We recently connected with Kt Allen and have shared our conversation below.
Kt, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?
I definitely wish I had started sooner. I had always considered myself a creative & loved art. I spent most of my childhood & teen years in my room teaching myself how to draw. It was always what I enjoyed doing the most. After I graduated high school I felt pretty lost in which direction to go with my life. Art was all I really knew or cared about. I thought I was making the right decision in going to college and majoring in fine arts. This was not the case for me as I found myself not interested in the classes, and wasn’t sure how I would apply what I learned to making a living for myself. I eventually dropped out… which led to a long sad few years where I stopped creating completely. I made it out of my depressive episode when I took the leap of moving out of my small hometown in Upstate NY. I moved to Denver, CO and it was like a whole new world opened up to me. I met tons of new people, had lots of new experiences, and I was inspired! I found a place where I felt I could finally grow as an artist and a person. I started off small, making stickers and mini canvases, posting them for sale online. I always was scared of selling and sharing my art before. I got a great response from people, so I decided to keep going. Just in a matter of 2 years my work has blown up and I have a passion like never before. I regularly sell my art online, at shops, events, anywhere I can put myself out there. I had to gain confidence in myself in order to do all of this. It’s been a huge learning experience. It’s helped shape me into who I am today. Part of me always wonders where I would be now if I had started sooner but I am just glad I did it.
Kt, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I’m an self taught artist residing in Denver, CO. I got into the art scene by showing my support for other artists which eventually led to people showing me support back. You get what you give, that’s what I always go by. I started out being mainly focused on painting with acrylics on canvas but I have always had a love for street art as well. My love for street art came from growing up in NY and always seeing all of the graffiti on trains, some of the work would just blow my mind as kid. None of my friends or anyone I knew were really into it but I always wanted to learn more. Now I get paid to do murals and spray paint art on and inside buildings, which to me is the most fun art to do. I also got into doing “live painting” at shows and events. It’s basically where you set up on side of the stage and just paint with whatever flows. This taught me to get out of my shell and be proyud of my work. It took a lot of self discovery to get where I am at now, and it’s only the beginning.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
I think the most rewarding aspect of being a creative is getting to do what I love while also connecting with people. Nothing will ever beat that.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
I remember back when I was a teen, I had this therapist. I had told her I was thinking about going to college, which she was elated for. As soon as I told her I chose to go for art, she straight up laughed in my face. She asked me “Why? You’re never going to make any money that way!” I will never forget that day. The feeling that I had inside me. I felt so embarrassed and ashamed. Who am I to think I could ever make a living off my art? I thought maybe she was right. All of these years later, here I am….. Making money off of my art & doing what I love. I think people who are not creatives unfortunately think everyone should be the same. Go to school, work some professional career, etc. That’s simply not it. Everyone has a different path in life. You could never stick me in an office or a cubical. I need to express myself. The universe blesses you with what you need in life when you follow your heart. That sounds silly but it’s what has worked for me. All these doors opened up when I decided to go with what felt good to my soul. Being a creative is not for everyone, so others should be open and accepting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ktallenart
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kt_alln/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089879105081
Image Credits
All photos taken by Chris Haven