy and passion in life. Being an artist is rewarding when it is a shared experience. And I think that’s probably true of most professions, when you share what you know and who you are, and it’s well received and encourages others to be so fully themselves, you feel it in your soul. My heart and soul are full. The way my daughter watches me create with such amazement in her eyes brings me to tears and it gives me pause to feel proud of all I’ve done, instead of think about all that I haven’t.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Katiereidy.com
• Instagram: @Rarigrafix, @iamurbanillustration, @thisheartcontains

Image Credits

@Nortography