We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Reed Knauth a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Reed, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with 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?

My family is very artistically inclined so naturally I started my artist journey early. I grew up painting and drawing and when other kids went away to Summer camp my brother and I went to art classes. I designed my own brand of greeting cards when I was 8 – all of that led to me pursuing what I do today – art and graphic design.

I was very lucky in that I never had to figure out what career path I fit into. I always knew it was in the realm of design and art, I just had to narrow it down from there. It might sound easy, but narrowing it down was actually very difficult. I was deeply interested in Interior Design and Textile Design, but both of these have very different education paths and I couldn’t pick both. Ultimately I picked Graphic Design – it felt natural and I was pulled towards color and layout. From there things fell into place and continued to hone in on my skills simultaneously in college.

Looking back today I’m super glad I learned the design skills I did. I have the ability to earn a living with my graphic design, while still creating art on the side and daydreaming in my studio. I’m able to brand my business, edit my photos and create and design my website and marketing materials. (if you are a creative, spend some time learning Photoshop and Canva for branding and marketing. It will be SO worth it and you will save money in the long run by being able to create things yourself.)

But the real gold nugget as a creative is developing a style and a practice that is unique to you, that only you have. I def use other artists as inspiration, but I always come back home to myself to tap into what makes my art unique and what makes it feel alive. The biggest obstacle I face is making the time to experiment. It takes a lot of time to try new techniques and new materials. I always feel like I’m on a deadline and if I could do it again I would have spent more time experimenting and making as much ugly art as I could without pressure from anyone else.
My favorite quote that keeps me going when I’m feeling stuck is from Andy Warhol:

“Don’t think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it’s good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.”

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a watercolor fine artist & Eduactor, textile designer, graphic designer and founder of Rosebud Studios – a haven for bohemian inspired original artworks, prints, home decor goods and Watercolor Classes. I’ve been creating art from a very young age and have a dual degree in Graphic Design + Fine art from UNCA Asheville. In 2011 I moved to Atlanta to further my design career at the Creative Circus – an advertising school. Now I split my days between my full time job as a web designer and my side hustle as a painter/educator with my small business Rosebud Studios. I’m extremely busy doing both, but I love being able to do it all myself!

As far as my art goes I’m well known for my “intuitive” based fast brush stroke style and saturated pops of color. You’ll find the main theme in my work is botanicals + organic shapes, which stem from my love of nature and most importantly, color. Most of my inspiration comes straight from daily flower walks, shuffling through fashion magazines (love finding patterns from clothing), and from architecture – specifically from different cultures. I currently reside in Atlanta and work out of my Studio in Candler Park.

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

It’s all about connection. Paint and paper is where I go to tap out of the world and recharge and reconnect with myself and my emotions. A creative release. It’s also extremely rewarding because it connects me to others. One of the biggest joys of creating art is the ability to make someones face light up in delight. I also really enjoy teaching my practice. Theres a alot of pressure to create good art and in my classes I encourage making art as a relaxing practice and a way to unwind and just have fun.

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

Being an artist can be really hard without the right network. I would love to see more networking and social events being promoted for young artists to help get their feet off the ground. I would also love to see large scale brands working with more local artists, more collaborations on a smaller scale to get their names out there. Theres a lot of competition and sometimes the art world can feel exclusive and cliquey. Overall just nurturing artists/creatives and creating a safe space with greater access to resources and community.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rosebud-studios.com
• Instagram: @rosebud.studios

Image Credits
Leah Perry Photography (headshot)