We recently connected with Kit Steele and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Kit, thanks for joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

I created a series of illustrations of small, teacup-sized dragons inspired by- and painted with- tea and watercolor, which became a collection of prints, and now a successfully crowdfunded artbook. The joy this series brings people who find my work, and who have started collecting them, has changed my life.

Kit, 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?

I’m a self-taught watercolor illustrator, and while I’ve long loved making art, it wasn’t until setting up at a local pop culture event with my art on a whim, while being disillusioned with my IT industry job, that I even considered making a living with my art could be possible. I try to honestly explore my love of fantasy and the magic of the every day in my work. I also explore ideas of life and loss as a way to process my own personal losses.

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

I think the most rewarding aspect of being a working creative is connection; connection to your self and others. I always have a story or a reason for creating a new personal piece, but once it’s done and put out into the world, that origin doesn’t matter as much as a viewer’s reaction or feeling or connection. Regardless of what a piece means to me, as the creator, I enjoy the moment it connects with someone else, and what it means to them.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Artists, and creatives of any stripe, are a barometer of society. We are a reflection, a herald, and a fortune teller all at once. The arts are vital, they are human connection, human experience, human relation. Helping artists continue to produce creative works through financial support and social support means helping to grow the human experience and connection, something more important than ever.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kitsteele.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/artofkitsteele

Image Credits

Photo credits: Kit Steele
Photo credit: Corissa Glasheen