We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kristy Chouiniere Smith. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kristy below.
Kristy, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I’m not sure if anyone, especially in the arts, ever truly overcomes imposter syndrome; but I’ve learned to give it some serious side-eye and a raised eyebrow when it starts skulking around. I think one of the biggest factors in gaining that perspective has been to meet regularly and share work with a group of trusted peers. Not only do our weekly meetups keep me accountable to the goals I’ve set for myself, but I trust them to tell me when what I’m doing isn’t working as well as it could. They are also my biggest cheerleaders, and amplify my successes! They are absolutely invaluable to my practice and my confidence — we’ve been meeting weekly for almost 4 years now.
I think the other thing that has really helped me quiet the imposter syndrome is doing the work that I love to do and putting it out there. When you keep showing up, you give people an opportunity to interact with your work and give you feedback. Being at in-person markets and watching faces light up when they see my tiny watercolors or my intricate laser designs lets me know that I am putting something valuable into the world. As artists I think it’s really important to accept that our work is not going to be for everyone, and that’s ok. When you do the work that moves you, it’s going to move other people, too. Your audience is out there — you just have to show up and keep making work.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist and the owner of Hollow Hill Creative, which is a fine art and home decor brand that I founded in 2021 after moving from Philadelphia to Northwest Georgia. I spent 20 years as a performing artist, and so this plunge into visual arts is relatively recent. My greatest affinity is for watercolor but I also have a love for laser craft, and I’m working toward marrying these two media in a way that really excites me. I paint with bold, saturated color and frequently embellish my works with embroidery, metal leaf, and other textural elements. My laser work features intricate linework and layers as well.
Most recently, I’ve seen a surge in attention to the tiny watercolor paintings I’ve been bringing to markets (1″ x 2″), as well as the laser-crafted state ornaments I make that feature unique mandala-inspired designs. I am brand-new to Faire.com and look forward to having my ornaments in shops in each of their home states (4 down, 48 to go including Puerto Rico and Washington D.C.). You can find me there at faire.com/direct/hollowhillcreative, or on my own site at hollowhillcreative.com.
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 spent 20 years as a theatre artist, and as I reflect I realize that most of the qualities that continue to serve me are things that I learned in that field. One of the most impactful skills I took from that era in my life was the ability to improvise and to say ‘yes’ to the curveballs. When unexpected things happen, when mistakes are made, when forces outside of your control dictate the course of events, it is so important to stay flexible and think about how you can use the new situation to your advantage. I use this everywhere, from turning an errant paint blob into a purposeful mark to figuring out how to generate income in another stream when a project falls through.
Second, learned from my graduate acting teacher Ben Lloyd: be open to outcome, but not attached to outcome. This ties closely into the ability to improvise, but means more that when I start a piece and I have a vision for what it wants to be, I still remain open to other possibilities. The pieces I finish are rarely exactly as I imagine them, and being open to a different outcome really allows for play, which I think is essential to making art.
Lastly, working as a performer taught me a lot about accepting rejection and moving on, and realizing that just because a particular work doesn’t sell in a particular show, it doesn’t mean that piece is not worthy. So many factors have to come together for the right person to connect to your work at the right time. We have to keep showing up and not take it personally.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents told me I could do whatever I wanted with my life and career, and they 100% backed it up. I have been a maker and artist for as long as I can remember, but I had my heart set on being a cardiothoracic surgeon for most of my school life. I was in plays and art classes, but I went to college as a chemistry major in preparation to go to medical school. I learned, though, that first year of college, that I didn’t really want the kind of lifestyle I was setting myself up for, and abruptly changed my course of study at the end of my freshman year to communications. They went right along. I was supposed to go to France for a year abroad, and then at the last minute was offered the opportunity to do a new program of study in England — drama. They didn’t balk. When I decided to go to graduate school for theatre after working for a year in publishing, they supported that, too. In hindsight, I can hear the hesitations that I now knew were there, but they always offered full-throated support and that confidence is the foundation upon which I have built everything, and which I hope to provide for my own children.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hollowhillcreative.com
- Instagram: @hollowhillcreative
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hollowhillcreative
- Other: https://hollowhillcreative.etsy.com
Image Credits
Anh Bao Tran-Le Photography, Kristy Smith
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