We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful L. Kelly Lyles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with L. Kelly below.
L. Kelly, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I overcame imposter syndrome by just realizing that it’s a universal sentiment, Well, mostly overcame, little twinges surface once in a while when a young person is gushing compliments. It’s hard to believe them, the “I am not cool enough” flashes in my head.
Life is basically one giant Jr. High, and 99% of us are insecure, feeling out of our depth socially or in any new situations. We also think people are thinking about/judging far more than they actually are, they’re too tied up with their own lives and thoughts.
I’m in long-time sobriety (which I’m sure also contributes to my confidence, my life – besides politics – is vastly, immeasurably improved since the “not so good ol’ days”). A common AA tenet is “fake it ’til you make it” & that holds true in almost every situation.
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?
I exhibit in (various venues, including galleries and museums) but also take on commissions. These are usually portraits, from people, pets, homes & even vehicles. Many artists dislike following directions, I on the other hand enjoy the collaboration and honouring (hopefully) the subject. On rare occasions commissions are frustrating (the 32 revisions on a single portrait, before she decided my original version was the best. Sigh, there’s no “command Z/Undo” for that…).
Currently I’m working on 170 tiny “SQUIRREL WITH PEARL EARRING” paintings, I posted one – an homage to Vermeer’s GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING – & people keep wanting one for themselves. I’ve finished/delivered 120 so far, but interrupting my personal assembly line to finish a small mural (based on film posters) for a movie-theatre in South Dakota.
I drive an artcar, & for 25 years have produced a car show (THE SEATTLE ARTCAR BLOWOUT) where 50-75 decorated vehicles come from all over the US & BC to show for 3 days at a craft fair (though it’s equally famous for the 2,000 naked bicyclists parading).
I think of myself as a “one-trick pony” (painter), but that’s overlooking the assemblage decorating our vehicles. There are thousands of artcars all over the country (& the world?), we have a blast together, driving these daily is the ultimate public art!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Perseverance? I like deadlines, because they force us to finish vs agonizing over perfection. I’m a “git ‘er done” kinda person. It’s also my excuse for running late, always trying to complete one more task…
ADVICE: I just wish art-schools taught about the business of an art career, and also how to live on less.
Being an artist is the 3 legged stool:
1 )marketing (which most of us aren’t particularly good at)
2) driving/schlepping, filling out paperwork, collecting $, the mundane
3) Creating the art itself.
I gave a talk to teens in an arts magnet-school, on how to follow your dream but live on less $ (trading for services: chiropractic, haircuts, car-repairs, dental, whatever), learning about & taking advantage of low-income programs offered by the city and state. Volunteering to get into any auction, party, concert, play, whatever, there’s so many ways to economize (especially not dining out or buying overpriced coffees, a small price to pay for personal freedom).
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents didn’t stifle our creativity (weeeeelll, except when I was forbidden to “trot” everywhere on my imaginary pony as a kid).
My father was an executive with 3M (& head of 3M Denmark), appearances were everything, We had a very strict upbringing. But surprisingly my parents never discouraged my brother and me from focusing on the arts (he became a photographer after art school). They were creative in their own right and introduced us to museums, theatres and dance at an early age. Both my parents acted, both had radio shows, my stepmother had her own TV show, my cousin is a professional dancer/actor/choreographer. I’m lucky the arts were part of our family’s lives.
I taught drawing for 20 years at a local college, it was sad how many students waited until their parents passed away to take the class, as their parents had said “you’ll never make any money with art”. People overlook the value of creative thinking in business problem solving, not to mention a more pleasurable life from learning new things and appreciating beauty. You don’t forbid a kid to play sports because they “won’t make a living at it”.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kellyspot.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lkellylyles/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/L.kellylyles
Image Credits
Bob Munro
Larry Nielson
Christopher Conrad
Harrod Blank
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
