We were lucky to catch up with Kim Koehler recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kim, thanks for joining us today. I’m sure there have been days where the challenges of being an artist or creative force you to think about what it would be like to just have a regular job. When’s the last time you felt that way? Did you have any insights from the experience?
I was a full-time employee for almost a decade before I took the leap to launch my own creative business 15 years ago. Honestly, it was a struggle in the beginning. But after a few years, I was able to secure enough clients and referrals to keep going. For me, the two biggest challenges as a freelance creative are paying for your own benefits (like healthcare and retirement), and learning how to ride the roller coaster of the seasons. When I say seasons, some seasons are slow, and some are too busy. It’s like that with a full-time job only they always pay you the same. But running your business, you must learn to plan your year. You also must learn to relax and enjoy the slow times. Build a community. Work with people who know more than you. People love to share their knowledge.
I absolutely love that I control my time. I decide what work I want to take on. Nothing can beat the freedom you have working for yourself. My husband is also a creative and once we traveled across country for six weeks in a travel van with our daughter. We rented a modem and did all our work on the road. It was a dream of mine for 20 years and I would have never been able to do that if I had a job in-house with a company. Think of all the time we spend working in our adult lives – make sure you don’t go to work every day pinning for another life. What is the creative career you dream about? Map out how you are going to get there. Little steps you take each day are progress.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I started my career in design studios working on big brands like Guess and Nike. Then I landed a job in film and television as a prop designer. After a decade, I decided to start my own design business specializing in branding new businesses. A few years ago, I cracked open my sketchbook. I had not done that in a very long time. I had drawers and closets full of art supplies, untouched. I began to play with various mediums and stumbled on a course about surface design. I didn’t realize that all the things I loved to buy – like fabric, journals, wallpaper – used art that was licensed from artists. I started to explore my style and pattern making. I’ve had a creative job my entire adult life, but there is nothing like creating art for yourself.
I took long walks through my beautiful Southern California neighborhood and found so much inspiration. I would come home with pockets full of fallen magnolia tree seeds and camellias. I would arrange them and draw them. I began to share my work on Instagram and join art challenges. Doing just those simple things lead to art directors finding me on Instagram and asking me to license my work for calendars, journals, cards and other stationary items. I created online stores to sell my own products. My work is also part of the Shape + Exhibit showing at Descanso Gardens here in Los Angeles. It features artists inspired by nature. It has been a lot of fun to enter this creative field. I find the community very inspiring and welcoming.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
I’ve witnessed a lot of people struggle with addiction and mental illness. In my generation, the definition of success was making a lot of money and buying nice things. We were never taught to indulge our creativity or listen to our inner voice. We never know what life will bring us. We have all had our share of loss or a health crisis. Life is unpredictable. But I find getting outside in nature and having a creative practice are the most healing thing we can do for ourselves. Take a walk every day. Look up at the stars each night. There is wonder all around that will give you peace and make you feel present. I suppose I try to bring that feeling into my artwork. I want to capture some of that magic and share it. It is a reminder that all we need is right in front of us and it is free. You just have to open the door and walk outside. Take time to invest in the creative things that light you up. You don’t have to earn money from them, you just have to show up and do the work that calls you.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I wish I had discovered online courses a long time ago. Websites like Skillshare, Creative Bug and Domestika. If there is anything you are curious about pursuing creatively, I’m sure someone has created a class on it. When I first started making art again, I joined these platforms and was smitten. There are so many creative courses to indulge in. And not to forget all the people offering creative courses live. You don’t have to go back to college these days. You just have to decide what you want to learn and you will find a course online to teach you. That thing you’ve always wanted to do, you can do it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://kimko-design.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kim_ko_design/
- Other: Substack: https://substack.com/@kimko
Image Credits
@Kim Koehler I took all the photos myself