We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kelly Jean. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kelly below.
Hi Kelly, 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.
That’s easy – starting my art business was the greatest risk I’ve ever taken. I’ve never been afraid to make mistakes, so the risk wasn’t from fear of failure. It was about sharing my inner life with others and potentially facing judgment. Through most my life I’ve freely dabbled in different things but I would eventually give up. Because of this, I lacked fulfillment and, at times, happiness. I had read in a book that a way to find happiness is to do things that you did as a child. I thought a lot about what that would be for me. It took years to figure it out, but it all came back to spending time with my grandmother in the garden. As an Upstate New York native transplanted in Southern Louisiana, I quickly learned that working in the excessive heat and humidity was something I was never going to overcome. It was when I was pregnant with my first son that I saw a intro to flower pressing class offered in my area and signed up on a whim. The woman hosting the class was a painter but had a lovely garden outside of her studio. We spent the afternoon collecting herbs and wildflowers and placing them in presses. That experience sparked a passion. I began looking at my surroundings differently and I wanted others to connect with nature the way I had. Over the past 5 and 1/2 years, I’ve taught myself how to deconstruct, reassemble and collage pressed florals and botanicals. I celebrated the one year anniversary of my business, My Friend Kelly, in September 2023. I’m now in a place where I feel like this is the work I was born to do… And I don’t care what anyone thinks about it.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m a self taught floral preservationist and artist. I offer preservation services for wedding and memorial flowers, though my heart is in the art form known as Oshibana, using pressed flowers and botanicals to create subjects and scenes. I use a traditional wooden press with cardboard, paper and weight to slowly remove moisture from the flowers. I typically work with fresh florals, but through experimentation, I’ve also learned how to rehydrate and press hang dried flowers. One of my favorite projects to date was rehydrating a bouquet that was a few years old and, after pressing the flowers, I was able to do a collage of the chapel where the couple had gotten married. It is always so special to work with individuals to create a keepsake they and their families will love for generations.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
I have spent the past year setting up at open air markets so I have been able to spend a lot of time meeting people in my community. Watching people lean toward my artwork and realize that it is entirely made of plants is mind blowing. The reactions are so strong and it makes me feel like I let them in on a secret. It takes my craft to the next level for me – seeing and feeling the appreciation for the art that I’ve poured my heart into.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I believe we need to respect that there are people who appreciate art and those who don’t — or rather, they don’t yet. There will always be people who think that original art is overpriced but we need to focus on those who value our talents. And for individuals that may not be able to purchase art, there will always be alternative ways to help artists succeed, such as sharing content on social media, offering artist to hang artwork on the walls of businesses for free, etc.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.myfriendkelly.com
- Instagram: @myfriendkelly
- Facebook: @myfriendkelly
Image Credits
Amy Martin Photography (Headshot)