Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra Daniels.
Hi Kendra, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was a child, I was given pencils and crayons. I essentially just never put them down. There has always been something about taking a blank slate and turning it into something interesting that has always given me the most fulfillment in life. The human experience is really difficult a lot of the time, but creating is what keeps me going. It has truly saved my life over and over again.
I started doing commission artwork at 18. Over the years, I kept growing and making more connections. At 21, I started selling my paintings at a shop in downtown Kingsport and that’s when I really started considering it as a full-time career. Last year, I decided to do exactly what I want. I quit my job to pursue art full-time.
I was scared because you always hear about “the starving artist” and I think a lot of people thought I wouldn’t make it, but it just felt like there was no other option. I knew I wouldn’t be truly happy if I didn’t create a life for myself that I could live with passion. I started traveling a bit around the east side with different art vendors and continue cranking out paintings and drawings.
The day after I left my job I also got a call from a tattoo shop in town called Now or Never Gallery. They wanted to know if I would like to pick up some hours there doing desk work, then they asked if I would like to apprentice. I’ve always looked up to the artists there and dreamed about tattooing so I was super excited and am still so thankful for the opportunity. I definitely ugly cried that day.
All happy tears.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I don’t think people really understand the struggles that come with being an artist.
It’s not all fun and games. It’s A LOT of work and sacrifice. You have to really want it. Between apprenticing, painting, and creating work for events social life has kinda gone out the window. I don’t really have time for anything else. I’m still in the thick of it right now so I don’t think it will always be this way, but that’s the sacrifice. I run 100% off of caffeine and determination.
There’s a struggle in comparing yourself to other artists as far as skill level and success. You will always find someone you think is better than you and that can get deterring considering the amount of effort you put in. There’s only one mind like yours though so you should only be comparing your work to what it was yesterday.
There have been several periods of doubt where I just don’t think I’m good enough, or I don’t feel like I’m progressing as I should be. So there’s a constant struggle of learning to be kinder to me while pushing through those moments. Giving yourself constructive criticism in a way that isn’t beating yourself up is a really important skill.
Art is not something you go into for the money. It can take years to make a profit from your work. This is a field that is very rich in so many other areas of life though and that’s why I continue to wake up and choose it every day.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I work mainly with acrylic paint.
My art is a little on the darker side so people either really like it or they really don’t. With my paintings, I like the context to be strange. I like using color in unique ways and playing with light sources.
I like to create things that make people think or feel something. I’ve just recently begun tattooing. I have no idea what my specialty there will be, it’s all still so new.
Any big plans?
My main focus at the moment and foreseeable future is to keep progressing through my tattoo apprenticeship.
I just really really want to be good. I want to make each tattoo I do better than the last and learn something from each one. I’m really thankful for everyone who allows me to practice on them.
My goal for forever is to keep learning and live a happy life. That’s all I’ve ever really wanted. I just want to make things and be happy.
Contact Info:
- Email: Oddsicles.art@gmail.com
- Instagram: @oddsicles_
