Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelly Anderson.
Alright, thank you for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us how you got started?
Art for me started in my junior year of Highschool. I was creative and a business person before that. This is the first place my mind goes when asked how it started. To make a long story short, the next decade and a half included many life events, including; college, where I worked full time and made monthly payments while attending. My first home purchase. Two children, a marriage, a divorce, a few jobs, and a few businesses. All of that breaks down to a bunch of growth, trial, and error. My experience spans various industries such as Restaurants/Hospitality, Insurance, and Art. It wasn’t until 2018 that I decided to put all my energy, skills, and effort into building something I could truly call mine in an industry I love. I started Crayon Kelly, my second creative endeavor. All the previous knowledge I held at that point gave me the confidence to jump. As a full-time creative, I feel blessed for the opportunities that cross my path. Everyone is unique.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
In the last year, I learned that many businesses struggle. As a creative, people often try to ask me what my medium is. What type of artist are you? These questions can often be limiting in nature. Deep down, I know I am more than an artist. I am a planner, a mentor, a business owner, and most of all, a creative strategist. Today I am in metamorphosis, changing from an individual creative to an agency format.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next, you can tell us a bit more about your business?
As a creative strategist agency, I solve problems. I like to think of myself as the unicorn of innovation. On any given day, as a strategist, there are many roles to fill; Business Analyst, Creative, Facilitator, Entertainer, Collaborator, Presenter, Storyteller, Innovator, Motivator, Emotional Connector, Problem Solver, and Main Money Finder. As the leader at Crayon Kelly, the breed is rare, with a balance of creativity and business. There have been many dips and valleys during the transition from a sole creative to a strategy agency. The current goal is to find some consistent clients with multiple projects for me to develop and mentor a core team. The brand is about color and life with emotions. People are the connectors in what we all do. Whether it be someone you briefly cross paths with or someone you have known for many years. Every moment impacts your life, no matter how little or how big. Crayon Kelly is here to help embrace those moments, change the energy and bring to life our clients’ visions. To date, we have worked in many art mediums, including; Fine Art, Mixed Media, Interactive art and experiences, Murals, Public Art, 2D, 3D, Tech enhanced, Sculpture, Live Art, Business Planning, Client engagement, and retention, plus a numerous amount of others.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking is a key component of any business or goal set in life. You never know who you are speaking with. Whom you might cross paths with. Everyone has something to offer, and we should all take a moment to acknowledge that. When you find someone inspiring and encouraging you to improve, those are mentors. Whether formally or informally, they matter. For me, mentors come in many different areas and ages. I have learned from the 80-year-old. I visited to eat his sweets to the 2-year-old that made me chase her around the park.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.CrayonKelly.com
- Other: https://dot.cards/crayonkelly?a=user%2Fnsmmnxpsjjghgxpbegn2hj78k%2Fc%2Fbl
