We recently connected with Kayla Ballesteros and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project I worked on recently was my first solo show in November 2023. “Astral Panic” was an exhibition that explored how art has helped me better understand my intense emotions and panic attacks. The characters I created were manifestations of introspection, anxiety, and the complexities of relationships.

The centerpiece for my first solo show, “Astral Panic”, is a giant monster using one hand to reach up and the other to push down and pull itself out of hell. When I talk about the rough times in my life, I often refer to it as digging myself into a hole. Panic attacks can feel like all the walls are closing in, creating tunnel vision. You can forget to breathe, or you can start breathing rapidly. I managed to pull myself out and I never want to go back. Art has helped me understand and deal with these emotions and panic attacks.

I am opening up more about my deeper thoughts when creating art and hoping that others who have felt similarly will know they are not alone. Although not all my art is about my past, I cannot ignore where the panic attacks started. I keep going back to themes around catharsis and surrealism. When I look back at why I started drawing, it always leads to introspection and the desire to connect with others through stories. I am not particularly good at opening up, expressing my emotions, or even writing about them. Although, I have been told that I am an entertaining storyteller.

Sometimes, these emotions are simple, such as the enjoyment of experiencing something beautiful. Other times, they lead back to the painful thorn left by years of not understanding traumatic experiences. Even using the word “trauma” is difficult for me to write. But expressing it through art has helped me understand and deal with these experiences. It does get easier with time and a lot harder, but it’s worth it to go outside, keep growing, and move forward.

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.

I am an artist who grew up on the South Side of Tucson, Arizona. I learned how to draw at an early age because my dad was a part-time artist. I started apprenticing with him during high school at a tattoo shop. After high school, I began taking formal art classes and graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Visual Communications. Since then, I have traveled to conventions and markets in the United States to sell my art. I create comics, prints, and lots of merch designs. I worked as a printer for 5 years as my day job and am now a designer for a marketing and branding company.

The type of merch designs and artwork I create are very intricate with detailed line work, flowing compositions, and often feminine characters. My inspirations are a mix of surrealism, folklore, introspection, the ethereal, and sometimes horror elements. In my heart as an artist, I am a storyteller. I have several story-based projects I am currently working on, such as my comic “Beyond the Snow” and a collaborative visual novel “KISS KISS PANIC!”

Beyond the Snow is a comic I started working on in college, inspired by my love of folklore and fairy tales. A monster, Ure, lives in a snowy forest and finds an abandoned baby. He takes the baby home and decides to raise and name her Lykke. The other monsters in this village are very upset by this choice until Mamo, the wise troll, decides to also help raise the baby. Lykke grows up not knowing that she is a changeling and has to leave home one day with the adventurer Lucian, along with their new companion Jellybug. The story is about Lykke discovering her real family and the world outside her small village. The inspiration for the changeling being the centered character is the experience of being a part of two worlds and how it can sometimes feel to be mixed race or multicultural. It can be difficult to feel a part of one or neither at times, of how others treat you based on that and finding the balance.

“KISS KISS PANIC!” is a visual novel about characters dealing with the fear of falling in love. It’s easy to dig yourself into a mental hole and hide away. Caring about someone else is terrifying. I often experience anxiety and panic when I am falling in love. It doesn’t feel good at first; it hurts a lot, like I’m going to throw up. This working project is now in collaboration with writer Cody Jaey.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

On March 5th, 2020, my room caught on fire, I turned 27 years old, and the world shut down a few weeks later. It started with an expired extension cable (check your extension cables). First off, the fire damage was bad, but not horrible. My family and dog were safe, and my dad was able to put out the fire before it caused irreparable damage. The fire took most of my painting and sewing art supplies. Since then, I have focused on more digital art and struggled to get back to being creative. I lost so much and couldn’t afford new supplies for a long time. Many of the supplies I had were old and had some sentimental value. I was able to find a new job and slowly get back on my feet to find new enjoyment in digital art and I recently started working on traditional paintings again. Now, 4 years later I have been able to sell my art at different shops, sell my art in galleries, and have my first solo show.

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

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is when I have the opportunity to connect with the community of other artists and my audience. I love hearing how people relate to my work and the unique interpretations they have of my weird art. Through attending gallery shows, conventions, and markets, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many lovely and sweet people. I strive to be encouraging and helpful, especially to younger artists. These experiences have allowed me to learn and grow alongside other artists who are incredibly kind and inspiring.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kaylaballesteros.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/kballesterosart
• Twitter: twitter.com/ballesterosart
• Other: Threadless: kaylaballesteros.threadless.com Gumroad: kballesterosart.gumroad.com Shop: www.keicollective.com/shop/kayla-ballesteros/181