Photographer: Kait McNeal

1. What significant life experiences or events have influenced and shaped your artistic vision?

My artistic vision has been shaped by my accumulated experiences throughout life. Every experience I have influences how I view the world and therefore how I create. Before my grandfather passed, he bestowed his poetry on me. At the time, I didn't recognize the importance his writings held. Over the years, I would turn to them as a way to connect with him. Eventually using excerpts in my art that I would relate to my own experiences. His writings are timelessly inspiring and have shaped my creativity immensely. As I find myself navigating through peaks and valleys, my artistic vision changes pace but ultimately stays true. Nature is another contender when it comes to feeling inspired. I find solace when spending time alone in nature; observing, listening, and appreciating. Solitude has granted me a deeper love and understanding for creation.

2. Collaboration often sparks fresh creativity. Can you share an example of a collaboration that led to an unexpected and exciting artistic outcome?

My pal Leo and I collaborated on a photoshoot that developed into this storyline. It felt kismet. I found this lovely vintage wedding dress at the thrift and had reached out to them about my idea. My initial proposal was a bride leaving the altar—starting anew. We both exploded with thoughts on how we imagined this story playing out, different scenes we wanted to capture, and the overall vibe of the character we were creating. Enthralled by the concept and devoted to bringing it to life. This project was the first of mine to be published. Leo and I eventually continued the saga with another photo shoot that was a sequel to the first.

3. Walk us through a specific project that challenged your creative boundaries. How did you approach it, and what did you learn from the experience?

An ongoing project that challenges me is shooting portraits rather than landscapes. I was mostly snapping photos of insects, flowers, and some macro before arriving in NYC. My lens shifted to people because I felt they were the “nature” of the city. I hadn’t really had much experience with portraiture. It was difficult to find people to capture being new to the city. I didn’t know anyone, nor had I made any connections. I began posting on Craigslist for creative exchange to get started and was able to collaborate and build my confidence with that style of photography. Pushing through these boundaries, I was able to learn how to conceptualize different visuals and coordinate with other creatives to create magic.

4. In the ever-evolving art world, what do you believe sets your work apart and makes it unique or groundbreaking?

I believe what sets my work apart from others is my ethereal aesthetic. I’m very detail-oriented and desire a certain flow to how my art is presented. My images are very soft and inviting with vivid colors and have a dreamy quality to them. Introspection and growth are prevalent themes in my mixed media and are based on my own experiences. I continue to stick to my roots literally and figuratively through nature photography. I tend to explore different mediums and often combine them.

5. As you reflect on your journey, are there any specific goals or milestones you've set for your artistic career in the coming years?

Moving forward in my artist career, I’m working towards my MFA in art education. I want to share my appreciation for art and continue to learn from other creatives along the way.