Today we’d like to introduce you to Kaley Alie.
Kaley, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Art and creativity have always been a part of my story. I can remember my very first art show in elementary school and being so proud that my work was on display. As a kid, I carried watercolors around in my backpack on hikes with my mom and entered every possible coloring contest that I could.
I considered art in college but pursued instead a degree in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism after coming close to failing my first college-level drawing class and being questioned with what I would possibly do with an art degree. I gave up on the idea of art and decided it would just be a passion.
I turned my focus to figuring out a “career path” during the years following college, but fast forward to 2014 when I vividly remember making a New Year’s Resolution to myself to “pursue art like crazy”. At this point, I had realized that I had been missing the presence of art in my life for a while and it was time to rediscover the creative passion that I had once known so well!
It was a big step in 2018 when I quit my corporate job in restaurant event sales to start my own creative business, Kaley Alie Art. Leaping into starting a small business and getting comfortable with the idea of calling myself a professional artist has been exciting, terrifying, and probably one of the best decisions.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting and running a small business has its fair share of obstacles. I very quickly found out that starting and running a creative art company does not mean I just get to leisurely paint every day. Learning how to handle accounting, taxes, and sales have come with a steep learning curve, but the cool thing about having your own business is that when you figure those hard things out, you feel like you just won the jackpot! Overcoming the challenges is one of the most rewarding parts of this whole journey.
One thing I am still trying to figure out is a balance. When you are your own boss, it’s not always easy to figure out what a good work-life balance looks like.
Please tell us about your art.
Kaley Alie Art is an art and small paper goods company. I am an acrylic artist creating cheerfully bright art with intentional imperfections. All of my work is done with acrylic on canvas. My absolute favorite part is mixing my colors and even naming them sometimes! My bold, loose brushstrokes and use of color help to define my contemporary impressionistic style. I enjoy working in small collections of 6-12 pieces. It allows me to explore different color palettes and subject matter without burning out on just one theme or idea. Most recently I finished a collection called “Colors of the Southwest” after being inspired by a road trip to New Mexico.
Once a painting is complete, I photograph it to be used on printed products. I am a true believer in the power of handwritten notes and now have over 50 greeting card designs under my name!
Another fun aspect of my business is the commissioned work that I have been able to do. I love working with people to create custom paintings for their home or office. I love the opportunity to create something special and one-of-a-kind. Art has a way of making people smile.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Looking back I am not sure what I would have done anything differently. I believe everything I have done leading up to now has prepared me in starting my own business. I am certainly glad I have such a well-rounded job history! However, if I had to pick one thing to change, I guess it would’ve been nice if I had pursued an education in graphic design, but it’s never too late to keep learning!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kaleyalieart.com
- Phone: 9704854044
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleyalieart
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaleyalieart
Image Credit:
Kaley Alie
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