Meet Kaitlin Edwards

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kaitlin Edwards a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Kaitlin, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience and work ethic is from my desire to nurture my inner child. When I was young my deepest desires was to be the best artist I could be. I’ve often reflected back to when I was a child, drawing in the margins of my paper and daydreaming about being an artist. In a ritualistic way I would tune out the noise of life and focus on the conversation between me and the paper/canvas. I noticed very quickly my process gave me so much peace, a peace that I desperately needed. Everyday I remember those dreams and I show up to do the work for them to come true. I study art religiously, watch a read about art history, study my favorite artists, watch tutorials, learn new techniques and experiment. I never let up on the vision of the artist I want to be and as I grow and evolve so does that vision. Art has been my outlet through some of life’s most turbulent lessons, creating brings me balance.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am an illustrator and tattoo artist. As a tattoo artist I love creating soft and feminine tattoos to adorn my clients body. I take pride in creating permanent artworks for a client to carry with them the rest of their lives. There’s a special connection I feel with my clients when working together to bring their designs and visions to life. I’ve recently opened a new studio space in Arlington to service my tattoo clients.
As an illustrator I’ve explored many subjects through my work with clients on book covers, album covers and more generalized illustrations. However, my favorite subject to explore is my subconscious mind and the inner conversations I have articulating my emotions. Example, I created the illustration Triumph (woman in orange) after hitting a personal milestone with my tattooing journey and it was meant to encapsulate the energy of my mind at the time. It was a particularly dark time for my mental health and I wanted to express a ‘winning energy’ which brought me to a woman glowing orange in a dark space with stars around her as if she is a planet. Another example being the artwork with the seed growing in the woman’s chest, I was going through what felt like a barren waiting period. This time period put me in a hermit mode bordering depression and this was the expression of hope I had. Much of my personal work shares my intimate thoughts and ideas better than I could explain using words.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The best skills I’ve developed have been discipline, openness and mental awareness.
Discipline is studying when you don’t feel like it, daily sketching, learning your weaknesses and working them into strengths. After a certain point discipline becomes part of your daily routine, a lifestyle. I draw, study and consume things that will feed my artistic nature daily.
Being open brings you closer to an egoless state. Knowing exactly when to put your ego aside, empty the mind and allow yourself to fully absorb the subject you are studying in its authentic state is most important to the artistic journey. If I am in a period of stagnation it may be because of ego. I may think I know what lashes or hair looks like and draw it in its most basic state, but if I truly observe my piece and study pics, art and life in regards to my topic I can draw from more than my own basic understanding.
When criticism comes its best to put yourself in a neutral state as to best decipher if it’s truly for you. Being open to the right criticism can lead to major breakthroughs. One of the art schools I went to prided itself on harsh criticism often leading other students to quit. Though some criticism was hard to hear, I took it in like medicine that would help me in the future.

As for mental awareness, this can look different for every artist’s journey. I’ve learned exactly when I need to rest and make time for appreciation of the little things. Over the last three years, resting has become a big part of my process because I can focus better and I don’t have to waste time on making tired ideas work. Making time for gratitude helps balance my mind, however not everyday is roses. On difficult days I will create time to make bad art or good art about sadness. There’s a level of catharsis that comes with making bad art. It enables me to explore things I wouldn’t have initially thought of.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

I’ve spent most of my youth and 20’s in a constant state of overwhelm, however the further I get into my 30’s revelations reveals what is truly important. My Art and mental health suffered greatly but I no longer allow myself to exist in overwhelm. Therapy has helped me develop the tools I need to cut through the haze of unimportant clutter and center my mind again. Whenever I am faced with the feeling of overwhelm, it typically stems from overthinking or looking at things way too closely.
With the aforementioned mental awareness, I’m able to take a step back and take a break when needed. Not just a break from my craft, but from myself as well. I go on walks, breathe and look at the little things; the bark on the trees, the budding flowers, the hues in the sky. Existing in these imaginative states with nature gives me a hard reset and helps to keep me centered. Whilst in these states, I allow myself to be open to new information and my discipline allows me to take this new information and apply it to my work.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaitlin_june
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kaitlinjune7054?si=MrpBpYD0CJ2rWr7j