Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kellie Bloxsom. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kellie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

Oh boy, that’s a tough one. Being a successful creative is hard to define as a lot of creative work is so subjective. Not everyone will like your work, in fact most won’t, so learning to shut out the external critics and honing in on what makes you feel successful internally is really the best gift you can give yourself.

The other biggest lesson I’ve learned in making my favorite pieces is learning to fail gracefully. In order to be innovative, you have to take creative risks, and a lot of those risks don’t pan out. So for me, when I stop trying to be so perfect and really let go of end results, my best work happens. That’s how I get to that flow state.

Kellie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

For folks who may not have read about me before, let me introduce myself. I’m a senior designer at Hallmark Cards and I also do fine art on the side. I joined Hallmark about 13 years ago after spending a decade in corporate design. I was really burnt out designing only marketing focused work and wanted a career that was closer to what I loved doing personally.

My original portfolio wasn’t exactly what Hallmark was looking for, so I had a tough time getting an interview. I decided to make a whole new portfolio tailored for greeting cards. That did the trick, and I finally got hired.

I designed and illustrated cards at Hallmark for about 9 years and now I just moved over to our Gift Wrap department and have been working on surface pattern designs. Working at Hallmark has been amazing. I’ve learned so much from my talented coworkers and they’ve helped me grow a lot as an artist and designer.

For anyone interested in my work, know that it’s driven by a deep love for creativity. I aim to create designs that not only meet the consumer needs but also inspire and bring joy. Whether it’s a greeting card, a piece of gift wrap, or fine art, I strive to infuse each creation with authenticity and a bit of my own artistic spirit.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding part of being an artist is when I get to connect with my audience. I do a lot of art fairs, and nothing makes me happier than seeing someone look at my art and smile. It’s hard to put into words, but it’s so thrilling to know my work can evoke that kind of emotion in someone. That connection and the joy it brings are what make it all worth it for me.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Being an artist/creative is hard. The world doesn’t seem quite built for us. You have to really love what you do to keep it up. I’ve had to really turn inward and learn to create for the sake of creating rather then find success externally. For me the way I keep it up is every morning before I start my day job, I brew some coffee and make myself collage or draw for at least 30 minutes every morning. Some days I get some good stuff and some days it’s pure junk, but I’ve learned that the daily practice of creating helps me grow and stay connected to my creative journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kelliebloxsom.com/
• Instagram: kellebloxsomart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-bloxsom-rys-975a0825/

Image Credits

no one