I definitely think the internet has allowed artists to become more accessible to everyone and makes it easy to create a diverse community! Honestly I don’t think I would be as far along in my journey if it hadn’t been for the internet lol when I first started posting, I was really just showing works to like 10 friends and some random bots on my account. I had always dreamed of having a instagram with a “k” next to it but honestly didn’t think it would happen as fast as it did. I entered a Draw This in Your Style contest last minute and when I woke up, suddenly my art was reaching people in the UK, Mexico, Thailand. Like whaattt??!! That’s something that only possible on the internet. And I think it’s really great because it’s so tangible for an artist that wants to get their name out there, to do it. Social media makes It easy for people to find new art or similar artists to people they already follow. Especially on Pinterest! I can’t tell you the amount of reposts I see of my work I see everyday. But then I click on one of my illustrations and see a really cool artist underneath and it’s like “oh this is amazing, I should stalk their insta” and then I end up endlessly clicking on cool images for hours. Right now my feed is just full of fashion photography and vintage Japanese magazine scans! I love seeing the fruits mag stuff and like the editorial shoots of 90s singers. I was also very into Tumblr in like 2014 and would scroll hoooouurs just looking at things I resonate with. I followed a lot of artists back then and fandoms too haha I guess I nothing has really changed even 10 years later. But it’s so cool to see what people are into and what images are interesting enough for them to repost or use for icons. I think it’s really cute when people ask if they can use my art as pfps. That was definitely as crazy feeling the first time that happened! But now I get so many sweet sweet messages from people wanting to use my art for icons or tattoos! I have also become friends with a few of my followers which is something I would have never imagined. But the internet is so good at connecting people! With all of the resources we have online right now, no matter what you make, you will find an audience who likes your artwork. I think that’s really amazing and should encourage artists to just put their work out there and see what happens.

Honestly I feel like every girl I draw is just me in a way! I think it’s so hard for me to not pour a little bit of myself into every piece, they are my babies!! Which is hard because I want people to buy my paintings but I also never want to part with them and just want to hoard them in my room to look at everyday. Making them brings me so much happiness and I think people can feel that energy. I really do put a lot of myself into these pieces. You can especially feel my love for fashion I think! I am so inspired by editorials and fashion magazines and so many amazing photos with incredible composition. I just love clothes!!! And while I do have a nice selection of clothes I’ve built up over the years, I can’t own everything haha and I think drawing my girls in these clothes I wish I had satisfies that need in way. I am also really into anime and manga and went to college for animation actually. So I think the shoujo anime’s I used to watch, and still do, have really stuck with me. I love the way they are able to capture the essence of girlhood and has something every girl can resonate with at some point in their life. When I think about watching these shows on my laptop in highschool wishing one day I could have boyfriend that plays guitar, have cool friends that go to events and just feel in the scene, it gives me really fond memories and it’s the same feeling I get when I look at the world I’ve created. I really like that feeling!! I hope other people can feel it too! I really just want people to feel me in my most genuine form. I can’t say I have a way with words haha and I can be quite socially awkward sometimes, so I find it very hard to express myself verbally. But because I put so much of myself into my artwork, it truly is the best way to get a sense of who I am as a person.

Hmmmm my media diet is all over the place loll it really just depends on my mood during the day. When I’m feeling like I want to be zen and lowkey then I’ll read an actual book. I don’t really like reading with kindles or reading in my iPad since I basically stare at computers all day and my brain is mush ~ right now  reading Paradise Rot which my pookie recommended! I haven’t finished it yet though because I get too relaxed and fall asleep after like 3 pages. My zen music is usually Ichiko Aoba haha literally her entire discography! Her music is so ethereal and soothes my soul. Or sometimes I’ll do some ambient stuff and just find a random artist in bandcamp. And for my zen shows, Mushi Shi is my go to or just asmr hahah me and my husband love watching Moonlight cottage before bed. When I’m feeling cheeky the I’ll read r/Bestofredditorupdates because I love the tea and then I’ll also watch reality tv. I’m obsessed with 90 fiancé but I’m happy to watch any kind of trashy tlc show. But alsoooo there are the days I feel super angsty and really enjoy listening to alternative/rock music. Tricot is one of my faves, they are a really crazy math rock band and every one of their songs is amazing. I don’t really have a go to book or show when I’m in this mood tho because it’s usually the time I draw and therapize myself.

