We were lucky to catch up with Anna Kidd recently and have shared our conversation below.
Anna, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?
Growing up my dad was a Golf Pro for various top rated golf courses around the country, which was an extremely demanding and taxing position with long hours we would not see him during the golf season. My mother worked just as hard to raise me and my two siblings while he was away at work. Even with them both working nearly 24/7, they still tried extremely hard to make sure our family still got to enjoy the outdoors and experience other parts of the world. It was truly inspiring, to say the least.
Growing up my parents encouraged me to have a job from 14 yrs old, and even though my first job was scooping and serving ice cream at a local ice cream shop, it taught me that you should value what you spend your money on. And those post club soccer game nights taught me how to work hard and efficiently, with a line out the door and no end in sight. Honestly, I loved working; it was empowering to have responsibilities outside the house and being able to alleviate some financial stress from my parents (even if it was minuscule).
When I got to college my dad lost his job, which would be the last job he had in the golf industry. He had time to reflect and share with me that although his position allowed us financial freedom he didn’t get to watch his kids grow up, or spend summers visiting family with us in Minnesota, or get the emotional and mental support needed while working for people that didn’t understand the weight of the position.
This conversation made me want to work that much harder to find a job I didn’t only just love but respected me and my livelihood.
Getting a degree in conservation biology and my true love for school was another large portion of what shaped my work ethic. I strive to learn more in every way I can, and whether that be school or work or hobbies, you get the opportunity to learn something every single day. School and work puts a pressure on you to succeed and I look at that pressure as a challenge to be better and smarter and more hard working every day.
On top of my incredibly hard working parents, I can thank my teachers, coaches and bosses for encouraging me to work harder and expand my knowledge even if it felt overwhelming at times.
Although it may not have been easy or “fun” all the time, having a job since I was 14 yrs old and caring about school my whole life naturally led me to having a relentless work ethic today, which has been more than necessary balancing a full time job and Wild Kidd Design successfully.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Anna Kidd and I am a 25 year old self-taught nature artist with a passion to share the beauty and importance of nature. After living in multiple states from coast-to-coast and getting a ecology degree I decided to break off the “normal” path, take what I’ve experienced and create something combining my love for art and love for helping our earth’s wilderness, which became Wild Kidd Design; a small business based on lessening the load on our planet and turning trash into treasure, all inspired by our precious planet’s landscapes and wildlife.
I work tirelessly to take thrifted clothing and canvases and turn them into a new piece of wearable or hangable art that will be around for at least another lifetime. The subjects of the art tend to be nature based for the most part– surprise surprise hahaha – but I also love to show the natural beauty of women and all they hold in this world.
Wild Kidd Design started as a passion project but has become such a large part of my life, I love all the people I have met through markets and the clients that have become lifelong friends and supporters. I can’t wait to see what it becomes and what more I can do to support our planet along the way.
As Wild Kidd grows I aim to be able to donate a percentage of my earnings to different environmental non-profits across the world to better our planet as much as I can. I think it is our duty as business owners to start being more sustainable and put pressure on these larger companies to do so, let’s get back to the times of shopping locally and supporting your favorite small businesses as much as possible.
Check out wildkidddesign.com to see what products are available now, constant shop updates occur so hop on the email list for shop updates and discounts!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
There are so many different qualities and characteristics I have learned to get where I am professionally today but there are a couple that stick out more than others.
- Get ready to be humbled. I think at the core of being successful for anything is to rewire your brain into believing your “fails” or “mistakes” are actually just moments that teach you about yourself or your business; what doesn’t work and what might be something that needs to change when a similar opportunity comes around. There are “bad” days, “bad” months, maybe even “bad” years but that doesn’t mean that you should throw in the towel. Reflect on what DID work in those times and how you could change the “failed” part of the experience to make it a success. That goes for creating, for markets, for sales, for marketing, for jobs, for life.
I have tried many different life paths out, not every one was positive but every single one taught me something that helps me where I am today.
- Stop giving a crap about people and people’s opinions that do not matter. Humans are not meant to be given and to absorb so many opinions about themselves that we have now recieve with social media, so if that is how you measure your worth you are setting yourself up to fail. If you really think about it, the majority of people in the comments section are people who spend their whole life online and judging others online. I don’t want to be friends with someone like that, nor even want them in my life, so why would I let their opinion shape me and what I decide to share with others? Sharing your art and creations should be fun and make you happy, if they don’t get that (pardon my language) f*ck them!
When you are at a market, how many people come over and tell you your work sucks? I am guessing it’s close to zero. Real people and face to face sales are so important to remind you that people out there are good and kind and interested in not only your work but who you are.
There are so many people out there that love what you are about and what you create, and a lot of them have lives of their own, so if the comment section may not feel like it, give yourself some grace, they are coming OR they are already there! I tell myself this every day so if you are struggling, I get it.
- Just try it. Want to explore in a new medium, go to a new market, move to a different style? Try it. You will never grow or expand if you don’t push yourself to try new things. I have horrible ADHD so my brain naturally wants to do 8 million different things at once (which has its downsides) but it has made me feel like I never stop learning. You can do so much more than you think and in a world where consumerism is at an all time high, try that DIY project and use those scraps around the house.
I want to encourage other women and overall people out there that you don’t need to be afraid to step outside your comfort zone and do a new task with your hands. Another moment where you find out something about yourself, who knows, maybe you find your life’s calling? Worst comes to worst and you don’t like it so you don’t do it again, I’ll take those odds any day.
I have tried wood burning, linoleum carving, sewing, watercolor painting, drawing, digital art, oil painting, and even some clay work and it has led me to put less pressure on my art and more fun back into creating. I think art block comes from a place of frustration or boredom and pouring myself into a different project can get the cog in my brain to turn again, and turn with some excitement nonetheless.
Fun fact: After living in Montana for 7 years and loving it with every fiber in my being, I needed a change. I tried moving to Duluth, MN without even visiting first and I love it just as much as Montana. Trying new things pays off in one way or another!
I believe anyone can create beautifully with practice, but these mental tips have been the true reason I have been able to get where I am today.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Collaboration has been bred into my bones, I thrive being able to bounce off others that have a similar level of passion for creating. Working with other businesses, brands or individuals to create art or designs for them is what I love to do more than anything. It’s similar to creating with a prompt (like you would in your writing 101 class), and the second I am given one my brain fills up with ideas.
I want to take you through the process with me and work closely with them to create a final product that fires you up about it as much as me. Working with such amazing people on design and art projects so far and seeing their reactions reminds me time and time again why I chose this path of life.
Collaborations with wildlife, animal, outdoor or environmental businesses and nonprofits all the time is my end goal. I hope to continue to help make a difference for our planet and animals and align myself with people that resonate with that. Whether you want art, designs or clothing, I strive to be the go-to art gal for earth-friendly businesses.
Brands like Patagonia, OGL, Nike and Seventh Generation are a few brands paving the way for a more eco-friendly market and it would be a dream to partner with anyone like that. Outside of companies, I love to work with individuals that love nature and want to bring home a slice of it for your walls or wardrobe. I adore creating for both sides of the spectrum and couldn’t choose a favorite.
If you are a brand, individual or business looking for art or graphic design needs, head to wildkidddesign.com and fill out the contact page ( or email me ) so we can get started bringing your ideas to life!
Contact Info:
- Website: wildkidddesign.com
- Instagram: wild.kidd.design
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artkiddstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-kidd-628298239/
Image Credits
Can crop the personal photo’s empty top space if you need. No credits needed otherwise.
