We were lucky to catch up with Klare Petit-Frere recently and have shared our conversation below.

Klare, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

The foundation of my knowledge for art was really built over the years as I grew up. My mom is an artist and she always created space for art and really helped me to learn the fundamentals. When I studied art in college, I really began to refine and develop my skills even further. I started to work with different mediums and I put in a ton of hours just practicing and completing assignments. My knowledge and skill level for fine art really increased and developed during that time. After my college classes, I got a job as a creative director for a non-profit organization. I was really pushed outside of my creative comfort zone at that job because I was applying my skills into mediums that I had never worked within before. I had always been a fine artist and worked with drawing and painting but never really in the digital art world. That job forced me to learn graphic design, product design, and social media management. I would often start with a drawn idea and then I would have to figure out how to create it within Illustrator or inDesign. It would often require a lot of Google and Youtube but I would figure it out. Then with every project, I would try to think of something that I didn’t know how to do so it would force me to learn how to do it. Before I new it, I learned how develop a brand, tell a story, and connect a business to their ideal client. It just took saying yes to the uncomfortable, being willing to find the answers, and a whole lot of YouTube. For me, saying yes to the uncomfortable was the fastest way for me to learn. I knew that if I knew how to do everything within my job, I wouldn’t ever grow. I needed to be challenged. I needed to be pushed. I may not of known how to do things but I knew that I could learn.

Klare, 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?

My name is Klare Petit-Frere, and I am an artist and designer. I specialize in the fine art mediums of drawing and painting as well as the design mediums of branding, interior design, and product design. I truly believe that art has the amazing capability to communicate and create connections. Language can change based on region, culture, and even era. But art and design are timeless. It goes beyond words. It’s a feeling. Do you know the feeling when you look at something that was so beautifully created and your mind feels so happy and fulfilled? I love that feeling and that’s the type of feeling I want others to feel when they see my work. Whether I am helping to showcase an amazing product, connecting a business to their ideal client, or creating a space that you never want to leave, I want to tell a story and cause people to feel something.

: Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

During my time in college, I was rather unsure of how I would use art and creativity within my life. It was something I had always done growing up but I didn’t know what role it would take in my “adulthood” life. I loved art and being able to create everyday but had no clue how that could be used as a job or to help other people. I felt conflicted and like I would have to put to rest this huge part of me. It wasn’t until one day when I was drawing in the studio that I felt the Lord speak to me and say that He created me to create. I felt a huge amount of peace in that moment. Since then, God has continually shown me that the gifts and talents that He has given me are not by accident. Those gifts and talents are the tools I need to complete His purpose that He has given me for my life. My creative journey is really just a journey with my Creator and it has been so much fun and full of life. I’m so thankful to collaborate with Him.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

Two tools that have been such a great resource for me have been the Jennifer Allowed Podcast and AXL Creative Co podcast. They have helped me so much with the business side of things and also my mindset towards my craft. Highly, highly recommend.

Contact Info:

• Website: thekpstudio.com
• Instagram: @klare_petit_frere

Image Credits
Photography by Kenzie Cox