The biggest obstacle that comes to mind is when I didn’t make it into the Anime NYC artist alley! I was soooo sad about because I really enjoyed going and talking to fans and other artists and I just felt like I was missing out on so much. I spent a good few months just sulking, like why isn’t my art good enough to get in this year and felt very defeated. But I didn’t to let that desire go and suddenly had the bright idea to just buy an exhibitors booth, which is like 3x what I had paid before. but I had wanted to the attend the convention so badly that I paid the fee 2 weeks before the show and had the worst booth possible. But that year I had amazing time yet again and met a really amazing friend who has so much insight in the industry. Just this August I had another exhibitors booth and paid for my next booth in 2025. That experience just really put it in perspective for me that, just because someone says no, doesn’t mean there isn’t another way. I showed myself that I can pivot and problem solve and have things turn out better than I had ever imagined. Even though this is the only convention I do, I strive to make my booth better and better every year. This experience has really pushed me from thinking as just an artist to someone who is a true business owner with an array of products I produced all on my own.

My inner child never left hahah so it’s not that hard to connect to. But I’ve always had my dad as a great example! He was the person that always watched cartoons with me on the weekends and got me into anime and figure collecting. He’s definitely very much a kid on the inside and still like to watch SpongeBob on Saturdays from time to time. My dad is in his 60s. But he likes what he likes and has never really tried to hide it. I mean half of my figure collection actually belongs to him, he just doesn’t have the room for them lol And I’ve been enjoying these hobbies for so long, that I don’t think it’s something I can shake. These things really shaped me growing and are part of my identity now. Just because I’m getting older doesn’t mean I will suddenly start hating pink and only read non fiction haha these things I enjoyed as a kid still bring me enjoyment and I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. I enjoy being playful and silly! I really love when we take my dog on walks and I can go on the swings at the park and sometimes I like to see if I can still do cartwheels in the field ~ staying connected to my inner child honestly just keeps me sane.

For me making art is much less about being motivated and more of just a compulsion. I have to draw. It’s like using the bathroom, it just has to come out or it’s just uncomfortable haha I draw when I’m in a good mood, when I’m relaxing, when I’m angry, when I’m sad. It might not always be, you know the cute girls everyone sees on my insta but it’s something. Even if it’s just mindless scribbles on paper, something has to come out. What I really have to focus on and really push myself to do, is working on my business. I actively have to shift myself from artist mode to manager mode. What keeps me going is knowing I don’t want to be where I am now. My goal is to work for myself and that’s never going to happen unless I step up and make moves. I have adhd so I have to push myself extra hard to get anything done. It’s very much a task lol So I have to write down goals constantly to know what I should be working on and keep myself on track. It’s pretty helpful for the most part. The other thing I find really helpful is just surrounding yourself with creative people. I have friends that are musicians, models, actors, business owners. Going to events and supporting your friends in their practice is really good motivation to keep working on your goals. Also collaborating with friends and just having a creative community I think is really just the best thing. I am so grateful for all of the friends I have pursuing their own creative dreams and having a partner who has his own creative dreams as well. My network of people truly understand the hardships that come with this industry and so the wins are truly celebrated. Having a business is hard, so surround yourself with people that get it.

The best way to be authentic is what create what makes you happy! I truly believe it is the only way you can have a sustainable career without getting burnt out. I experienced it first hand and it’s now my number 1 piece of advice! It sounds really easy but you’d be surprised how many people don’t. Even I have to check myself every once in a while because I get caught up in the algorithm. But when I graduated college I was really hoping to get a job in animation. Every time I made a piece of work I wondered if a studio would like this and if it would look good in my portfolio. I applied to so many jobs and kept getting rejected and it really made me question my skills. Is my art not good enough? Should I be better? I was seeking validation from outside and it was really hurting my self esteem. I never wanted to draw anymore because I didn’t enjoy it. I was creating things for myself and it made me really depressed. The whole point of creating is to express yourself and I wasn’t doing that. It took me 3 years to figure out that I just want to draw for myself and draw what makes me happy. Now here I am with a following and a business of my own. I believe I was able to get this far because I enjoyed the process and really embraced every step. This is what I want to do with the rest of my life. But I still do fall back into that pattern even now because it’s so easy. If one post does well it’s like oh, I should make a similar one because my followers liked it. Maybe it I do that i can get get likes! It’s a very easy cycle to fall into, but just remind yourself that the reason you create art is because it speaks to you and give you happiness.

Ahhhh I still have a job~~ the pressure is very real and things are expensive. I’m not the kind of person who likes to take financial risks, so until I see consistency in my business I just continue to work part time. I think it’s kind of the reality for alot of creative people I know. It’s not a bad thing it’s just part of the hustle. And I think it’s kind of a good happy medium to appease parents ~~ you have a job, but might not be the job they want. Reaching your creative goals takes a lot of work but if you believe in yourself and put in the work, something will come out of it. It might even take a few years but you just have to be patient and grind. You might be lacking a social life but when you see your projects come to life it’s worth it. And I think once you see progress the traditional pressures start to lift a little bit. You’re less concerned about what’s expected of you and what people think because the success you worked for is validation. But honestly I don’t know if I’m qualified to give this advice since I still have a 9 to 5 hahah My goal for next year though is to work for myself full time!