Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kathy Pope. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Kathy, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
There are certain areas where I am very confident but it’s easy to struggle with putting my art out into the world for people to see. It’s a vulnerable feeling and can make me second guess myself. But I try to focus on the positive feedback that I receive and know that not everyone will like my work and that is okay.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I use hand painted and collected paper to replicate things that people emotionally connect with. I started with house portraits and quickly added buildings, florals, maps of areas surrounding people’s homes (like a birds eye view but you see the fronts of the buildings/houses) and everyday favorite things like a box of Crayola crayons and a jar of Nutella. Many people hear ‘paper collage’ and think abstract art but my brand is more technical and realistic. Like a photograph where everything is made of paper! That means a lot of teeny tiny cuts and glue all over my fingers.
The most exciting part to me is making something special that comes alive for the recipient. It captures an emotion that is unique and special to the individual.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I have explored so many art mediums over the years and I love so many of them! But I have always had a love for paper, pattern and color. I started exploring with paper collage and it just seemed like the right passion to pursue. I had the talent, the desire and the passion as well as a supportive husband and friends/family. For me, once I had decided I was going to start a business taking commissions and selling my cut paper collage, I knew that I needed to focus my creative energy solely on this one medium and not get all excited about something else and to fly off in another direction. If I take a class or watch youtube videos on other mediums I try to use what I am seeing and learning as inspiration for what I do.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
My parents were very loving and supportive. They encouraged me to try every sport that I was interested in even if it was for one season. I tried a few instruments and took summer school classes that were interesting to me. They brought me to church, we enjoyed a lot of family time and they encouraged me in all my friendships. The most impactful thing? They nurtured all areas of my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: yellowdogcollage.com
- Instagram: @yellowdogcollage
- Facebook: yellowdogcollage
