We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kirsten Karkanen. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kirsten below.

Kirsten, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I came across a quote recently that stuck with me: “If I bring anything to this world, I need it to be this: I hope that you feel loved around me.”

And really, I think it’s as simple as that. I hope to be someone who made you smile, who brought comfort, who you knew you would laugh with, and who left behind a memory that’s vibrant, a little wild, and full of color. I hope that when you think of me, it’s with a sense of warmth.

And if not that, then at the very least, I hope we had one great night where we stayed up too late, made a few stupid decisions, and talked until the sun came up.

Kirsten, 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?

It’s tough to say exactly how I got into my “industry” because I don’t think I fit neatly into just one. Art has always been the center of my world—my earliest memories are filled with color, and creativity shapes how I experience everything. I guess if I had to pick one “industry” it would be the beverage world and CPG design because that’s where my 9-to-5 life lands. I design packaging for breweries, and it’s been an incredible journey. I’ve worked on award-winning projects, traveled, judged art competitions, and built lifelong friendships. But at the end of the day, that’s just what pays the bills—art, in all its forms, is what truly drives me.

My creativity isn’t something I turn on and off—it’s woven into every part of my life. It’s in the colors that fill my home, the tutus I wear, the jewels on my face, the changing colors of my hair. It’s in the way I create with my hands, but also in how I move through the world and treat the people around me. I have no idea where my art starts or stops because it’s fully a part of who I am.

I’ve always been told I’m “too passionate.” And maybe that’s true, but I don’t see it as a flaw—it’s the strongest and best part of who I am. That passion has made it challenging to navigate a male-dominated industry, but it’s also what’s pushed me forward. I’ve had to knock on doors when I wasn’t invited, use my voice when others didn’t want to hear it, and stand firm in what I believe. And I think that’s the most important part of being an artist. You can’t create meaningful work if you’re not paying attention to the world around you. And if you’re not passionate about what you do and believe in. Every challenge I’ve faced in this industry has shaped me—not just into a stronger artist, but into a better mother.

And being a mother is, without question, my proudest and best creation. Rebel Rose (5), Posie Love (3), and Tuula Honey (1) are the greatest joys of my life. Creating art with them has been the most fulfilling experience, which brings me to my latest—and I think coolest—project to date: an art exhibition at a gallery in downtown Portland, featuring paintings I’ve been creating with my daughters over the last year.

That project, ooOpsie daisy, is a joyful, messy, and deeply personal collaboration between me and my girls. Together, we breathe new life into old canvases, skateboards, and forgotten scraps, transforming them into vibrant, layered works of art. It started on maternity leave with Tuula, when I found myself cutting up my daughters’ drawings and repurposing them into something new. What began as a spontaneous kitchen table experiment became a practice of playful intuition—layering, experimenting, and embracing the unexpected.

Our work is a reminder that there are no mistakes in art, or in life, just opportunities to create something magical out of the chaos. ooOpsie daisy is about playing, learning, recycling, and reimagining. It’s about trusting the process, having fun, and celebrating the beauty in the mess.

So maybe I’ve rambled a bit and got lost in the question, but I guess to really wrap it all up, there’s no boundary to the art I create, and if I could give one piece of advice, it’s to explore and not be afraid to mess up. To be kind. To listen when people are talking. And to walk down a different street than you usually do—because you never know what’s coming.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

No matter how much love you put into others, you still might not get that back. And that’s ok.

This ties back to me being passionate—maybe the recurring theme of this whole interview. And I don’t know if it’s because I’m a Libra (or if that’s just an excuse), but I always start with good intentions when meeting people. Whether it’s a friend, coworker, lover, or family member, I truly try to see the best in people. And I’ve been taken advantage of for that. A lot. But I wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing—it’s just part of who I am and my story.

I don’t think living with regrets is good. But sometimes, learning this lesson can be heartbreaking. So I guess what I continue to unlearn is that I shouldn’t expect anyone to be anyone other than who they are.

And my unsolicited advice? Never try to change anyone. Meet people where they’re at, not where you wish they would be. That’s how I approach my art too—with curiosity, openness, and no guarantees. People are who they are, and I’ve found the best thing you can do is accept that and keep creating, loving, and moving forward.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

Resilience, to me, is about refusing to let someone else’s decision define your worth. I learned this firsthand when I was laid off during maternity leave. It was one of those moments that could have broken me, and honestly, for a while, it did. I had just brought a new life into the world, and suddenly, the stability I had counted on was gone. I could have let it make me bitter—and don’t get me wrong, I definitely entered my petty era for a second—but I wasn’t going to let it keep me there.

I started creating with my kids—cutting up their drawings, painting over old canvases, layering our worlds together. What began as a way to process that period of uncertainty turned into something bigger: an art practice that redefined what creativity meant to me. It wasn’t just about making “work” anymore. It was about joy, connection, and the freedom to create on my own terms.

So, in a way, that loss was a gift. It forced me to rethink what I actually wanted and to prove, to myself more than anyone, that I wasn’t going to be sidelined. Not by an employer, not by a system that undervalues working mothers, and definitely not by self-doubt.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.kirstkark.com
• Instagram: @xoxotackydayz
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenkarkanen/