Meet Kelly Reyna

We recently connected with Kelly Reyna and have shared our conversation below.

Kelly, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

It is difficult to pinpoint the moment of discovery, and I feel that my purpose has evolved according to my resources and personal capabilities at certain points in time. I do know that I found my purpose through what I lacked as an artist. Whether that be support, exhibit opportunities, material access, learning strategies, I realized I needed to find these things for myself. I had the advantage of education and, over time, experience, that helped me problem solve these areas. Now that I am in position of more experience and more resources, I know that I can help others who were once in my shoes.

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 am a practicing professional artist and art instructor. I teach college level drawing and painting and I also give private art lessons. This past year has been the first year I have taken on private students and it has been very rewarding to see growth and learning taking place on a one-to-one basis. I feel that I am igniting an artist’s passion within my one-on-one students and also from a few college students.

I am also the Founder and Executive Director of a small non-profit arts organization called Grey Edges. Our mission is to assist new and emerging artists with exhibition opportunities and learning experiences as well as provide resources and art workshops for the neurodiverse and their families. I have a non-verbal teenage son on the spectrum so this mission is close to my heart.

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?

The first quality that comes to mind is the openness to continue growing and learning. To embrace what you don’t know, and do something about it. The second quality is a solid and disciplined work ethic. Procrastination is easy, but if you take each thing a task at a time, you can set up a structure of productivity and balance. The third area is education in your field. Since I am in the arts, I am grateful for all that I have learned in art history and in other media. In this way, I can enrich a student’s knowledge by directing or suggesting similar styles or art movements they could learn from .

My advice would be to set up good productive habits daily. Believe in yourself, you are your biggest cheerleader and advocate. Taking breaks are necessary but do not quit on your purpose or dreams. One last word of advice is: People do not buy art because you made it, they buy it ‘why’ you made it. Thus, be intentional, put your passion into your work, create with your whole heart.

Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?

There are several obstacles I face daily as a special needs parent. Often jobs call me out of town or on site and I need to set up arrangements for my autistic son. Yet, that isn’t the obstacle that first comes to mind, which is lack of funding for non-profits. In my area, the competition between non-profits that apply for grants is overwhelming and it leaves the small non-profits without. To resolve this I have changed my perspective this past year to no longer chase funding, but to instead attract it. This means I must do the work, make the programs work with little money as possible. People must see the change in the community before they will emotionally and financially invest in you. The whole point of a non-profit is to serve the communities needs, so that is the starting point: Be the change you want to see in the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.greyedges.com
• Instagram: @GreyEdgesCollective
• Linkedin: Grey Edges Collective