We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kelly Hopkins a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Kelly, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
Gratitude. My optimism comes from a full spectrum of life experiences that have left me truly grateful…for who I am, where I am, what I’ve been through, where I’m going, and all the beautiful details in between.
I’ve found gratitude to be the most incredible tool when used as an intentional daily practice. When we’re able to find lessons, moments, surprises, etc. to be grateful for, even the darkest of days can serve a purpose. This mindset was a result of deeply personal and painful times and it’s what helped me overcome those days, as well as heal and grow from them.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Hey friends! My name is Kelly (my friends call me Kell) and I’m an artist native to San Diego. At my core, I’m a mixed media artist and designer, working in a variety of industries, including marketing, exhibiting art, and tattoos. In my work, I explore the relationships we have with stigmas and aim to dismantle them. Through the use of unexpected materials and art forms, I seek to question the validity of the societal stigmas that have oppressed, mislabeled, and misjudged so many. I create art to start vulnerable conversations surrounding topics such as mental health, life/death, and suicide awareness. My “canvases” become a personal story where intuition and heart-felt intention collide, giving rise to compositions that invite viewers to engage in a personal dialogue with the artwork and design.
I’ll be exhibiting my latest collection of artwork during the month of August at Goblin Emporium in Oceanside, California. The show will consist of a series of resin works-in which every detail has a story, but the most important being what inspired the collection. More details about the collection and the show will be released in the coming months on Instagram and kellydawnoel.com
My interests have also led me outside of the arts and into content creation, social media marketing, and creative direction. I have been the marketing manager for the Unified Esports League since its founding in 2022. UESL is a county-wide gaming and technology esports program, providing community, connection, and education for people from all walks of life. I’m truly proud, not only of the brand development and community growth we’ve achieved, but also for the incredible work that is done and that I have the opportunity to support and be a part of.
My newest venture has been in the world of tattooing. I’ve now been a tattoo apprentice for about a year. My practice has led me on a wild journey so far! I’m so incredibly grateful for it and excited for what’s to come. I’m currently working on building my own flash collection and mastering my tools; as well as finding a home shop in San Diego to align myself with, for further study and development of my career.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Over the course of my creative career, I’ve found that my playfulness, curiosity, and dedication to my dreams have brought me further than anything else. It may sound cheesy, but it’s true!
As a creative entrepreneur, there are so many challenges and obstacles that can be disheartening and scary at times. The fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and so many other false narratives can cloud the vision of the goal. I believe my incessant curiosity paved a path of experimentation for me, with so many lessons learned. And whenever I’d feel doubt, of any kind, trying to creep back in, I’d remind myself to play.
Play is SUCH a crucial tool of any form of creation. When I’d get wrapped up in overthinking and lost in too many ideas, I’d often struggle trying to find the best one. But I believe that my best work comes from allowing myself to play with possibilities, removing so much self-induced pressure, and reconnecting with what brings me joy in my work. This is where the brain can let go and intuition is our greatest asset.
I’ve always had an itch to learn and explore new techniques, mediums, storytelling, etc. and the more I’ve allowed myself to do so, the more I’ve grown. My dedication to the goal/dream/vision is my lifeline. On good/bad days, when I’ve made a huge mistake, and when things seem hopeless-my dedication will always remind me of what I’m building towards.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
This is an interesting question for me. I believe it’s better to go all in on our passions and invest effort into improving our weaknesses, while embracing our natural strengths and outsourcing help when needed.
We should never stop learning. If we only focus on our strengths, we leave so much to be unknown and potentially create obstacles or hinder our own growth. But spreading ourselves too thin between too many places of interest, can lead to a lack of focus in dedication and growth.
So I say that the most important question to ask ourselves is, “What is it that truly lights us up?” What cause or practice or art form or industry or lifestyle (etc.) brings us so much joy that it makes us do little happy dances or crack a smile just thinking about it? Whatever that is – that is what we should go all in on. (And never be afraid to hire someone else, who is charged up about doing the things you’re not meant to do – in order to give you space to work on yourself.) This mission will be the heartfelt inspiration to then develop strengths and improve weaknesses that will in turn bring you closer to your dream. It’s a daring choice, but in my mind, there is no other choice that makes sense.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kellydawnnoel.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kellydawnnoel
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/kellydnhopkins
- Other: Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/kellydawnnoel
Image Credits
Portraits: Jill Denny Photo Art: Kelly Dawn Noel Hopkins Feature Image: Graffick (Blaine Counter)
