Kesia King shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Kesia, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What are you being called to do now, that you may have been afraid of before?
Public speaking. Though, It was part of my curriculum during my school years, I was never a fan of speaking in front of people. I think this is a common fear for many. But lately, I’ve been forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone and use my voice to share my story and opinions with others. I recently hosted my first panel at a convention. It was nerve-wracking and I made mistakes, but I’m very happy I went through with it. I hope to do more in the future.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Kesia King, owner of Kesia’s Daydream and Artist basically all my life. I can say though my original dreams as a child were to become an Astronomer, my calling to artistry was cemented the moment I touched my first manga (Japanese comic). I’ve studied traditionally and segue to digital in 2022. Though my brand has worn many faces, it’s current focus has been in bringing representation to more black-centered, original characters to Anime. I’ve watched Anime for over 30 years and noticed immediately the lack and inaccurate presence of black characters. Though I will say it has improved lately, I believe that we fit in all genres thus why my art covers a variety of subjects especially fantasy and Sci-fi. I believe representation is important and I along with countless others have decided to take up the task to build the future, a lot of us in the Anime community, would like to see.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my Mother. I will admit that our relationship has always been a rocky one. She is strict and a bit overbearing, and as a child there were times that I felt scared of her. But she was also a hard worker and a woman who carried herself with no-nonsense confidence in a world that tried to suppress her. She has never been ashamed to be herself and I feel that, through those hard lessons, I gained the same perspective of myself. My Mother has always been a leader who takes up space and valued those that worked with the same integral work ethic as hers. She was strict but fair. And also she has a giving energy that attracts a lot of people to her that give in kind. My Mother is well-loved. Through watching her I have learned that though I carry many of her traits and quirks, I’m also a gentler version of her intensity. I’ve gone down the path of a generational-curse breaker and through it all carry myself as woman meant to shape my own destiny despite how the world chooses to see me.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
That I am a broken person but not beyond reformation. I describe my life as one of a phoenix. My lessons burn me to ash and I rise out of the ashes another version of myself. This process has always been painful for me. But I’ve learned self-awareness, self-accountability, resilience, and boundless strength. I’ve learned to channel my brokeness into self-expression whether through art or writing and into my passions and drive to build a better version of myself. I feel that in dark moments we tend to forget ourselves, but what we have to remember is that these dark moments are temporary and that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. We must be patient and hold grace for ourselves in those moments because the continuous transformation and reinvention of yourself is worth it.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
To be honest yes and no. I feel as a society we are taught to put our best foot forward and present the best versions of ourselves when it comes to public consumption. If you are a public figure, for example, you are meant to have a squeaky clean record and display integrity and good moral standing. Unfortunately, what society refuses to accept is that people are always human. We make mistakes. And because social media has given voices to a lot of people, those mistakes are amplified by a thousand and can be used as fodder against others. Because of this I feel we choose not to give all of ourselves to others. I’m a silly and child-like personality but I also have a sharp wit and judgemental nature. But because I believe in time and place, I can never seem to be my full self. As I get older I’ve noticed that these lines are beginning to blur and that I’m holding back less and that societies views of me are becoming less of a constant worry. I think more of my true self will come to the forefront.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m creating. Whether it’s making art or Jewlery or even poetry or short stories. When I’m looking at the clouds, listening to music and building worlds in my head. I feel like I was meant to create. And I enjoy sharing what I create with others.
Image Credits
Kesia King
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