We recently connected with Kirsten Scott and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kirsten, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
One of my most meaningful projects was my thesis project, a graphic novel called Apricity. On the surface it’s a romance between a figure skater and a skier. As the story progresses, the main characters open up to one another about their trauma, and try to move forward to a brighter future together. I had tried writing and illustrating this story years prior, but I could never seem to finish it and moved on to other projects. I love making comics, and always dreamed of making a whole graphic novel. But writing and illustrating a whole book is no easy task. As my final year of college approached, I told myself I’d finally tackle the hurdle. I started writing revised script for Apricity and drawing the pages during the summer. I gave myself a minimum of two pages inked a day. It was extremely difficult at first, but I was having so much fun. As I got deeper into the process, I learned that I was getting much quicker at drawing, and hit my deadlines with time to spare. I fell in love with art all over again! Holding the finished book was absolutely surreal. The story of Apricity is very personal to me, and I hope people find comfort through these characters and their experiences.
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.
My name is Kirsten and I am an illustrator and comic artist! I’ve been drawing ever since I can remember, it’s become like breathing to me. I like drawing starry skies and my characters! I’ve always drawn inspiration from day to day life, everything has a story. During elementary school , I would make up stories about the world around me to pass the time. My teachers would say “Kirsten is in lala land again,” if I got too wrapped up in daydreaming and stopped paying attention. I was super obsessed with Pokemon as a kid, and would draw in sketchbooks upon sketchbooks of Pokemon going on fun adventures. I think thats where I got my imagination from. Something about fantasy worlds really excited me. Eventually I would draw my own worlds and made characters to go alongside them! I’ve always loved telling stories!
I’m most proud of my comics and zines. I usually write about a topic that is weighing on my mind. For example, when artificial intelligence was gaining popularity in the art space, I panicked. I felt so many emotions in response to this. Fear of being replaced, anger that ai was stealing artists work, happiness that many artists were rejecting it, it was a lot. I took my mixed emotions and made a short comic about how I felt, called the Joy of Creation. My feelings drove me to create, which I realized is the entire reason why I draw. I want to empathize with others through art. I think art is a beautiful medium of expressing oneself.
Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?
I wish I knew that there were so many different things you could do for a career in the art field. Growing up it seemed as though job options for artists were limited, so I never considered it as a career. It did not help that I was discouraged by some people when I said I wanted to go to art school. Luckily my mom and family encouraged me to go, so I went! It really opened my eyes to just how big the art world was. Packaging design, jewelry design, concept art, there are so many professions that require a creative element. I had entered art school with an aim for an animation degree, but discovered my love for children’s book and comic book illustration in the process. I wish there wasn’t such a stigma for those expressing an interest in art. There are countless jobs for artists, and shouldn’t be discouraged!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
When I was younger I consumed a lot of animated shows, comics, and books. Within those stories, I empathized with the characters and world. I found visibility in those stories, wether it be lgbtq+ rights, mental health awareness, etc. They made me feel seen, and even helped me discover new things about myself. I want to provide the same sense of connection that I felt for others. That they are not alone in what they are experiencing. I think there are many important topics that need representation, and I hope I can do that with my stories.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://astrariul.weebly.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrariul/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@clovercarrot15?si=OZUzjw4PJEyJC33U
- Other: Shop: https://my.bigcartel.com/dashboard
Image Credits
@astrariul