An Inspired Chat with Vanessa Klein of Midwest

We recently had the chance to connect with Vanessa Klein and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately I’ve been full blown back in my fangirl tendencies. Growing up I found myself a hardcore fan of several musical entities (one direction, emo music, and kpop being my big 3). This music has always been in the background of my life, but there was a period for a few years where I was way less involved and not keeping up to date on new releases. But this year especially, I’m back and fully invested in the bands I loved as a teenager. Maybe I’m regressing to my youth cause I miss aspects of those times, but I don’t care. I’m having a blast. I missed being so obsessed with this art form. Plus it feels nicer to binge watch music videos vs most other media so I’m really enjoying that in my free time.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Experimenting with various mediums and styles plays a huge role in my approach to art. As I grow and evolve, I often see changes in the materials I gravitate towards. I grew up drawing from a young age as most artists do, but nearly every new art form I was introduced to I wanted to try. Growing up, I would make miniature models for my dolls. I found a love for oil painting in high school. I studied animation in college, where I also took ceramics and printmaking electives.
These days I’ve been leaning into collaging (primarily with found materials) and making vlogs of my daily life as an artist. I’ve learned to keep an open mind when it comes to trying new art forms. Just when I think I’ve found my groove and really solidified my style, it’s time to reinvent. Sometimes I feel bad that I don’t have as solid of a niche as some artists who perfect a specific craft for years. But I think it’s exciting for me to see how my style presents itself in each medium I try.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I don’t remember where I was first told this as a child, but I was often given the label “shy”. I think it might have become true due to me hearing it repeated. But in hindsight, I don’t think I was very shy. I was usually leaning towards excited to meet new people. I think shy means you’re nervous to talk to or be around people right? I wasn’t nervous, I just sometimes didn’t talk much. Probably because I was overstimulated and didn’t have anything to say. I think most people are much more talkative than me and that’s fine. I definitely enjoy recharging with alone time, but I don’t think I’m shy.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of being seen is/was a big one for me. It’s funny because the people I admire most are often unafraid to be seen, and that’s what I love about them. I love people who are open and authentically themselves. I’ve always known that I wish to have those qualities myself. For a long time I held myself back with fear of being seen trying, being seen unflattering, being seen in a way that doesn’t align with how I want to be seen. I think just with age I’ve made progress in moving through those fears. It’s really a practice! I know that connecting with others requires being seen and being vulnerable in some way. So now I’m more willing to deal with some discomfort if it means creating more authentic connections.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
Sometimes I have to remind myself to be less real (on the internet), so I think my public persona is pretty accurately me. I definitely post a highlight reel of my life like most people, but I share a decent amount of less flattering content as well. I try to keep a little balance. I think we’re all characters in a way, and we decide what character we want to play. So who is to say the way I’m portraying myself in a given moment isn’t the “real me”?

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I really love driving my car. I’m not a car girl by any means, I don’t know anything about them like that. I just love listening to music while driving. Whether it’s a 10 minute drive in the neighborhood or an 8 hour roadtrip, I love it all. I feel at peace knowing I have no other responsibilities in that moment other than driving. There’s no where else I should be but on the way to my destination. I get to listen to any music I desire. I get to watch the scenery pass by. I even love traffic cause it means more car time.
Oo, I just thought of airports/airplanes too. I feel so content, so at peace in the airport.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than