We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wally Kelly. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wally below.
Wally, thank you so much for taking the time to share your lessons learned with us and we’re sure your wisdom will help many. So, one question that comes up often and that we’re hoping you can shed some light on is keeping creativity alive over long stretches – how do you keep your creativity alive?
I had a full two year block when I started college and it created a huge halt in my life. It felt like I had no drive and no goals with my work because I was so busy with school and personal things at the time. I moved to California in 2020 during the pandemic and I feel like the distance and uninterrupted time with no expectations of quarantine gave me breathing room to pick up a pencil again. Ever since then, I try to prioritize time for sketching and painting and learning as much as I can. Still definitely a learning process trying to transition your passions into your career. I never want to make work for others consumption and that’s my biggest thing; I just want to make it because it makes me happy.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My name is Wally and i’m originally from Charlotte, North Carolina. I love NC and am very thankful for the opportunities I worked for there. I feel like everything eventually lead me to Los Angeles and it’s been really fun. I’m a full time artist and architecture student here and I love my friends! I don’t think I would have had the capacity to continue my work in the last few years without the support of the community i’ve found here and back home, and especially from my partner Hunter, so i’m also forever grateful for all of them. I make a lot of my work inspired by the people I love and i’m currently curating something cool based on that, so i’m very excited to share it soon 🙂
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I think i’ve experienced a lot of change in the last four years ever since I moved out of Savannah, so i’d say growth is probably the biggest lesson i’ve been faced with. I’m constantly trying to learn and grow because I was a hard head and had my defenses up way too much before I turned 21 and i’m sure it was really annoying to the people around me. I’m always trying to embrace that embarrassment isn’t real unless you believe it is, so I feel like reminding myself of that has helped me break down a lot of my walls when it comes to creating and being myself.
Don’t know if i’m in any position to give advice to anyone other than if you’re ever thinking about adopting an animal, do it. I love my cat I think he makes my life way more fun and he has socks.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
Yes!! I’m constantly trying to expand my circle in LA and the best part about living here is meeting so many other creatives. I’m in awe of everyone’s work around me I love collaborating with anyone and everyone. I check my direct messages a lot so that’s probably the best way to get ahold of me!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wallyekelly.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/8wek
Image Credits
Thank you to Love Floyd for taking the film photo of me in the blue jacket 🙂
