We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Keny Leepier-Freeman a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Keny, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
When I was in my early teens, my mother passed away from a drug overdose. I was then separated from my siblings and placed in foster care. I had lost the only family I had in the course of a few months. At 13, I was hospitalized for a suicide attempt. I was diagnosed with depression early on and treated with heavy sedative medications but no one ever talked to me about my grief.
It wasn’t until my late 20s that I started taking my mental health seriously. I was then diagnosed with PTSD and anxiety.
I suffered for years with feelings of self-hate and doubt. I would find myself constantly in a state of either deep depression or uncontrollable rage. My relationships with friends and family suffered because they didn’t understand it and I couldn’t explain it. I was unmotivated about life. I had no focus.
One day I was frustrated because I was so tired of being tired. I knew that I wasn’t meant to live my life in that turmoil so I started working on myself. I carved out a little corner in the corner of my garage and created a little space for myself which eventually turned into my first art studio. I made a little space for myself where I could just be. I realized that self-care and stillness, in addition to medication and therapy are the things that helped me cope best when my mind was in chaos. Creativity has always been an outlet for me. I used to write poetry, moved on to painting, and eventually mixed media art. By focusing on making things, my mind gets a break and I have full control in that moment. When my family moved into our next house, I converted the entire garage into a studio. During Covid, I struggled to find projects to work on but one day I came up with the idea to make a rolling tray for a friend’s birthday. The friend then wanted one for her friend and that is how KayEmElle Art was born.
As I spent more time in the studio, I started to find a peace that then allowed me to be able to have clearer thoughts and I started researching my diagnosis. Educating myself I believe has been the biggest factor in helping to be able to cope with these mental health challenges. I now know that there are reasons for my thought processes, my emotions, my responses, etc., and I now know that I am not alone in these things.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Cannabis has always been a part of my life in one way or another. When Covid hit it was around the same time that Cannabis was becoming legal. I created a custom accessory set for a friend and then received an order for another. I quickly focused on the idea that I could make a business from my craft so I came up with a product line. All of my items come in sets. All of the sets are themed and completely customizable. For example, a “Quarter” comes with a metal exopy-coated rolling tray, a matching lighter, and an ashtray. The set runs $25 and can have any image you desire. For a connesiuer, I would recommend the “Zippy”, its priced at $100 and includes a metal, epoxy-coated rolling tray, matching grinder, refillable lighter, one-hitter, doobie tube, stash jar, ashtray and tumbler bong. I started marketing premade sets to smoke shops and dispensaries and then began white-labeling products for other brands.
In 2024, I plan to relaunch with some new tray design options as well as other new products.
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 think that the most important qualities that have helped a lot in this journey are perseverance and discernment. I’ve learned that not everything is going to happen when you want it to or think that it should and that all opportunities are not the right opportunities. Stay true to yourself and your vision, always.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I am always looking for ways to build my brand. I need a genius, creative digital artist who wants to grow with me! I would love to expand to other markets and I would love to partner with someone who sees the vision, The cannabis market has officially kicked in the door, but female business owners are still over here knocking to get in and I would like to change that!
Contact Info:
- Website: kayemelleart.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/kayemelleart
- Facebook: Facebook.com/KayEmElleArt
